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Neeraj Chopra’s mother, Saroj Devi says his son’s silver is like a gold and also lauded gold medal winner Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan.
“Silver bhi gold lag raha hai (Silver is also kike gold),” Saroj Devi told ANI.
“I am happy with the silver, the guy who got gold ( Arshad Nadeem) is also my child, everyone goes there after doing a lot of hard work,” she said.
Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India finished 1-2 at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, fans from the subcontinent were in abundance at the Stade de France.
Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters (305 feet) in his second attempt, smashing the old mark of 90.57 set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway in 2008.
Chopra took silver at 89.45 meters, a season best, and Anderson Peters of Grenada took the bronze at 88.54.
Neeraj’s father Satish also praised Nadeem for his performance. He said: “Everyone has its day and today it was Arshad’s day. Twelve players were competing and Arshad won the gold. Man congratulations to him.”
Neeraj’s father also revealed that the groin injury has affected his son in the final.
Chopra fouled on all five of his other throws and said he’s been in a funk the last few years.
“I’m always injured,” said Chopra, who has been slowed by a groin injury. ”Nadeem threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country.”
It was the first ever gold medal in track and field for Pakistan which, along with India, can contend for gold in cricket four years from now when that sport joins the Olympic program in Los Angeles.
“There’s no doubt about the cricket rivalry. Now this javelin is also there,” Nadeem said through a translator. “People back home in Pakistan and even in India, they were eager to see us both throwing the javelin and beating each other. I’m happy to see Chopra earning silver.”
