Neeraj Chopra‘s mother, Saroj Devi, has shared her plans to welcome her son home with his favorite dish, “churma,” after his silver medal win at the Paris Olympics in the men’s javelin throw final. Neeraj secured the silver with a season’s best throw of 89.45m, while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold with an Olympic record-breaking effort of 92.97m.
Despite Neeraj not winning the gold, his mother expressed immense pride in his achievement and also conveyed her happiness for Nadeem, whom she referred to as “like her child.” Saroj emphasized that both athletes are equal in her eyes, stating, “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.”
Neeraj’s fondness for “desi khana” (traditional Indian food) is well-known, and his family’s preparation of churma, a sweet dish made from crushed wheat, sugar, and ghee, is a testament to their love and pride for him. The family’s joy was palpable, with celebrations including firecrackers and the making of ladoos (sweet balls).
Neeraj’s achievement is notable not only because of his personal performance but also due to the highly competitive field, where seven athletes crossed the 86m mark. His aunt Kamlesh echoed the sentiment of pride, acknowledging the fierce competition and Neeraj’s consistent excellence.
Reflecting on Nadeem’s remarkable throw, Kamlesh noted that the family had a sense that gold might be out of reach but reiterated their happiness for both athletes. She concluded by saying, “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.”
Neeraj Chopra continues to be one of India’s most decorated athletes, adding this Olympic silver to his already impressive collection of medals, including golds from the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
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