‘A player is a player’: Neeraj Chopra’s mother refuses to lionise son’s gold over Pakistani rival

The golden boy of Indian athletics bested his arch rival Arshad Nadeem by 0.35 metres at the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest last week.

(Right) Neeraj Chopra's mother Saroj Devi (ANI) and the athlete after his win at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest on 27th August (Reuters)

New Delhi: “A player is a player” — that is ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s mother Saroj Devi’s answer to any questions about her son defeating a Pakistani athlete on the field.

Chopra made history this Sunday by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal at the men’s javelin at the World Athletics Championships. Next to him on the podium, stood Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem with the silver – also the first Pakistani ever to achieve that feat.

Saroj Devi was recently asked what she felt about her son defeating a player from Pakistan, and her prompt reply was: “Look, everyone has come to play on the field. One or the other will definitely win. So, there is no question of who is from Pakistan or from Haryana. I am happy for the player who won from Pakistan as well.”

The golden boy of Indian athletics bested his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem by 0.35 metres at the games held in Budapest, letting out a roar when it became clear he had defeated the Pakistani player.

Chopra hugged Nadeem after the results came in and told the post-match press conference: “I met Arshad after the event and we were happy that our countries were taking serious strides in the sporting arena. We were also happy to have prevailed over our European counterparts, who are stronger and very competitive. The rivalry between our two nations will always be there in sports. I feel the win here will raise the expectations of fans going into the Asian Games. We will meet again in Hangzhou.”

Chopra, however, has a clear edge over Nadeem though their rivalry has become among the most-anticipated in the world of javelin.

The Indian has won all nine head-to-head face-offs in the international arena so far – seven in senior competitions and two as juniors.

Chopra is javelin’s undisputed reigning champion having won golds in the World Championships, the Olympics, Commonwealth and Asian Games and the Diamond League.

With a silver Sunday, Nadeem became the first Pakistani to ever win a medal at the World Athletics Championships, and was also responsible for breaking Pakistan’s 60-year wait for a Commonwealth Games gold at Birmingham in 2022. Chopra had pulled out of the Games because of a groin injury.