Neeraj Chopra. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In a joyful day for India, Neeraj Chopra won India’s first silver medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics in 2024. Coming up with the best throw of his season of 89.45 m, Chopra clinched the silver medal, losing first place to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem.
Nadeem set an Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters in his second attempt to take home the gold. He is now the first individual Olympic gold medallist from Pakistan. Nadeem broke the previously held Olympic record of 90.57, set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen.
Furthermore, Grenada’s Anderson Peters took home the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54 m. Neeraj Chopra was unable to defend his crown after winning the gold medal in the 2020 Olympics. Neeraj Chopra was one of the biggest favourites in 2024 as well.
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However, falling just short, the star athlete settled for the silver medal, but there was no shortage of praise for the 26-year-old. After the event, Neeraj Chopra came forward and expressed his thoughts on winning the silver medal. Neeraj congratulated Nadeem on winning the gold medal.
“I have been competing against Arshad since 2016, but this is the first time I have lost to him. But credit where credit is due, Arshad has worked really hard, and he was better than I was at night. Congratulations to him,” Neeraj Chopra was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
Several celebrities and cricketers took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to congratulate Neeraj Chopra on winning the silver medal. The likes of Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and many more stars from the cricket fraternity came forward to wish Chopra on his monumental achievement.
Here’s how several cricketers congratulated Neeraj Chopra on Twitter:
A huge applause to Arshad Nadeem🇵🇰 and Neeraj Chopra🇮🇳 for bringing gold🥇and silver🥈 medals in the men’s Javelin throw at the 2024 Olympics to South Asia.👏
Your incredible achievements make the entire region proud!💪#ArashadNadeem #NeerajChopra #Olympics2024
— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) August 8, 2024
Congrats @Neeraj_chopra1 on another stupendous Olympic effort.
Doubling your medal tally and making the 🇮🇳 flag fly high #Olympic2024 pic.twitter.com/7pVHkwB9fz
— DK (@DineshKarthik) August 8, 2024
Here’s to the champion who reminds us all that even in silver, there lies a golden… pic.twitter.com/OZ5H5xx2rn
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 9, 2024
India’s fifth medal has a silver lining! 🥈🇮🇳@Neeraj_chopra1, you might have claimed silver this time, but your heart and determination are solid gold.
Congratulations on yet another remarkable achievement at #Paris2024. Your story continues to inspire millions, filling India… pic.twitter.com/NyQ77CTKZg
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 8, 2024
Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for clinching the silver medal at the Olympics. Your perseverance and passion continue to inspire the nation. You’ve shown once again that there are no limits to achieving dreams through hard work and dedication.🇮🇳🥈 #NeerajChopra #JavelinThrow… pic.twitter.com/RbytcQgMxR
— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) August 8, 2024
After 30 long years, the gold is back in Pakistan! Huge congratulations to @arshadnadeem29 for this incredible achievement. You’ve made the entire nation proud. 🏅🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/db7OmugQvE
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) August 8, 2024
Back-to-back Olympic medals for our star, Neeraj Chopra! 🥈India’s first silver medal at the #Paris2024 Olympics, and what a way to achieve it! You might have fallen short of the gold, but your commitment and effort in the final were really inspiring! 🇮🇳#Olympics ||… pic.twitter.com/NLldsF7Y8R
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) August 8, 2024
The icon never returns without bringing joy to every Indian! 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #NeerajChopra 🥈 pic.twitter.com/eRI2Wc41DB
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 8, 2024
Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on winning us a Silver medal. Back to back individual medals is an outstanding feat. #ParisOlympics2024 pic.twitter.com/a3myNbGBtr
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 8, 2024