The bond between Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra, two javelin throwers from Pakistan and India respectively, transcends the realm of sporting rivalry. Their camaraderie has been evident both on and off the field, with their mothers expressing their love and support for both athletes.
After their 1-2 finish in the Paris Olympics javelin throw final, social media was abuzz with stories of their friendship. Neeraj’s mother, Saroj, had earlier stated that Arshad was like a son to her. Now, Arshad’s mother has reciprocated those sentiments, saying she views Neeraj in the same way.
“He is also like my son. He is Nadeem’s friend and also his brother. Wins and losses are part of the sport. May god bless him, may he win medals. They are like brothers, I’ve prayed for Neeraj too,” Arshad’s mother said in an interview.
Saroj, too, expressed her joy at the success of both athletes. “We are very happy with the silver, the one who got gold is also our child and the one who got silver is also our child….all are athletes, all work hard,” she said.
“Nadeem is also good, he plays well, there is no difference between Neeraj and Nadeem. We got gold and silver there is no difference for us,” she added.
The friendship between Chopra and Nadeem has been evident in their interactions off the field. Chopra has often supported Nadeem, lending him a helping hand on multiple occasions.
This mutual respect and camaraderie between the two athletes is a testament to the power of sports to bridge divides and foster unity. It also highlights the importance of sportsmanship and the spirit of competition, where athletes can compete fiercely on the field but still maintain a bond of friendship and respect off it.
