Neeraj Chopra’s Mother Praises Arshad Nadeem: “He’s Also Like My Child”

The Paris Olympics witnessed a historic moment as India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem claimed the top two spots in the javelin throw event, finishing 1-2 in a thrilling competition. While Chopra took home the silver medal, his mother, Saroj Devi, had nothing but praise for both athletes, delivering a heartwarming message that resonated across borders.

Saroj Devi, mother of athlete Neeraj Chopra, speaks; Silver medallist India's Neeraj Chopra and Gold medallist Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem greet each other after the men's javelin throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

In an interview with ANI, Saroj Devi expressed her pride in Neeraj’s achievement, saying, “Silver bhi gold lag raha hai” (Silver feels like gold). Despite her son not clinching the gold, she emphasized that she was equally proud of Arshad Nadeem’s accomplishment. “I am happy with the silver; the guy who got gold (Arshad Nadeem) is also my child. Everyone goes there after doing a lot of hard work,” she added.

Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a remarkable throw of 92.97 meters, surpassing the previous mark held by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen since 2008. Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion, secured the silver with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters, while Anderson Peters of Grenada claimed the bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters.

Neeraj’s father, Satish Chopra, also congratulated Nadeem on his victory, acknowledging that every athlete has their day. “Today, it was Arshad’s day. Twelve players were competing, and Arshad won the gold. Many congratulations to him,” he said.

Neeraj Chopra, who has been battling a groin injury, admitted that he has been struggling with his performance in recent years. Despite fouling on five of his six attempts, Chopra graciously congratulated Nadeem and praised his performance.

This victory marked Pakistan’s first-ever gold medal in track and field, adding another layer to the already intense sports rivalry between India and Pakistan. As Nadeem reflected on the competition, he noted how eagerly fans from both nations had anticipated this face-off in the javelin event. “People back home in Pakistan and even in India were eager to see us both throwing the javelin and beating each other. I’m happy to see Chopra earning silver,” Nadeem said through a translator.

The mutual respect and camaraderie displayed by the athletes and their families offer a refreshing reminder of the shared humanity that transcends national rivalries, making this Olympic moment one to remember.