Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra’s recent comments have sparked a light-hearted yet nostalgic response from former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee — after the Indian javelin star suggested that Lee might have had the skills to excel in javelin during his cricketing prime. In a fun prelude to the NC Classic, Chopra shared a few offbeat insights during a chat with JioStar. Asked which cricketer could have made it as a javelin thrower, Chopra pointed straight at Lee. “I have heard that Brett Lee was a javelin thrower. I think he could throw the javelin well, especially when he was in his peak years,” said Neeraj, citing the former pacer’s legendary athleticism and explosive action. Lee, who was quick to catch wind of the comment, responded with humility and humour on X. “I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do. Very tough on the elbow. I have however admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well,” Lee wrote in response to a tweet citing the Olympian, earning applause from fans of both sports.
Brett Lee’s response to Neeraj Chopra on X (Image via X/@BrettLee_58)
Chopra also mentioned Jasprit Bumrah as another athlete he’d love to see try the javelin, noting the unique synergy between the two sports. “While bowling and javelin are both throws, they are very different. I would like to learn from Bumrah,” he said.
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In a twist, Neeraj added that if he could borrow any superpower, it would be Sachin Tendulkar’s mental fortitude — to face pressure with composure and consistency.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) is set to to be held on July 5 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
