Islamabad:Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra on Friday to congratulate him on winning the silver medal in the javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics.
In the same event, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem secured the gold medal, with Chopra finishing in second place. Following the competition, Chopra’s mother, Suroj Devi, expressed her happiness not only for her son’s achievement but also for Nadeem’s victory. She referred to Nadeem as her own son, praising his efforts and dedication.
Meanwhile, Arshad Nadeem’s mother also spoke to the media, describing Neeraj Chopra as her son Arshad’s friend and brother. She expressed that victories and defeats are matters of fate and prayed for Chopra’s future success, hoping he too would win a gold medal someday.
During the phone call, Prime Minister Modi praised Chopra, saying, “Congratulations, you have made the country proud. The entire nation was looking at you with hope.” Chopra responded by expressing his disappointment that he couldn’t achieve the gold medal due to an injury, despite his best efforts. He acknowledged the tough competition but was happy to have won the silver medal under the circumstances.
Modi reassured Chopra, stating, “You played exceptionally well. Despite the injury and tough competition, you won a medal. So, don’t dwell on not winning the gold. You should be proud of your achievement.”
Chopra acknowledged the ups and downs in sports and pledged to work harder in the future. Modi also mentioned being impressed by Chopra’s mother’s comments about Nadeem, noting that such sportsmanship and spirit should be celebrated.
In closing, Modi commended Chopra for winning at the Olympics twice, a rare feat, and suggested that during their next meeting, Chopra should share details of his injury so that they could discuss possible support measures.
