NEW DELHI: Arshad Nadeem presents a formidable challenge to India's Neeraj Chopra in the quest for the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite this rivalry, both athletes express their delight in leading a sport once dominated by Europeans.
In Pakistan, Nadeem's historic silver medal in the men's javelin throw at the World Athletics Championship has made him a national hero, while Chopra secured the gold.
"Neeraj and I have a very healthy competition and we respect each other a lot. There is no Pakistan-India rivalry in a bad way. When we talk we are just happy that both of us have come to the fore in a competition usually dominated by Europeans," Nadeem told PTI.
Nadeem's recent silver medal at the World Athletics Championship adds to his collection of accolades, having previously secured gold in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a remarkable throw of 90.18 meters.
Nadeem expressed his contentment with the silver, highlighting the satisfaction of competing against Chopra, a standout performer in recent times.
Chopra's absence due to a groin injury during the Commonwealth Games allowed Nadeem to clinch the gold, prevailing over a field largely composed of European athletes.
After the final, Chopra extended a gracious gesture by inviting his Pakistani counterpart for a victory lap, showcasing the spirit of sportsmanship beyond borders.
"It is a very satisfying achievement for me to get a distance of 87.82 metres as I returned to international competition after nearly a year due to my elbow surgery," he said.
The rivalry between Chopra and Nadeem has now become a subject of discussion in the javelin fraternity. What was unique on Sunday was that the first time both Pakistani and Indian athletes were in the limelight at the same time in the World Championships.
Soon after Nadeem won the silver medal, there were calls on social media in Pakistan to ensure he is duly rewarded for his achievement, with the caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq-Kakar, being the first to congratulate him on his success.
For Nadeem, it has been a long journey from his village in Mian Chunnu in Pakistan's Punjab province where his elder brothers and school's sports master forced him to take up athletics.
"I wanted to be a cricketer but my brothers and sports master told me I had the physique and stamina to be a top athlete," he said.
In his early days, he would sprint around 2-3 kilometres everyday from his village to school, something that helped him strengthen his body alongside the hard work he put in the fields with his brothers.
Coming from a humble background, the sudden adulation has not affected Nadeem as he remains focussed on his goal to win a gold medal in the Paris Games next year.
"I want to win an Olympic gold for my country. It will require a lot of hard work, training and the best equipment but now I know I am capable of doing well against the best."
Like many of his contemporaries, Nadeem does not have access to top coaches, foreign training and the best equipment, as the Pakistan Athletics Federation is always short on funds and the country does not have top-class training facilities for javelin throwers.
In such a scenario, Nadeem is grateful to his employee, Wapda, which has provided him with coaches and facilities to train.
(With PTI inputs)
