August 9th 2024.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a heartwarming conversation with Neeraj Chopra, the silver medallist in javelin throw at the Paris Olympics. He commended Neeraj's remarkable performance and also took the opportunity to appreciate his family's unwavering support and sportsmanship.
The Prime Minister began by congratulating Neeraj on his well-deserved silver medal at the Paris Games and reminded him that he has already made the nation proud with his incredible feat. He advised Neeraj not to dwell on missing the gold as he has already achieved so much for his country.
Neeraj, who entered the final as the favorite, threw the javelin to a remarkable distance of 89.45 meters, which was just shy of his personal best of 89.34 meters in the qualifying round. This was a significant improvement from his gold-winning throw of 87.58 meters in the Tokyo Games, but it still placed him second to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who set an Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters.
The Prime Minister commended Neeraj for once again bringing glory to the country and acknowledged the millions of people who stayed up till 3 AM to watch him compete. Neeraj humbly replied that he was disappointed not to win the gold due to an injury but promised to work even harder in the future.
It was a historic moment for Pakistan as Arshad became their first Olympic medalist since 1992, with two throws over 90 meters. The Prime Minister also mentioned Neeraj's mother and her inspiring words in a recent interview, where she said, "The guy who won gold is also my child." This showed the true sportsman spirit of Neeraj's family.
The Prime Minister also inquired about Neeraj's injury, to which the athlete replied that a decision will be made after discussing with the team. He also expressed his joy in being able to make the throw and bring a medal for his country in such a tough competition.
PM Modi further praised Neeraj's resilience and determination, especially in the face of an injury. He reminded him of their previous conversation where Neeraj had mentioned the tough competition in javelin throw. The Prime Minister urged him to let go of the gold and just focus on his remarkable achievement.
It is worth noting that Neeraj has now become the second Indian male athlete and third overall to win back-to-back medals at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of wrestler Sushil Kumar. Badminton star PV Sindhu is the other Indian athlete to win consecutive medals, a silver in Rio and a bronze in Tokyo.
Overall, the conversation between the Prime Minister and Neeraj reflected the nation's pride and admiration for the young athlete's incredible performance and his unwavering spirit. The future looks bright for Neeraj, and the country eagerly awaits his next big win.
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