NEW DELHI: Saroj Devi, the mother of Neeraj Chopra, was overjoyed to hear that her son had won a silver medal. She also expressed joy for Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, who defeated the Indian reigning champion in Paris by breaking the Olympic record, comparing him to her “child”.
With a season-best throw of 89.45 meters, Chopra won the silver medal at the Paris Games, after Nadeem’s Olympic record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters on Thursday night.
Chopra became just the third Indian and the first in track and field history to win consecutive individual Olympic medals with the silver.
“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….all are athletes, all work hard,” Saroj told PTI Videos in Khandra, Panipat, where the family is based.
“Nadeem is also good, he plays well, there is no difference between Neeraj and Nadeem. We got gold and silver there is no difference for us,” she added in the interview given on Thursday night.
Despite being opponents on the field, Chopra and Nadeem are close friends off it.

‘Churma‘ awaits Neeraj on homecoming
It is well known that Chopra loves “desi khana,” and his family is preparing to welcome the two-time Olympian with his favorite meal, “Churma.”
“He did really well. We will welcome him with churma which is his favourite. I am delighted, people are lighting firecrackers, we are making ladoos,” Saroj added.
Chopra’s result is commendable in light of the extremely tough competition, wherein seven athletes achieved a distance greater than 86 meters.
“We are very happy. He produced his season’s best. All were near 88-89m so competition was very tough. It’s not about winning a gold or silver, but about winning a medal, and he did his best,” Chopra’s aunt Kamlesh said.
Having won gold in every competition, including the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, Chopra is among the most decorated athletes in India.
“After Tokyo there was no medal left except for silver, that was also needed so he got it,” Kamlesh said.
She stated that following Nadeem’s monstrous throw, the family had a sneaking suspicion that Chopra wouldn’t take home the gold.
“After Nadeem’s throw (92.97m) we had a feeling (that he will win gold) but he is also our son, we are happy with him.
“He’s also Asia’s son. We don’t differentiate between Nadeem and Neeraj. Both have got gold and silver and we are very happy,” she added.