After Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal in the Javelin throw at the Paris Olympics, India’s Neeraj Chopra shook hands with him, smiling and displaying a strong camaraderie between the two athletes.
As the defending champion, Neeraj lost his gold medal to Arshad in a closely watched competition on Thursday night. Fans from India and Pakistan were glued to their screens, eagerly following every throw.
When Arshad secured the gold with a powerful 91-meter throw, Neeraj congratulated him with a handshake and a smile. The bond between the two was clear, showing that sports can bridge divides despite political differences.
Neeraj and Arshad’s friendship is a great example of how athletes can transcend boundaries. Similarly, the cricketing world has seen the strong friendship between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, with Babar often citing Virat as his inspiration.
While it might seem surprising, Neeraj and Arshad share a close bond off the field, which began six years ago. After finishing first and third, a viral picture of them on the podium started their journey as friends.
The relationship between the two athletes has grown stronger over the years. In 2023, they competed again, with Neeraj winning gold and Arshad taking silver, just 0.35 meters apart in their throws. The roles were reversed this year, with Arshad winning gold and Neeraj claiming silver at the Paris Olympics.
Neeraj’s mother, speaking to ANI, expressed her happiness and said, “We are very happy. For us, silver is also equal to gold. The one who got the gold (Arshad) is also like our son.”
Neeraj also praised Arshad’s performance, calling it “the greatest javelin throw competition” and acknowledging the hard work Arshad put in. He added, “Javelin is not popular in India and Pakistan. I know Arshad Nadeem worked very hard; it’s great news for him and for the people in Pakistan. He deserved to win tonight; we’re both making our countries proud.”
