Neeraj Chopra's Mother Celebrates Silver, Praises Pakistan's Nadeem

Neeraj Chopra’s Mother Celebrates Silver, Praises Pakistan’s Nadeem

Neeraj Chopra’s mother, Saroj Devi, expressed immense joy and pride over her son’s silver medal victory at the Paris Olympics. She also extended her heartfelt congratulations to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who broke the Olympic record to clinch the gold medal.

“We are overjoyed with the silver medal. The one who won gold is also our child, and the one who won silver is also our child. All athletes work hard and deserve recognition,” Saroj Devi told PTI Videos.

She emphasized that there was no distinction between Chopra and Nadeem, both of whom are close friends off the field. “Nadeem is a talented athlete who plays well. We are equally proud of both of them,” she added.

Chopra’s family is eagerly awaiting his return home, where they plan to celebrate his achievement with his favorite dish, “Churma.” “He did exceptionally well. We will welcome him with Churma, which he loves. We are delighted and have been celebrating with firecrackers and ladoos,” Saroj Devi said.

Chopra’s performance was particularly impressive given the highly competitive field, with seven athletes surpassing the 86m mark. “We are thrilled that he produced his season’s best. The competition was intense, but he gave it his all,” said Chopra’s aunt, Kamlesh.

Chopra’s silver medal adds to his impressive collection of accolades, including gold medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. “After Tokyo, the only medal left was silver, and he has now achieved that as well,” Kamlesh said.

The family had initially hoped for a gold medal after Nadeem’s record-breaking throw, but they were equally overjoyed with Chopra’s silver. “We are happy with both of them. They have brought glory to Asia,” Kamlesh added.

Neeraj Chopra Clinches Silver in Javelin Throw at Paris Olympics 2024

Neeraj Chopra Clinches Silver in Javelin Throw at Paris Olympics 2024

India’s Olympic medal drought at the Paris 2024 Games ended with a silver medal from javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who fell short of defending his Tokyo gold but secured India’s first podium finish in the French capital.

Chopra’s best throw of 89.45 meters, recorded in his second attempt, was a season-best but not enough to surpass Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who claimed the gold with a monumental throw of 92.97 meters, breaking the Olympic record.

The competition began tensely, with Chopra, Nadeem, and Julian Weber all committing fouls on their first attempts. Nadeem, however, quickly turned things around with a throw that surpassed the 90-meter mark, putting pressure on Chopra.

Chopra responded with his second attempt, but another foul on his third try left him trailing Nadeem. After three rounds, four competitors were eliminated, leaving Chopra to face fierce competition from Jakub Vadlejch, Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, and Weber.

In the fourth round, Peters took the lead with an 88.54, while Chopra fouled again. Nadeem played it safe, staying within bounds but managing only a 79.40-meter throw. Despite the dip in distance, Nadeem remained in the lead, with Chopra holding onto second place.

More fouls from Chopra in the fifth round allowed Nadeem to extend his lead. With just one throw left for each competitor, Chopra fouled again, sealing his fate with a silver medal. Nadeem’s gold was guaranteed even before his final throw, which he celebrated with a gigantic 91.79-meter throw.

Chopra’s silver medal brings India’s medal count at Paris 2024 to five, with a chance for another on Friday. After Swapnil Kusale’s bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 position final, India went six days without winning a medal before Neeraj’s silver and the men’s hockey team’s second consecutive bronze on Thursday evening.

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