Panipat: In a heartwarming gesture, Neeraj Chopra's parents extended their heartfelt congratulations to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem on Friday following his gold medal victory in the men's javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics.

Nadeem scripted history by securing Pakistan's first-ever Olympic medal in athletics with a record-breaking throw of 92.97m, ending the country's 40-year wait for Olympic gold. India's 'Golden Boy' and defending champion, Chopra, claimed the silver with a season's best throw of 89.45m.

Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, expressed her joy over her son's impressive performance at the Summer Games. "For us, silver is also equal to gold," she told news agency ANI. She also praised Nadeem's incredible achievement, noting that he, too, is like her child. "The one who got the gold is also like our son," Devi stated.

Chopra's father, Satish, echoed his wife's sentiments, congratulating Nadeem for his historic win. "Everyone has their day. Today was Pakistan's day," he remarked. He also expressed pride and happiness in Chopra’s performance, particularly given that he competed despite an injury. Satish added that his son's performance will inspire the upcoming generation.

Meanwhile, Grenada's Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, secured the bronze with a best effort of 88.54m.

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Chennai (PTI): New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was leading in as many as 83 constituencies on Monday when counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly polls was on across Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK was leading in 58 seats while the ruling DMK was ahead in 34, EC data showed.

About two hours after the postal ballots were counted and EVMs opened for multi-round counting, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam surged ahead of its Dravidian rivals-- the DMK and the AIADMK, with the ruling party struggling to catch up.

If the trends maintain, Vijay could as well ensure the biggest electoral upset, something in lines with the "1967,1977" wins he had referred to in his campaign speeches.

While the Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai brought the first non-Congress government in Tamil Nadu post-independence in 1967, the charismatic MG Ramachandran (MGR) installed the maiden AIADMK government 10 years later, unseating then DMK government under M Karunanidhi. TVK was leading in most Chennai segments, all considered DMK strongholds and currently represented by the party in the 234-member House.

A poor show by DMK could belie most exit polls giving an edge to it, riding on the number of populist measures Chief Minister M K Stalin had implemented in his five year "Dravidian model," inclusive governance.

According to EC and TV reports, 15 cabinet ministers, including Stalin were trailing. His son and deputy CM Udhayanidhi was also behind in his incumbent Chepauk-Tirvuvallikeni seat, according to a number of reports.

Stalin was trailing behind TVK's VS Babu by 1234 votes in Kolathur segment. Vijay was ahead in Tiruchirappalli East by over 3,000 votes at the end of two rounds of counting, according to EC data.

BJP is trailing in 26 constituencies and it is ahead in Thali segment alone. TVK is ahead in constituencies including Ponneri, Tiruvallur, Poonamalle, and Avadi.

AIADMK is leading in segments including Katpadi, and Guidyattam and party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is ahead in Edappadi segment by 7003 votes.

DMK was leading in segments including Vellore, Anaikattu and Rishivandiyam.