India's Neeraj Chopra on Pakistan champion Arshad Nadeem: Never had strong relationship

Dubai: Once celebrated as a symbol of sporting respect between rivals, Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem’s relationship now seems distanced after the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.

Following backlash over an invitation extended to his Pakistani counterpart, Chopra has offered a blunt clarification: “We never had a very strong relationship… things won’t be the same.”

The Indian javelin star and two-time Olympic medallist addressed the recent controversy surrounding his invitation to Arshad Nadeem for the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, a meet scheduled for Bengaluru later this month. Speaking at a press conference in Doha ahead of the Diamond League, Chopra stated:

“Firstly, I want to clarify that we never had a very strong relationship. But if somebody talks to me respectfully, I always like to talk to them the same way. But things won’t be the same after this.”

The invitation extended to Nadeem — whom Chopra has competed against since 2016 — sparked criticism on Indian social media, with many questioning the timing and optics amid tense diplomatic ties between the two nations. The event, originally scheduled for May 24 at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Stadium, has now been postponed until further notice, citing safety and security concerns.

In a statement, organisers of the Neeraj Chopra Classic said: “The decision has been made after careful thought and consultation, with the well-being of athletes, stakeholders, and the broader community as the top priority.”

Meanwhile, Arshad Nadeem has shifted focus to the Asian Athletics Championship in Gumi, South Korea from May 27 to 31 — his first major outing since clinching gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a record-breaking 92.97m throw. Neeraj, who took silver with 89.45m in that same final, will skip the continental event to compete in the Doha Diamond League (May 16) and the rescheduled Neeraj Chopra Classic if it goes ahead later.

“This is my first big competition since the Olympics,” Nadeem said in Lahore. “I’ve been training intensively for five months. I’m focused and aiming for gold.”

With Chopra absent, India will be represented in the men’s javelin throw by Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh.

Chopra and Nadeem remain two of the sport’s biggest names. After making history with Olympic gold in Tokyo, Chopra added world and Asian Games titles to his name and remains determined to push his limits.

“I may have won a lot of medals,” he said, “but the motivation is to throw farther and farther. I’m hungry for more.”