Neeraj Chopra says he was ‘by no means actually shut pals’ with Arshad Nadeem: ‘Issues received’t be the identical after this’

Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra’s friendship with Pakistani rival Arshad Nadeem off the sphere has been a significant speaking level of their careers, particularly in final yr’s Paris Olympics by which
the 2 stood on the rostrum collectively
. Their unbelievable achievements not solely highlighted India and Pakistan’s rise on the earth of athletics – a sporting self-discipline that’s nowhere on the identical stage as cricket within the Indian subcontinent – it additionally shone mild on the position that sport performed in bringing folks from completely different nations collectively, even those who have shared political hostilities for many years.

The latest terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and the next navy showdown between India and Pakistan, nonetheless, modified that narrative utterly. Chopra, who has already cemented his legacy as India’s biggest athlete of all time on the age of 27 with an Olympic gold and silver, has said that issues “received’t be the identical” between him and Nadeem going ahead.

Chopra, who had been
conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel
with the Territorial Military earlier this week, added that he wasn’t precisely pals with the Pakistani javelin star, who had received gold within the Paris 2024 Video games, however had all the time reciprocated respectful behaviour from others.

‘If somebody talks to me respectfully, I’ll reciprocate the respect’

“First, we have been by no means actually shut pals or something. And issues received’t be the identical after this (India-Pakistan battle).

“However, if somebody talks to me respectfully, I’ll reciprocate the respect,” Chopra stated at a press convention forward of the
Doha Diamond League
, the place he shall be competing together with three different Indians.

Chopra had just lately been criticised for inviting Nadeem to the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Basic, a javelin competitors that was scheduled to happen later this month – initially in Panchkula, Haryana and being moved to Bengaluru.

Chopra, nonetheless, later clarified
Nadeem had been invited a few days earlier than the Pahalgam assault
, and that his participation after the lethal incident was “out of query”. Nadeem, in the meantime, had
declined the invitation
citing the Asian Athletics Championship in Korea that was to happen across the similar time.

The Neeraj Chopra Basic has since been postponed indefinitely because of the latest navy showdown between the 2 nuclear-armed nations that additionally led to the suspension of the Indian Premier League in addition to the Pakistan Tremendous League.