Among the many notable outcomes of Arshad Nadeem’s historic victory in the men’s javelin final at the Olympics was the unusual announcement by his father-in-law. In a traditional gesture, he promised to gift a buffalo in honor of Nadeem’s achievement. While this might be a customary tribute in Nadeem’s region, it has been met with a mix of amusement and pride, even from the champion javelin thrower himself.
Neeraj Chopra, who won silver in the same event, has shared his own experiences with such unique honors. In a recent virtual media interaction facilitated by JSW Sports, Chopra reflected on the traditional gifts given in his region, including desi ghee and ladoos. “I was gifted desi ghee once. Back home in Haryana, we also get gifts like these: 10kg desi ghee or 50kg of desi ghee. Or ladoos,” Chopra recounted with a smile.
He elaborated on the cultural significance of these gifts: “There are promises made: ‘If Neeraj wins this competition, I’ll give him 50 kgs of ghee.’ I would hear these things being said since I was a kid. Where I grew up, circle kabaddi and wrestling are very popular. Ghee is gifted because we believe it helps increase strength, which is essential in our sport. Buffalos are also given in our region. Wrestlers and kabaddi players sometimes receive things like Bullet motorbikes or tractors.”
Chopra’s comments come in the wake of Nadeem’s extraordinary throw of 92.97m, which set a new Olympic record. This performance set a high bar for Chopra, who was the reigning Olympic and World champion. To maintain his title, Chopra would have needed to surpass the 90m mark for the first time in his career.
Despite his confidence, Chopra faced physical challenges. “I did not have even 1 per cent doubt that I couldn’t better it. In javelin, improving your distance by 3-4m is not a huge deal,” he stated. However, he admitted that while he was mentally prepared to surpass Nadeem’s throw, his body didn’t cooperate as hoped. Chopra was managing a groin injury during the Olympics, which impacted his performance.
Chopra explained that his injury affected his technique and overall performance. “It wasn’t that I couldn’t have made that distance but I just couldn’t push myself that much. Mentally I was ready, but physically I was holding myself back. My legwork on the runway wasn’t good. To compensate, I was trying to put in a lot of effort in the throws. Unless your legwork and technique are good, no matter how much you push yourself, it doesn’t work.”
Despite these difficulties, Chopra achieved a season-best throw of 89.45m, surpassing his Tokyo 2021 throw that won him the gold medal. “I have been able to manage my injury though; it hasn’t worsened,” he noted optimistically.
Neeraj Chopra’s reflection on traditional gifts and his honest assessment of his performance highlight both the cultural richness and the personal challenges of elite sports. As Nadeem enjoys his historic victory and the traditional tribute of a buffalo, Chopra’s experience underscores the resilience and determination required at the highest levels of competition.