Neeraj Chopra could be the first Indian athlete to have two gold medals at the Olympic Games. (Image: AFP)
Neeraj Chopra’s parents have suggested that despite the added pressure, they are confident in the Javelin star’s abilities to come back with a medal.
With over 1.4 billion hoping that India’s javelin star, Neeraj Chopra can bring home a gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games 2024. The 26-year-old’s parents are also feeling the nerves as their son gears up for the highly awaited final which takes place on Thursday.
Neeraj had a fairly short display during the qualifying event, where he hit his season-best with a score of 89.34, which was well ahead of the qualification criteria.
Now with the final event coming up, both parents of the Indian athlete will hope that their child can retain his gold medal.
VIDEO | Paris Olympics 2024 Javelin Throw Finals: “There is a lot of pressure on him (Neeraj Chopra). The entire country is praying for him to perform well (in finals) and return with a medal,” says Saroj Devi, mother of javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.#Olympics2024WithPTI… pic.twitter.com/KtXltf00St— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2024
Speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the mother of Neeraj Chopra, Saroj Devi also highlighted that the pressure might be even more for the child with the entire nation expecting him to deliver on the big stage.
VIDEO | Paris Olympics 2024 Javelin Throw Finals: “He always says that he is doing well and he will not leave any effort to win a medal. There is pressure on him. He is working hard for that. Surely, he will bring a medal for the country,” says Satish Kumar, father of javelin… pic.twitter.com/oQthPpcN35— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2024
“Before, maybe there was not so much pressure, the stardom that we have now? The country is carrying a lot of branding that Neeraj will definitely bring a medal, something of this level. So his blessings are only on him, he will do well and bring a medal,” said Saroj Devi.
Following suit, the father of Neeraj Chopra, Satish Kumar also believes in his child and suggested that the preparations that have gone prior to the event have gone as planned.
“We also think about giving our best. We will leave no stone unturned in winning medals for our country. So that means we also feel that he is perfect, he is working well. We get motivation from him. The whole country is just waiting for when we will be able to perform the best for our country,” said Satish Kumar.
However, Neeraj’s fight for the gold medal might not be an easy one. He has some decent competition in the likes of Grenada’s Anderson Peters along with the likes of Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and Germany’s Julian Weber among many others.
Despite concerns about an adductor injury that he sustained before the Olympics, Neeraj hopes that he can make quick work in the final event and bring home India’s first gold medal at the Parisian Games.
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