Athletics
"Arshad is also my child, I am happy with silver": Neeraj Chopra's mother
The City of Panipat broke into celebration at midnight as their pride Neeraj Chopra clinched his consecutive medal at the Olympics.
As the Javelin Throw competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics ended in Paris, fireworks went off in the Panipat district of Haryana as the pride Neeraj Chopra just became the two-time Olympic medalist.
People came out on the street and started dancing along with fireworks.
While the expectation was of a gold, the silver medal at the Olympics was good enough to make Neeraj Chopra's mother happy.
"I am very happy. This silver feels like gold to me," Neeraj's mother Saroj told ANI after he won the silver medal.
"We are happy and this is good for us. Last time when he came, I made his favourite food and I will do it again," she added further.
WATCH: Fireworks go off in Neeraj Chopra's hometown Panipat after his silver medal win
When asked about gold medalist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, Saroj said, "He is also my child. Everybody goes there after doing a lot of hard work."
Neeraj Chopra’s grandfather, Dharm Singh Chopra, proudly remarked that his grandson put forth his utmost effort to boost India's medal tally at the Paris Games. "He has given his best performance and won silver, adding one more medal to the country," Dharm Singh Chopra commented.
Neeraj’s father, Satish Kumar, praised his son, noting that Neeraj competed despite an injury that affected his bid for gold at the Olympics. “Everyone has their day. Today was Pakistan's day," he said.
"But we have won silver, and it is a proud thing for us. I think his groin injury had a part in his performance. He has won silver for the country. We are happy and proud. All the youths will get inspired by him,” Satish Kumar concluded.
Current World champion Neeraj Chopra threw 89.45m at the 2024 Paris Olympics to clinch the silver medal in the men's Javelin Throw event while gold was won by Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan who broke the Olympic record with his throw of 92.97m.
With this medal, Neeraj Chopra joins star shuttler PV Sindhu and wrestler Sushil Kumar in the list of Indian athletes who have won medals at successive Olympics.
