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The bond between Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra, two javelin throwers from Pakistan and India respectively, transcends the realm of sporting rivalry. Their camaraderie has been evident both on and off the field, with their mothers expressing their love and support for both athletes.After their 1-2 finish in the Paris Olympics javelin throw final, social media was abuzz with stories of their friendship. Neeraj's mother, Saroj, had earlier stated that Arshad was like a son to her. Now, Arshad's mother has reciprocated those sentiments, saying she views Neeraj in the same way."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.Saroj, too, expressed her joy at the success of both athletes. "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," she said."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.The friendship between Chopra and Nadeem has been evident in their interactions off the field. Chopra has often supported Nadeem, lending him a helping hand on multiple occasions.This mutual respect and camaraderie between the two athletes is a testament to the power of sports to bridge divides and foster unity. It also highlights the importance of sportsmanship and the spirit of competition, where athletes can compete fiercely on the field but still maintain a bond of friendship and respect off it.

Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy in javelin, made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win back-to-back medals at the Games. However, the night belonged to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who shattered the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m.Chopra, who was aiming for a second consecutive gold, was hampered by a groin injury that limited him to just one legitimate throw. Despite his best efforts, he could not breach the 90m mark for the first time in his career and had to settle for silver.The frustration was evident on Chopra's face as he repeatedly crossed the throwing arc, resulting in five of his six attempts being declared fouls. During his penultimate throw, he lost his cool and screamed in anger after his leg crossed the line.Speaking to the media after the competition, Chopra admitted that he felt he could have thrown over 90m, but his injury prevented him from doing so. "It was because of an injury (groin strain). I wanted to express myself and throw. It was not happening. It was the Olympic stage. But, the throw was still good. I managed only one legal throw. All others were foul. When Arshad threw 92.97m, I believed in my mind that I would be able to do it (90m) today. It didn’t happen today. Let’s see when it will happen. But the competition was very intense and exciting. Winning a medal for my country makes me happy,” he said.Despite the disappointment of not winning gold, Chopra's silver medal is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has become India's third track-and-field athlete to win an Olympic medal, after Norman Pritchard and Sushil Kumar, and the fifth Indian to have two medals at the Games.

Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's javelin-throwing sensation, has etched his name in history by securing the country's first-ever individual gold medal at the Olympics. His remarkable achievement is a testament to his unwavering determination and the resilience of the Pakistani spirit.Nadeem's journey to the Olympic podium has been marked by adversity and financial constraints. Growing up in a humble village in Punjab, his family struggled to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, Nadeem's passion for javelin throwing burned brightly. With limited resources, he relied on the support of his community, who donated funds to help him travel for training and competitions.In 2021, Nadeem made history by winning a silver medal at the World Championships, becoming the first Pakistani to achieve such a feat. His success continued at the Commonwealth Games 2022, where he claimed gold with a throw of 90.18m.Nadeem's Olympic triumph is a culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. Despite facing physical setbacks and a lack of access to world-class facilities, he has consistently defied expectations. His victory is a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes in Pakistan and a reminder that anything is possible with determination and perseverance.Nadeem's success has also highlighted the importance of support and camaraderie in sports. His close friendship with Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won silver in Paris, is a testament to the power of sportsmanship and the ability to transcend national boundaries.Nadeem's Olympic gold medal is a watershed moment for Pakistan. It has ignited a renewed passion for sports in the country and inspired a generation of young athletes to dream big. His achievement is a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the Pakistani people and a reminder that even the most challenging circumstances can be overcome with unwavering determination.

