Paris, France, August 6, 2024: Only one of them can win the gold medal – but South Asia’s two javelin titans are both winners as sporting ambassadors for their respective countries.
India’s Neeraj Chopra, the defending Olympic champion, and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem will both line up in the men’s javelin final at the Stade de France on Thursday, August 8 after recording season’s best throws in qualifying on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Pakistani, who was fifth in Tokyo as Chopra grabbed gold and global headlines, spoke of his friendship with the Indian hero after Tuesday’s qualifying competition.
"It gives me immense joy that there are only two of us from South Asia, myself and Neeraj bhai (brother), who are performing on the world stage along with the other players who compete with Neeraj bhai,” Nadeem commented.
"I hope that we continue to perform for our respective countries and make the names of our countries shine bright globally."
Nadeem was asked about the prospect of India and Pakistan finishing on the podium at Paris 2024 on Thursday evening.
"At every competition, the aim of every athlete remains to try and perform to the best of their ability,” he replied.
"I wish Neeraj bhai the best of luck. May he and I both do well for our respective countries, inshallah (God willing)."
Nadeem said he had bumped into Chopra a few times at the Olympic Village, which is located in the suburb of Sanit-Denis, near the imposing Stade de France.
"Yes, we have met each other a few times there. We have a bit of a chat every time we meet. And we spoke just now as well, and he said congratulations to me.
"Usually, we speak about things that friends talk about. The usual stuff. And we wish each other that we do well for our respective countries."
Nadeem became the first athlete from Pakistan to qualify for an Olympic final in track and field on his Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Since that fifth-place finish, he reached the javelin final at his second world championships in 2022, becoming the first athlete from Pakistan to qualify for a world track and field final and again finishing fifth. In 2023, he claimed silver, winning Pakistan's first ever world medal.
He was also the first athlete from Pakistan to win javelin gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. This was the first athletics medal for Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games in 56 years – and he broke the Commonwealth Games record and set a national record with his winning throw of 90.18m.
(Olympic Information Service)