Srinagar: Superstar Javellin thrower Neeraj Chopra has reacted to the Pakistan star javellin thrower Arshed Nadeem’s struggle to buy a new javellin before Paris Olympics 2024.
The Olympic Gold Medallist Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan star Arshad Nadeem are two of the brightest Javellin throwers from Asia and the duo share a off the pitch bonhomie and camaraderie.
While Chopra is currently training in Turkey, the 27-year-old Nadeem’s preparations have hit a ‘snag’.
The Pakistani recently said he is struggling to acquire an international standard javelin for many years and has been “using one for the past seven to eight years.”
In a chat with SAI Media recently, Chopra, who competed with Nadeem in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last year, said, “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.”
Arshad Nadeem, who finished second behind Chopra in Budapest, was recently quoted in the media, saying: “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.”
Chopra, whose entire training and international tours are funded by the Indian sports ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme, feels that Nadeem is the pride of Pakistan and must be supported.
“It can’t be that he (Arshad) 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 need and support him just like how my government is doing so.
“Additionally, Arshad is 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,” said Chopra.