Saroj Devi, mother of Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra, won the admiration of millions by graciously praising Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who claimed the Gold medal in the javelin event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, surpassing her son.
In an interview with Indian media, Saroj Devi expressed her family’s happiness over Neeraj’s silver medal, stating, “Arshad Nadeem is just like my son. Everyone works hard to reach that level, and he put in tremendous effort.” She emphasized that it’s all part of the game, showcasing true sportsmanship that resonated on both sides of the border.
Read more: Watch: Arshad Nadeem cries tears of joy after winning gold medal for Pakistan
Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with an impressive 92.97m throw in the javelin final, securing Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal. This throw broke the previous record of 90.57m set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Neeraj Chopra earned the silver medal with a season-best throw of 89.45m, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters claimed bronze with a throw of 88.54m.
This gold marks Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in 40 years, the last being a bronze in field hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Reflecting on his achievement, the 27-year-old Nadeem said, “When I threw the javelin, I felt it could be an Olympic record.” He highlighted the significance of the victory for Pakistan, attributing it to years of hard work.
Nadeem acknowledged the rivalry with Chopra, likening it to the intense competition in cricket between the two nations. He emphasized that such rivalries are positive, encouraging young people in both countries to engage with athletics and javelin.
Read more: Arshad Nadeem makes Pakistan proud, wins gold medal at Olympics after 30 years
Chopra, while proud of his best throw, admitted he was not entirely satisfied with his overall performance due to issues with his technique and runway. He mentioned ongoing struggles with a groin injury, which have affected his training. Despite this, he congratulated Nadeem on his outstanding performance, saying, “Today’s competition was really great. Arshad threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country.”