India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra mentioned that his mother spoke from heart when she called Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem "like a son" after India and Pakistan secured the top two spots in the men's javelin throw at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 on August 8. Nadeem's impressive 92.97m throw broke the Olympic record, earning him the gold, while Neeraj's season-best throw of 89.45m secured him the sole silver medal for India at the Paris Games.
After Arshad won the gold and Neeraj the silver medal, when Neeraj's mother, Saroj Devi, was asked about Nadeem winning the gold ahead of her son, she expressed that even a silver medal holds immense value, comparing it to gold for them and the one who won the gold medal is also like a son.
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"No regrets, we are so so happy, extremely happy. Even a silver medal is equivalent to a gold medal for us. It's okay if he (Arshad Nadeem) has taken the gold (medal), he is also one of us, from our house, like a son. Even he worked hard for it as well," said Saroj Devi.
'She Has The Feeling Of A Mother': Neeraj Chopra On His Mother
Neeraj Chopra explained that his mother, Saroj Devi, isn't influenced by social media or news, and always speaks from a mother's heart. He mentioned that her simple and heartfelt words, calling Arshad Nadeem "like a son," might have surprised some but resonated with others.
"She lives in a village, a background where she is not influenced by news on social media and television, about the relations between India and Pakistan. She has the feeling of a mother. She speaks simply and speaks her heart," Neeraj said during an interaction with India Today in Paris.
"She speaks from the heart of a mother. Some people might have found it strange, some people might have liked it," Neeraj added.