Fayis Asraf Ali, a Kerala cyclist traveled over 22,000 kilometers from Calicut over two years to give special support to Neeraj Chopra at the Paris Olympics.
Ali set off on August 15, 2022 with aim to spread peace and unity by cycling from India to London. His journey spanned across 30 countries and culminated in Paris after he altered his plan to support Neeraj Chopra at the Olympics.
Ali, who traveled on his Surly bicycle carrying essential gear weighing a total of 50 kilograms, encountered Neeraj in Budapest during the World Championships last year.
Ali arranged a meeting through a known Kerala coach and spoke briefly with the Indian athlete. ‘I got a few minutes to talk to the Indian athletes and Neeraj told me since you are going to London why don’t you come to Paris for the Olympics’, said Ali.
He added, ‘I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to see him again in Paris so I altered my plan a bit and procured the required visa and cycled to the UK before ending my journey here’.
‘I am so excited to meet him again. I’ve requested PT Usha ma’am (IOA chief). I am here to see him create history again. We will cheer for him on August 8’, said Ali.
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