From casual chats to lifelong vows: Neeraj Chopra recalls love story with Himani Mor

Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra opened up about his marriage to Himani Mor, revealing that their families knew each other before they fell in love. Speaking exclusively to India Today's sister channel, Sports Today, the two-time Olympic medallist shared how he managed to keep his wedding preparations under wraps while emphasising that his family and friends were already aware of the big day.

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Neeraj Chopra married his long-time girlfriend, Himani Mor, in a private ceremony in Shimla on January 16. Apart from close friends and family, the rest of the world only learned about the wedding when he shared photos from the ceremony on January 19.

"I knew her. She also comes from a family with a sports background, and so do we. Her father and mother were kabaddi players. Her brothers were boxers and wrestlers. She herself was a tennis player, but after picking up injuries, she focused more on her studies.

"Because our families had a sports background, we had the opportunity to meet. Our conversations began like that—just two athletes talking. It was casual at first, but slowly, we fell in love," he added.

The wedding took place at the SuryaVilas Resort in Kumarhatti, near Solan, on the Kalka-Shimla Highway. It was an intimate affair, with only 40–50 attendees, comprising close family members from both sides. Neeraj and Himani personally chose the location for their special day.

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Neeraj said that his loved ones in the village were very understanding of the situation, adding that he wanted to get married before resuming training for the 2025 season.

"No, quite a few people knew I was going to get married. Families and friends knew. I wanted to return to training because the season was about to start. I thought it would only be possible after the season. Inviting everyone would have taken time," Neeraj said.

"Hopefully, there will be a grand function soon with everyone invited.

"No, no, people in my village understood. Whenever there is a function, the entire village is invited—be it my sister's wedding or my return after winning the Tokyo Olympics. They know that whenever Himani and I are free, we will host the function," he added.

Neeraj Chopra's uncle, Surendra Chopra, revealed last month that Neeraj and Himani fell in love after meeting in the United States. Both families approved of their relationship, and the wedding was planned for late 2024.

Surendra also explained that the wedding was scheduled during Neeraj’s off-season. Given Neeraj’s packed schedule leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, both families were keen to avoid waiting another two years.

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