Mumbai:Suroj Devi, mother of Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, has expressed her delight over Arshad Nadeem’s victory in the Paris Olympics. In an interview with Indian media, Suroj Devi shared her happiness about Chopra’s silver medal win, stating that silver holds equal significance to gold for them. She praised Arshad Nadeem’s achievement, considering him like a son, and acknowledged the hard work required to reach such heights.
Regarding Chopra’s initial throw being invalid, Suroj Devi mentioned that it’s a part of the sport and expressed her overall satisfaction with his performance. She added that she would prepare his favorite dish upon his return home.
Suroj Devi emphasized that every athlete aims to win, and it is not about Haryana or Pakistan but about celebrating the joy of sports. Neeraj Chopra’s father, Satish Kumar, noted that every athlete has their day of success, and this time, it was Arshad Nadeem’s day to win the gold. Kumar highlighted that among the 12 competing nations, Pakistan emerged victorious, and this success was well-deserved.
Satish Kumar further noted the significance of the continued success in the Olympics, with India achieving medals consecutively. Neeraj Chopra had previously won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and secured a silver medal this time.
It is also worth noting that Pakistan secured its first gold medal in the Olympics after 40 years, with Arshad Nadeem becoming the first Pakistani athlete to win an individual gold medal. The last time Pakistan won an Olympic medal was on August 8, 1992, when the national hockey team earned a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics.
