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Neeraj Chopra was born into a modest family in the village of Khandra, in Panipat district, where agriculture was the primary occupation. Modern sports were virtually unknown here and Neeraj grew up as just one of the village boys playing in the fields. But at age thirteen he became the butt of jokes when he tipped the scales at around 75 kilos. Concerned, his family initiated 'Operation Neeraj Fitness' and sent him to Shivaji Stadium in Panipat every day so that he could engage in sports and lose weight. It was here that Neeraj first encountered javelin throwing. Some older athletes encouraged him to give it a try, and to their astonishment, he displayed remarkable talent. Neeraj was hooked.
His Own Man is the story - the first in English - of an unjustly forgotten athlete, who ascended the heights, fell from grace under the Nazis, then achieved redemption coaching street children in India. Born with the twentieth century, Otto Peltzer overcame a lonely childhood, beset by illness, to gain a doctorate in sociology and multiple world records on the running track. In 1920s Germany he became an international celebrity, rival to Paavo Nurmi, the 'Flying Finn'. He competed in two Olympics, but his outspokenness made him persona non grata to the Nazis. His homosexuality was the pretext for a trial which resulted in his being sent for 're-education' in Mauthausen concentration camp. After the war, having survived four years of brutal treatment and lost his home and family to the Red Army, Peltzer was blocked from competing or coaching by his 'denazified' pre-war enemies. He found salvation in India, where, as national coach, he followed up a surprise victory over an all-conquering German team by training street urchins to Olympic level. Chronically ill as a result of his camp experiences, he died of heart failure in 1970.
Virat Kohli, the undisputed monarch of the cricket world today, is no stranger to loss. His biggest support both on and off the field-his father Prem Kohli-succumbed to a cerebral stroke when Virat was only 18 years old. In a fitting tribute that would've made his father proud, Virat returned to the field to continue an innings just a few hours after his father passed away. In Driven, Vijay Lokapally recounts happier times in the journey of Virat's rapid rise to international stardom-an account punctuated with little-known stories from fellow players, coaches, and intimates. Virat is already the recipient of countless accolades including the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri, India's highest spor...
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A reference book on the Arjuna awardees; includes short biographical notes.