Arshad Nadeem: Neeraj Chopra's Mother is Like My Mother
At the Paris Olympics, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won gold in javelin, breaking records and highlighting a touching camaraderie with India's silver medalist, Neeraj Chopra.
The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan took a heartwarming turn at the Paris Olympics. In the javelin throw event, Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan won the gold medal with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters, surpassing the previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters set by Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008.
India's Neeraj Chopra, who had previously won gold in Tokyo, secured the silver medal with a throw of 89.45 meters. Despite his disappointment, Neeraj displayed sportsmanship by shaking hands with Arshad, showing a bond beyond the fierce competition.
Neeraj's mother, Saroj Devi, expressed her happiness, saying, "We are very happy with the silver, the one who got gold is also our child, and the one who got silver is also our child. Nadeem is also good, he plays well, there is no difference between Neeraj and Nadeem."
Similarly, Arshad Nadeem's mother, Raziah Parveen, sent her heartfelt wishes to Neeraj, calling him like a son and expressing hope for his continued success. She emphasized the brotherly relationship between the two athletes, stating that winning and losing is part of the sport, but the friendship between them is more important.
This gold medal marks a significant achievement for Pakistan, as it is their first Olympic gold in 32 years. Arshad Nadeem's journey to success has been challenging, coming from a poor background where his family struggled to support his training. His father worked as a mason, and the villagers pooled money to help Arshad attend training sessions and competitions.
Nadeem initially wanted to be a fast bowler in cricket but later shifted to javelin throw, inspired by his brothers. He practiced with a bamboo stick shaped like a javelin on the village ground.
Earlier this year, Nadeem's request for a new javelin was supported by Neeraj Chopra, showcasing the camaraderie between the two athletes despite the national rivalry. Nadeem's success has brought attention to athletics in Pakistan, a country primarily focused on cricket.
In recognition of his achievement, Punjab (Pakistan) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a cash award of 100 million Pakistani rupees for Nadeem. Additionally, the Sindh government announced 50 million rupees, and the Sukkur city mayor promised a gold crown.
Nadeem has now requested the government to provide cooking gas to his village and build a university and sports center so that more villagers can pursue sports.
This inspiring story of friendship and success reminds us that sports can bring people together, even from rival nations, fostering respect and unity.
