A Pakistani and an Indian stood on the top two steps of the podium, arm on each other and the world watched in awe. Things like these don’t happen at the Olympics track and field. They shatter the stereotypes, spoil the narrative.
Then again, Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra are born to do that for their respective countries. They were not just spear-throwers. Chopra and Nadeem were launching India and Pakistan to places the countries had never been before.
Nadeem, with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 m, won Pakistan’s first medal at the Olympics – of any colour, in any sport – since 1992. It was a dominant gold. Chopra’s best effort of 89.45 m fetched him a silver, making him the first India to win gold and silver medals at the Olympics.
Chopra has said that he gave his best as it was “Arshad Nadeem’s day to win gold.” The athlete, whose season’s best performance of 89.45m was not enough to get him the gold, said it was time to assess his performance and focus on future improvements.
“We all feel happy whenever we win a medal for the country. It is time to improve the game now. We will sit and discuss and enhance our performance,” Chopra said.
He added that the competition was tough and every athlete has their day. “Today was Arshad’s day. I gave my best, but some things need to be addressed and worked on.” Nadeem won the gold with a throw of 92.97m, a new Olympic record.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India’s star track and field athlete Neeraj Chopra on his magnificent silver win at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
Taking to their social media handle ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), the leaders separately lauded Chopra for clinching two successive Olympic medals for the country — his first gold in the Tokyo Olympics followed by his silver medal in the men’s javelin event at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
