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Nadeem-Neeraj javelin rivalry can foster India-Pakistan sports bonhomie
Nadeem created a new Olympic record when he hurled the javelin to 92.97 meters, taking the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Aug. 8.
Javelin Olympic medalists / @WorldAthletics
As long as sports rivalries are confined or restricted to competition venues or playfields, they can pave the way for bonhomie between nations locked in conflicts.
The latest rivalry to hit the world of sports is between World Champion India's Neeraj Chopra and new Olympic champion Pakistan's Nadeem Arshad. They both compete in Javelin throw events in Track and Field.
Nadeem created a new Olympic record when he hurled the javelin to 92.97 metres at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Aug.8. Andreas Thorikildsen of Norway held by the previous record of 90.57 m he had set during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Neeraj Chopra had become the first Indian athlete—track and field—to win an individual Olympic gold in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Nadeem Arshad who was placed fifth in the Tokyo Olympic Games, created a sensation with a record throw of 92.97 metres to become the new Olympic champion pushing his friend-cum-rival Neeraj Chopra to second spot. Neeraj could clear 89.45 m.
Incidentally, Nadeem Arshad has become the first Pakistani athlete to win an Olympic gold for his country in the track and field events. Only two individual Olympic medals have been won by Pakistan since it gained its independence in 1947.
In the 1960 Rome Olympics, Pakistan won a bronze in wrestling and 28 years later, it got its second individual medal in boxing in Seoul (1988). Now Nadeem has given the country its first-ever individual medal in Olympic sports. Pakistan has been the winner of Olympic hockey gold a couple of times. It first won the hockey crown in the Rome Olympics in 1960.
Men's javelin throw final was BIG
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 8, 2024
92.97m OR Arshad Nadeem
89.45m @Neeraj_chopra1
88.54m Anderson Peters #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/jPrVZZ6txl
Paris Olympics' contest between Neeraj Chopra and Nadeem Arshad had assumed tremendous interest as both come from low middle-class families. Neeraj Chopra, now serving the Indian Army, hails from Haryana while Nadeem Arshad comes from Khanwala in Pakistan.
Khanwala is a small city with a population of over 115000 . Nadeem had been visiting nearby villages and towns to raise funds for his training. When he posted a plea for assistance in purchasing a new javelin on social media a few months ago, Neeraj Chopra was one of the first to reply.
Despite competing against each other 11 times, Neeraj and Nadeem are still great friends off the field. Neeraj was the first to congratulate Nadeem when he created a new Olympic record on Aug. 8.
Of six throws, Nadeem, like Neeraj, had his first throw declared null. He, however, twice sent the javelin past the 90-metre mark, his second turned out to be the ultimate winner as it cleared 92.97 metres. His sixth and last was 91.79 metres.
The second throw by Neeraj was not only his best but also the only legitimate hurl. He cleared 89.45 m, his season’s best that got him the silver. It was a rare achievement by any Indian athlete to win a gold and a silver in back-to-back Olympic Games.
Cricket, hockey, kabaddi, and wrestling rivalries between India and Pakistan are well-known. They not only act as catalysts in enhancing the performance of players from rival nations but also serve as great crowd pullers to venues of competitions of such rivalries.
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