“Bhai This is My Javelin,” Neeraj Chopra to Arshad Naseem in 2020 Tokyo Olympics Finals

“Bhai This is My Javelin,” Neeraj Chopra to Arshad Naseem in 2020 Tokyo Olympics Finals

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem

Neeraj Chopra recently took home the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Javelin, creating history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal in athletics. The champion came home to huge fanfare, as India celebrated a historical moment.

In a recent interview with TOI, Chopra opened up about his interaction with Pakistani Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who has created waves, as he has recently brought great success for Pakistan by making the finals of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Tokyo Olympics were a dream for Chopra, but everything certainly did not go according to plan on the given day. Chopra seemed to not be able to locate his javelin before his first throw, as Nadeem had walked away with it.

Chopra was searching for his javelin when he found Nadeem walking away with it. “‘Bhai give this javelin to me, it is my javelin! I have to throw with it’. Then he gave it back to me,” Neeraj Chopra told TOI in an interview.

“I think it is good for Pakistan, they have a chance to show more interest in javelin,” Neeraj Chopra on Arshad Nadeem

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem in the Tokyo Olympics finals
Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem in the Tokyo Olympics finals

Chopra praised Nadeem and what he had done for the sport in Pakistan. Nadeem became the first athlete from the country to qualify for a track and field finals in history.

Chopra said that Arshad Nadeem gave a really good performance in the qualifying round and in the finals as well. “I think it is good for Pakistan, they have a chance to show more interest in javelin and do well at the international stage in the future,” said Neeraj with respect to Nadeem’s performance at the Olympics.

As for Neeraj, he said that his schedule has been very hectic since he has returned. He had been constantly attending functions, and fell ill due to the stress. He said that the system in India has to change, and athletes should be consistently receiving support from the people of the country, instead of celebrating for a month and then forgetting about them.

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