Pakistan javelin thrower and 2024 Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem declined to respond to Neeraj Chopra's recent comments regarding their friendship. When asked for a reaction on Neeraj's remarks on their bond ahead of the Doha Diamond League, the 28-year-old brought up the recent cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
Neeraj had previously stated that he and Arshad were never good friends, before adding that the terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, is likely to alter their dynamic. "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," Neeraj told reporters on the eve of the Doha Diamond League, where the double Olympic medallist also breached the elusive 90m mark.
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Before leaving for the Asian Athletics Championships on Thursday, Arshad was questioned about this remark by Neeraj. "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,” Arshad told reporters as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
Neeraj faced online abuse, targeting him and his family, after India's most decorated athlete invited Arshad to the take part in the now-postponed inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic. Bengaluru was supposed to host the World Athletics-approved competition. Reacting to the same, Neeraj clarified that the invites were sent out before the ghastly attack in Pahalgam.
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India retaliated to it with the Armed Forces launching Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Subsequently the tensions between the two countries increased at the border, which threatened to grow into a full fledged war. However, a few days later a ceasefire was officially announced.
Neeraj and Arshad have engaged in fierce on-field duels since the Asian and Commonwealth Games in 2018. Neeraj was the overwhelming favorite to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but Arshad took the feat with a record 92.97-meter throw.
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