The family of Neeraj Chopra issues a "Rivalry Verdict" while Arshad secures the Javelin Gold.

During the Paris Olympics 2024, the Indian team experienced another disappointing moment when Neeraj Chopra was forced to settle for a silver medal in the men's javelin throw final. Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan won the gold medal with a throw that broke the Olympic record. In the men's javelin throw final, competitors from all over the world competed, but Neeraj and Arshad's race for the top podium slot was mostly framed as an India vs. Pakistan match. Neeraj's family isn't pleased to see such a picture being painted, though.

Neeraj's parents, aunt, and mother downplayed the rivalry between India and Pakistan in the men's javelin throw final in an interview with NDTV, stating they also pray for Arshad whenever he participates in international competitions  just like they do for their own son.

"I only noticed that kids were playing, so I wasn't particularly enthused about the final. It makes no difference if we receive gold or silver; they are both the same. Neeraj's mother stated, "The kids did really well, nevertheless.

"I constantly advise people to go past the India versus. Pakistan viewpoint. At the international level, competition is everything. Neeraj made it clear to us that there is no rivalry between him and Nadeem; in fact, we pray for him each time he plays. Using your channel, we would like to wish Nadeem's parents a happy birthday. "We wish him all the best," Neeraj's aunt declared.
Neeraj's father had similar views, claiming that Arshad's hard work and good fortune were the reasons he was awarded the gold medal.

Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan is another talented player. He earned the award for his dedication to his sport at the Olympic Games in Paris. It wasn't a match between India and Pakistan; rather, it was a global tournament. Anybody could have achieved more. It was Nadeem's day today. Hard work and luck go hand in hand. The outcome is a synthesis of the two, according to Neeraj's father.

The sacrifice of parents and the necessity of local academies:

Neeraj's family acknowledged that because of his busy schedule, they don't get to see him very much. On the other hand, his father adopted a selfless position, stating that their sacrifices would be necessary if Neeraj was to reach greater heights.

"As parents, we must make sacrifices; we cannot ask him to spend more time with us because he has his own responsibilities. He went on, "We can't expect him to excel unless we leave him alone with his responsibilities," outlining the sacrifices Neeraj's family has made to see him ascend the corporate ladders.

Neeraj's aunt asked the authorities and government to establish local academies where kids could develop their skills and feel less of a need to travel far from home.
"We want to direct the establishment of academies in and around Panipat by the authorities. After starting training, Neeraj first relocated to Panchkula and subsequently Patiala. He has been competing abroad ever since he turned professional. We needed to visit the airport  to meet him recently, as he has quite a busy schedule," she said, urging the authorities.