India's Olympic medal drought at the Paris 2024 Games ended with a silver medal from javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who fell short of defending his Tokyo gold but secured India's first podium finish in the French capital.Chopra's best throw of 89.45 meters, recorded in his second attempt, was a season-best but not enough to surpass Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who claimed the gold with a monumental throw of 92.97 meters, breaking the Olympic record.The competition began tensely, with Chopra, Nadeem, and Julian Weber all committing fouls on their first attempts. Nadeem, however, quickly turned things around with a throw that surpassed the 90-meter mark, putting pressure on Chopra.Chopra responded with his second attempt, but another foul on his third try left him trailing Nadeem. After three rounds, four competitors were eliminated, leaving Chopra to face fierce competition from Jakub Vadlejch, Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, and Weber.In the fourth round, Peters took the lead with an 88.54, while Chopra fouled again. Nadeem played it safe, staying within bounds but managing only a 79.40-meter throw. Despite the dip in distance, Nadeem remained in the lead, with Chopra holding onto second place.More fouls from Chopra in the fifth round allowed Nadeem to extend his lead. With just one throw left for each competitor, Chopra fouled again, sealing his fate with a silver medal. Nadeem's gold was guaranteed even before his final throw, which he celebrated with a gigantic 91.79-meter throw.Chopra's silver medal brings India's medal count at Paris 2024 to five, with a chance for another on Friday. After Swapnil Kusale's bronze in the men's 50m rifle 3 position final, India went six days without winning a medal before Neeraj's silver and the men's hockey team's second consecutive bronze on Thursday evening.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem has etched his name in Olympic history by shattering the men's javelin throw record with an extraordinary 92.97m throw during the final. Achieving this monumental feat on his second attempt, Nadeem eclipsed the previous Olympic record of 90.57m, set by Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen.Despite a rocky start, during which he initially aborted his first attempt due to a flawed run-up and eventually did not register his opening throw, Nadeem displayed remarkable composure and precision to deliver the record-breaking throw that stunned the athletics world.The Pakistan javelin thrower, who claimed the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships, has consistently been a formidable force in the javelin circuit, and his Olympic record further cements his legacy. His primary rival, India's Neeraj Chopra, led the qualification round with an impressive 89.34m throw and later improved to a season-best 89.45m in the final.Nadeem was a gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which Chopra skipped owing to an injury. He also won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games. In the previous Olympics, Nadeem stood fifth with the highest attempt of 84.62m.Nadeem was widely seen as Pakistan's top contender for a medal at the Olympic games, and with his gargantuan throw in the final, he has all but assured that he will stand on the podium after the final. If Arshad wins a medal, he will become the first track and field athlete from the country to stand on the Olympic podium.Nadeem's record-breaking throw is a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent. It is a moment of immense pride for Pakistan and a historic achievement that will inspire generations to come.

Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's Commonwealth Games champion javelin thrower, is a testament to the adage that it takes a village to raise a champion. Despite Pakistan's limited investment in sports beyond cricket, Nadeem's achievements have been remarkable.Nadeem's journey began in the village of Khanewal, Punjab, where his fellow villagers and relatives pooled their resources to support his training and travel expenses. His father, Muhammad Ashraf, recalls how the community rallied around their young athlete, donating money to enable him to compete in distant cities.Nadeem's rise to prominence has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He became the first Pakistani athlete since 1962 to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, with a massive throw of 90.18m. He also secured a silver medal at the World Championships last year.However, Nadeem's career has not been without challenges. He has faced elbow, knee, and back problems, requiring knee surgery last year. Despite these setbacks, he has persevered, becoming a beacon of hope for Pakistani sports enthusiasts.Nadeem's rivalry and camaraderie with India's Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, is well-documented. In the Tokyo Olympics, Chopra won gold while Nadeem finished fifth. However, Chopra has publicly supported Nadeem's efforts to secure a new javelin for training.On Thursday, Nadeem will face a formidable task in the javelin throw finals at the Olympics. No Pakistani athlete has ever won an Olympic gold medal in an individual competition, let alone track and field. Yet, Nadeem's determination and the unwavering support of his village and nation give him a fighting chance to make history.

Pakistan's Olympic history is synonymous with hockey glory, with all of its gold medals coming from the sport. The legendary Pakistani hockey team of the 1950s captured their first gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games, and their last medal at the grandest stage was also won by the hockey team at the 1992 Barcelona Games.However, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pakistan's contingent arrived without a hockey team for the first time in history, marking a significant departure from their past Olympic successes. This absence has sparked a debate among Pakistani sports enthusiasts, particularly after a commentator's remarks during the opening ceremony."Pakistan is a country of over 240 million people, but only 7 athletes are competing at the Olympics," the commentator stated, drawing criticism from Pakistani fans who felt humiliated by the observation.Despite the absence of a hockey team, Pakistan's contingent of 18 athletes is determined to make an impact in Paris. Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is considered the country's medal hope, having won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.In the 10m air pistol men's qualification, Joseph Gulfam finished 22nd, while Kishmala Talat placed 31st in the women's event. In the mixed team event, Talat and Gulfam secured the 14th spot. Swimmers Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi also failed to advance to the medal rounds.Pakistan's performance in Paris has raised questions about the state of sports in the country. The absence of a hockey team and the limited number of athletes competing have highlighted the challenges faced by Pakistani athletes in achieving international success.