Ties with Arshad Not the Same After Indo-Pak Tensions: Neeraj Chopra
- Neeraj Chopra clarified he was never close to Arshad Nadeem.
- Maintained only professional courtesy, not personal bond.
- Rising Indo-Pak tensions have changed the dynamic.
In the lead-up to the 2025 Doha Diamond League, India's Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra cleared the air that he never had a particularly close relationship with Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem, contrary to popular perception. Speaking at a pre-event press conference, Chopra reiterated that professional courtesy was always there, but their engagement never translated into personal friendship.
Chopra observed that the growing border tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after the recent Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead, have greatly changed the dynamics. He stated that whatever mutual respect there was before has now been overshadowed by the prevailing geopolitical situation.
As an athlete, I think it is important to respect people who respect you. I have friends from all over the athletics world, and I treat everyone with respect. But my encounter with Arshad was never anything more than that," Chopra explained.
The world champion and two-time Olympic medallist also spoke about the abuse he and his family received on social media, following reports that Arshad Nadeem was invited to the NC Classic a tournament hosted in Chopra's name. He disclosed that the derogatory remarks and accusations of questioning his integrity really hurt him and his family.
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Chopra clarified that invitations to the event were sent before the Pahalgam attack, and the unfortunate timing created misunderstandings. "There was no agenda. It was misinterpreted because of the situation", he said.
In spite of off-field issues, Chopra maintains his sights on his forthcoming performance at the Doha Diamond League. He emphasized his commitment to allowing his on-pitch success to speak for itself and promised supporters that he would never falter in his pledge to represent India with pride.
The Doha Diamond League is a crucial step towards Chopra's future international events as he continues to reign supreme in the world of javelin on the international circuit.
