Indian’s renowned Olympian, Neeraj Chopra shared his thoughts on the unique gift gold medalist Arshad Nadeem got from his father-in-law.
After clinching a historic gold in the men’s javelin final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem was showered with gifts, ranging from cash prizes to plots and more. However, his father-in-law decided to gift him a buffalo, a gesture deeply rooted in traditions of Arshad’s hometown of Mian Channu in Punjab.
However, the news of the gift was met with amusement, not least from Arshad Nadeem himself, who took the news with a hearty laugh.
Neeraj Chopra, a great rival and friend of Arshad Nadeem, shared his own experiences with unconventional gifts. Neeraj, who secured a silver medal in the same event, revealed that he too has been the recipient of quirky rewards. “I was gifted desi ghee once,” Chopra chuckled during an interview. “Back home in Haryana, we also get gifts like these: 10kg desi ghee or 50kg of desi ghee. Or ladoos.”
Neeraj Chopra elaborated on the cultural significance of such gifts, explaining, “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, and where I grew up, circle kabaddi and wrestling are very popular. Ghee is gifted because we believe that it helps increase strength, which we need in our sport.”