Shoaib Akhtar Praises Javelin Star Neeraj Chopra's Mother

Pakistan's former speed sensation Shoaib Akhtar on Sunday praised Olympian Neeraj Chopra's mother Saroj Devi for her kind words after Pakistan won the gold medal in Javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024. Neeraj Chopra's mother had told the media that the gold medal winner "Arshad is also our boy, is also like her son". Her statement swayed on social media and people of both countries started seeing it as a message of love and peace.

"We are happy with the silver. The one who got the gold (Arshad Nadeem) is also my child," Saroj Devi had said.

A similar statement was given by Arshad Nadeem's mother. She said, "Neeraj Chopra is also my son, both Arshad and Neeraj are like brothers, they are close friends. Win and loss are part of game, but i pray for Neeraj Chopra also. May God bless him."

Reacting to the viral statement, Shoaib Akhtar, in a post in Hindi on the micro-blogging site X, said, "Gold jis ka hai, wo bhi hamara he larka hai". Yeh baat sirf aik maa he keh sakti hai. Amazing. (The person who won gold, is also our son. This can only be said by a mother. Amazing."

India at the Olympics:

Team India ended its run at the Paris Olympics on the 71st position in the medals tally with 5 bronze and a silver medal. However, decision on Vinesh Phogat's medal is still pending and it may affect India's ranking at large.

India missed out 3 gold medals by inches as Vinesh Phogat got disqualified even after winning the semi-finals, the Indian hockey team lost in the semis against Germany and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem took a leapfrog over Neeraj Chopra in the Javelin throw event.