Neeraj Chopra Addresses Friendship with Arshad Nadeem Amid Rising Tensions

Clarification on Relationship with Arshad Nadeem

On Thursday, renowned javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made it clear that he and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem are not close friends. He acknowledged that the recent conflicts have altered the dynamics between India and Pakistan.

Chopra and his family faced significant backlash on social media after he invited Nadeem to the NC Classic in Bengaluru, which has now been postponed. This invitation followed the tragic Pahalgam terror attack last month that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists, and was attributed to terrorists based in Pakistan.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Diamond League event in Doha, the two-time Olympic champion and current world titleholder aimed to clarify his connection with Nadeem, who secured gold at the Paris Games last year, shortly after Chopra's gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

"I want to clarify that my relationship with Nadeem is not very strong; we were never really close friends. However, due to the current tensions at the Indo-Pak border, things will not be the same as before. I respond to respect with respect," Chopra stated during a press conference.

Chopra also mentioned, "As athletes, we need to communicate. I have friends in the athletic community worldwide, not just in javelin but across various sports. If someone speaks to me respectfully, I will reciprocate that respect. The javelin community is small, and everyone competes for their nation, striving to perform their best."

Previously, Chopra expressed his distress over the abusive comments directed at him and his family following the invitation to Nadeem for the tournament honoring him. He clarified that the invitations for the NC Classic were sent out just a day before the Pahalgam attack.