Two mothers on both sides of the border between India and Pakistan had nothing but love and heartwarming messages to share after their sons won gold and silver medals in the men's javelin throw finals at the Paris Olympics.
The ladies are being applauded by both countries.
It was Olympian Neeraj Chopra’s mother Saroj Devi who first commented on her son's victory. "I am very happy he has won silver but it feels like gold. Phir marega, he will throw again."
When asked about Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem performing better than Chopra, Saroj Devi talking to reporters at the family's home in Khandra, Panipat, said, "Koi baat nahin, teeno hamare bachche hain" (It doesn't matter, all three winners are our sons, our children).
Soon after, Nadeem's mother responded, commenting on the boys' famed camaraderie, saying Chopra is like her own son.
"He is also like my son. He is Nadeem's friend and also his brother. Wins and losses are part of the sport. May god bless him, may he win medals. They are like brothers, I've prayed for Neeraj too," Arshad's mother said in an interview.
She said she was thankful to Pakistan for the support they lent to Nadeem, for "the prayers they offered for my son."
Neeraj Chopra won silver in the final event of the 2024 Paris Olympics after he fouled in five of his six throws, losing to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who bagged gold with a throw of 92.97 metres, breaking the previous Olympic record set by Denmark's Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Despite their rivalry in the sporting arena, Chopra and Nadeem are good friends.
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