Arshad Nadeem congratulates Neeraj Chopra on 90m mark, sidesteps 'not close friends' remark: 'I stand with Pakistan Army'

Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has refused to react to Neeraj Chopra’s recent remarks that they are not "close friends" at the Doha Diamond League; however, the athlete added that he stands with the Pakistan Army.

India’s Neeraj Chopra, who won the gold at the Tokyo Olympics and came second, behind Nadeem, at the Paris Games, had clarified his relationship with the Pakistan athlete on the eve of the Doha Diamond League, where he breached the 90-metre mark for the first time.

With Neeraj facing criticism for inviting Nadeem to the now-cancelled NC Classic event in India, the star Indian athlete clarified that “things won’t be the same” between him and the Pakistani athlete after the India-Pakistan conflict.

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Arshad Nadeem refuses to speak on Neeraj Chopra

While Nadeem had already declined the invitation to come to India, on Thursday, during a press conference in Lahore, he refused to say much but showed his support for his country.

“I don’t want to make any comments about Neeraj because of the ongoing conflict with India,” Arshad said. “I come from a village, and I will only say that my family and I will always stand with our army.”

As per the Pakistani media outlet, The Tribune, Nadeem also congratulated Neeraj for breaching the 90m barrier for the first time last week at Doha.

Ahead of the Diamond League event last week, Neeraj had said that his relationship with Arshad was built on mutual respect and they were not close friends.

“First, we were never really close friends or anything. And things won’t be the same after this (India-Pakistan conflict). But, if someone talks to me respectfully, I will reciprocate the respect,” Chopra said at a press conference.

Arshad Nadeem makes bold 100m claim

Meanwhile, after clinching the Paris Olympics gold with a record throw of 92.97m, Pakistan’s Arshad is now targeting the 100m mark.

“I will leave tomorrow for the Asian Athletics Championships. I will try to perform well at the event,” said Nadeem. “I am targeting a 100-meter throw, and I’m working hard, and by the will of Almighty Allah, I will achieve it one day.

The current world record for the men’s javelin throw is 98.48 meters, set in 1996 by Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic, who is now Neeraj’s coach.