Olympics 2024: Divided by Borders, United by Mothers — Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem’s Victory
While Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem compete against each other often due to the bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan, few people know how the mothers of these two Olympic champions see each other, like two sisters.
In this game, Pakistan came to the fore when Arshad Nadeem clinched the Men’s Javelin during the Paris 2024 Olympics with a record 92.97 meters, giving his country its first individual Olympic gold. The defending champion, India’s Neeraj Chopra, was second with 89.45 meters, a new throw in the competition season and the second result in his career.
India and Pakistan are bitter competitors, especially in sports like cricket, but Nadeem says there is healthy competition between the two countries. “Cricket matches and other sports are competition, but for the younger generation of both countries, it is good that they watch our sport and follow us,” said Nadeem.
The families of these players equally well reflected the same spirit of unity and camaraderie. Saroj Devi, the mother of Neeraj Chopra: ‘It is a matter of great proud that both of our athletes could make their country proud’. “We are delighted with the silver,” she told ANI, adding, “The one who got gold is also our child, and the one who got silver is also our child. ” “All are athletes all are sweating hard. Nadeem is good. He plays well. Even Neeraj and Nadeem are equal to us. We got gold and silver. To us, it is the same. ”
On the other side of the border, Arshad Nadeem’s family, including his mother Raziah Parveen, echoed the same emotions and thanked Neeraj Chopra for his best wishes. “They are friends but they are like brothers,” she said for Independent Urdu and added, “I also pray for Neeraj for further success.” “I call Neeraj also like son, and I pray for him that he wins medals… They are like brothers, and yes, they win. Sometimes they lose that is a sport. ”
This is a beautiful example of how two families of Olympic champions from rival countries still respect and have affection for each other. That is precisely because they understand that beyond their rivalry on the playing field and people’s nationalistic enthusiasm, they are both striving and working hard to instill the best in the athletes they are carrying in their arms.
The bond between Neeraj and Arshad for the bettor years has proved to be the only hope for better relations between India and Pakistan, as we have seen between India and Pakistan mostly having compelled issues and tension between them. The supporters and the players’ families who expressed their support are symbolic and inspiring evidence of unity and friendship from sports that can heal divisions. With both these athletes rising higher on the world athletic platform, it seems their love for each other is cause for celebration rather than condemnation of the power of sports to divide rather than unite.
