Himani Mor plans on empowering athletes through Vel Sports

Himani Mor was a very talented tennis player as a teenager. She represented India twice in the ITF World Junior Tennis under-14 events and took the team to fifth place in the world—behind the USA, Russia, host Czech Republic, and Canada—in 2013 on the clay courts of Prostejov, Czech Republic. Her teammates then were Pranjala Yadlapalli and Vanshika Sawhney.

“We lost one match, and because of the format, we could play for the fifth place and won all other matches,” she said.

As a student of Miranda House, where she studied Political Science and Physical Education, she won the All-India Inter-University Championship for Delhi University along with Karman Kaur Thandi and Akshara Iska. She went on to compete in the World University Games in 2017.

Later, in an impressive career in the USA, she continued to play tennis or assist the teams while acquiring two MBA degrees, apart from doing an MS, skipping the option to do a PhD.

“I was nicely making the transition from the juniors into the women’s circuit in India. Won my first women’s tournament in Kolkata as a qualifier. But because of wrist pain and subsequent surgery, I could not play the professional circuit that well. I was able to manage pain and compete at a certain level both in singles and doubles in the NCAA,” said Himani during a free-wheeling interaction on Monday.

Himani, wife of former Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra, has always kept a low profile and stayed focussed on her career. And now she has stepped into the world of sports management through Vel Sports, a player-first initiative that aims to safeguard the interests of the athletes, guide them, equip them, and empower them to deal with their careers and lives.

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Himani had known Neeraj for over 10 years as a genuine friend. When the idea of marriage sprung up, the two families met and agreed to the proposal. “It was both a love and an arranged marriage. We were simple friends for a very long time until we got married,” she said.

“We were both athletes from the same State, Haryana. I am from Sonipat, and he is from Panipat. When he won the gold in the Tokyo Olympics, I was watching it on TV in the USA. He looked so relaxed. It was amazing. He is a gentle, genuine, and pure person outside. But he is so different as an athlete. He is so furious on the track. His competitive mindset is his strength, and it is at a different level. He is able to channelise all the energy, both positive and negative, when he is throwing the javelin,” said Himani.

For some, pressure is a privilege. No Indian athlete would have faced more stress than Neeraj, but he has inevitably delivered every time, putting a smile of pride on every Indian.

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If she gets the chance and possibly the right partner, Himani may get back to the professional tennis circuit and try to compete in doubles. She has always loved playing the game, and she had taken the position as an “assistant coach” in the US, just to be able to “hit with the players.”

After being at Southeastern Louisiana University for a year in 2018-19, Himani had pursued her education and tennis at Franklin Pierce University and the University of Massachusetts until last year.

“Sometimes, I do get the thought that since I am playing so well, I should go pro in doubles,” said Himani. 

She had received an offer to go to school in the USA with support for her tennis before she joined college in Delhi. Quite sceptical at that time, the family had not pursued the chance. Maybe better training and professional guidance earlier in America could have helped her avoid the wrist injury and have a flourishing career in tennis.

Himani is not one to rue missed chances. She accepts life as it unfolds, cheerfully, with the belief that everything happens for a reason.

At the moment, she is focused on doing the work to strengthen Vel Sports and the Neeraj Chopra Foundation.

Neeraj has been helping athletes, coaches, and academies regularly. The idea of starting Vel Sports was to lend support in a structured way, ensuring follow-up. It is also professional to do the work as a team and be in a position to help more deserving athletes.

The most important factor is that Neeraj believes that he is still reaching the peak of his sporting career. For him, the best is yet to be accomplished. Himani and the team will take care of all the work, allowing Neeraj to focus on getting better with his throws and make a lasting contribution to the sporting consciousness of the country, possibly with the Los Angeles Olympics. He may have won all the medals worth winning in the world of sports, yet Neeraj has a burning desire to do better than his best throw!

“Athletes need to be supported and protected. As athletes ourselves, we have a clear idea of what is required. And how to go about it. We want to help athletes manage their career well. We also want to equip them to deal with life in a strong way, if hampered by injury or when they quit sports,” said Himani.

The athletes already have a lot of good qualities ingrained in them. It is easier to position them nicely in society even after their playing days are over.

“Athletes are disciplined, hardworking, and honest. But not all of them can have a glittering career like Tom Bradley. With the right guidance, we can help them manage their career and have a happy life,” said Himani.

Published on Mar 31, 2026