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Russian (RU) Pakistan’s Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem declined to comment on Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra’s recent remarks, saying he stands with the Pakistan Army amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The statement came days before Arshad’s departure for the Asian Athletics Championships.
Arshad Nadeem avoids Neeraj Chopra's question
Responding to a reporter’s question about Neeraj Chopra’s recent comments, Arshad said, “I don't want to make any comments about Neeraj because of the ongoing conflict with India. I come from a village, and I will only say that my family and I will always stand with our army.”
Neeraj distances himself
Ahead of the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj Chopra said his relationship with Arshad Nadeem was never close and indicated that recent events had changed things further. “I want to clarify that I don't have a particularly strong relationship with Nadeem - we were never really close friends. But because of the current situation, things will not be as they were. That said, if someone speaks to me with respect, I always respond in kind,” he told reporters.
Criticism over postponed event
Neeraj had earlier invited Arshad to the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a World Athletics-sanctioned event that was scheduled to take place in Bengaluru but has now been postponed. The invitation was sent before the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed. Following the attack, Neeraj faced backlash from some social media users for including Arshad in the event lineup.
India-Pakistan Border tensions
In response to the Pahalgam incident, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The situation led to increased tensions along the border before both countries agreed to a ceasefire.
Sporting rivalry continues
Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra have been rivals on the international stage since the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. At the Paris Olympics 2024, Arshad won gold with a throw of 92.97 metres, surpassing Neeraj, who had been widely considered the favourite.
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