Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra expressed surprise and concern upon learning that his on-field rival and friend from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, was facing difficulties in acquiring a new javelin.
“It has now got to a stage where the javelin is damaged, and I have asked the national federation and my coach to do something about it before the Paris Olympics. When I started off in 2015, competing in international events I got this javelin … for an international athlete aiming to win a medal in the Olympic Games, you need proper equipment and training facilities,” Nadeem had stated a few weeks back.
Chopra, who shares a strong bond with Nadeem off the field, remarked that it was truly difficult to comprehend that the Pakistani athlete was encountering such challenges in obtaining a new javelin.
“It is hard to believe that he has been struggling to get a new javelin. Given his credentials, this should not be a big issue at all,” Chopra stated on Monday.
“It can’t be that he (Nadeem) doesn’t have the means to buy a javelin. He is a champion and must be doing some brand endorsements. I reckon he has earned a bit of money too. But having said that, his government can look at Arshad’s (Nadeem) need and support him just like how my government is doing so,” Chopra attached.
“Additionally, Arshad (Nadeem) is a top javelin thrower and I believe that the javelin makers will be more than happy to sponsor him and provide what he wants. This is a piece of advice from my side,” he attached.
With a remarkable throw of 90.18 meters, the 27-year-old Pakistani athlete had set a new javelin throw record at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, securing the title. This achievement brought an end to Pakistan’s 60-year-long wait for a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Nadeem underwent an elbow operation in the UK in December 2022. Subsequently, he faced another setback when he underwent knee surgery last year. As a result, he had to skip the Hangzhou Asian Games, where Chopra emerged victorious and secured the gold medal.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
