Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra gets family blessings as Pakistan's cricket stars back Arshad Nadeem for gold
While Neeraj Chopra's family exudes confidence in his preparation and prays for a gold medal, Pakistani cricketers and fans passionately rally behind Arshad Nadeem, hoping he will make history by winning an Olympic medal for his country.
As the men's javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics 2024 approaches, the excitement is palpable. The event will see a highly anticipated showdown between two of Asia's top javelin throwers: Neeraj Chopra from India and Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan.
Both athletes have their nations' hopes riding on their shoulders, with Chopra aiming to defend his Olympic title and Nadeem striving to win Pakistan¡¯s first Olympic medal since 1992.
Neeraj Chopra's family hopeful of medal
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and World Champion, has been preparing intensely for this moment. His father, Satish Kumar, shared his thoughts in an interview with ANI, revealing his son's dedication and readiness.
#WATCH | Neeraj Chopra's father, Satish Kumar says, "...When I spoke to him last, 3-4 days back, he said that he would give his everything and that he is preparations are good...The country is confident that he will win a medal. The colour of the medal depends on the day...With¡ pic.twitter.com/kXQ1nYZCRq
¡ª ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024
¡°When I spoke to him last, 3-4 days back, he said that he would give his everything and that his preparations are good,¡± Kumar said. He also expressed the nation's confidence in Chopra, adding, ¡°The country is confident that he will win a medal. The color of the medal depends on the day... With the prayers of an entire country, may God show her good times. The country expects Gold from him... We will all watch the match together.¡±
#WATCH | Panipat, Haryana: Preparations underway at the residence of defending champion #NeerajChopra to watch him in action tonight when he competes in the men's javelin throw final.#OlympicGames #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/QrRh7Lkgj6
¡ª ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024
Neeraj Chopra was born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra village of Haryana¡¯s Panipat district. His father is a modest farmer, and his mother, Saroj Devi, is a homemaker. Chopra is the eldest of three siblings, with two younger sisters, Sangeeta and Sarita.
A reporter asked #NeerajChopra 's mother about how she feels about Neeraj defeating a Pakistani athlete to win gold.
¡ª Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) August 28, 2023
His mother said : A player is a player, it doesn't matter where he comes from, I am glad that the Pakistani player ( Arshad Nadeem) won as well.
This whole¡ pic.twitter.com/imk3ZHyLrC
His family's support has been a crucial part of his journey, a bond that was deeply evident when Neeraj returned home after winning his gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
A small dream of mine came true today as I was able to take my parents on their first flight.
¡ª Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) September 11, 2021
?? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? - ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?? pic.twitter.com/Kmn5iRhvUf
The first thing he did upon landing in India was to meet his parents at Delhi¡¯s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where he placed his medal around his mother¡¯s neck, followed by his father¡¯s¡ªa heartfelt gesture acknowledging their sacrifices.
#WATCH | Neeraj Chopra's uncle Bhim Chopra says, "Olympics is the biggest 'mahakumbh' of sports...We are expecting medals from all athletes, including Neeraj...Every athlete has their day. So, it depends on how their body behaves on a particular day and how do they perform. No¡ pic.twitter.com/40D98WQzs4
¡ª ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024
Neeraj's uncle, Bhim Chopra, also expressed his expectations for the upcoming Olympics. He called the event the biggest ¡®mahakumbh¡¯ of sports, saying, ¡°We are expecting medals from all athletes, including Neeraj... Every athlete has their day. So, it depends on how their body behaves on a particular day and how do they perform. No one leaves any stone unturned... When hard work and luck come together, I think they will succeed. People's blessings are with them.¡±
Pak cricketers show support for Arshad Nadeem
Across the border in Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem is also garnering significant attention and support. The 27-year-old athlete has a strong record, having won the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where Neeraj Chopra secured gold.
Nadeem's qualifying throw for the Paris Olympics was an impressive 86.59 meters, surpassing the direct qualification mark of 84 meters in his very first attempt. In contrast, Chopra topped both qualification groups with a massive throw of 89.34 meters.
Pakistan's cricket community has rallied behind Nadeem, with several prominent players sending their best wishes.
Test captain Shan Masood led the messages, saying, ¡°First of all, Arshad Nadeem, congratulations on qualifying for the final. Our best wishes and prayers are with you. We are eagerly waiting and hope that you will win a medal for Pakistan. Whatever you have done and achieved for Pakistan can¡¯t be described in words. You are a role model, and we hope that on August 8 you will be on the podium. All the best, brother.¡±
Supporting our star Arshad Nadeem ?
¡ª Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 8, 2024
Pakistan team wishes Arshad all the best ahead of the Men¡¯s Javelin Throw final at the Paris Olympics tonight ? pic.twitter.com/qOqvewkRkp
Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Top contenders challenging Neeraj Chopra for javelin gold
Other cricketers, including Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Umar Gul, have also expressed their support, highlighting the significance of Nadeem¡¯s achievement and the hope he brings to the nation.
Arshad Nadeem vs Neeraj Chopra
Arshad Nadeem¡¯s journey to this point has been historic. He became the first Pakistani athlete to qualify for the final of any track and field event in Olympic history, finishing fifth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 84.62 meters. This time, with the weight of expectations and the encouragement of an entire nation, he hopes to achieve even greater heights.
The men¡¯s javelin throw final at the Stade de France in Paris on August 8 will undoubtedly be a battle to remember. While Neeraj Chopra aims to continue his golden streak, Arshad Nadeem will be striving to make history for Pakistan. As both athletes prepare for their final showdown, their countries stand united in hope and anticipation, eagerly awaiting the outcome of this thrilling contest.
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Kumar Debvrat is a copyeditor at Indiatimes, combining trending topics in India with unique human-interest stories. He has a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, enjoying both cricket and comic book movies.
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