Doha, Qatar - Neeraj Chopra, an Olympic gold medalist in India, believes that the escalation between his country and neighboring Pakistan will affect the very popular friendship he shares with his cross-border rival Arshad Nadeem.
Both male javelin athletes have received wide acclaim for their friendly interactions in international competitions overlooking decades of South Asia competition, but Chopra said Thursday that his relationship with Nadham is unlikely to remain the same.
India and Pakistan participated in a brief and fierce military confrontation last week, threatening to the fifth full-scale war between the two countries.
When asked about tensions in friendship with Nadeem, Chopra told Al Jazeera: “It won’t be like the previous (recent escalation).
“I have never had a very deep friendship with him, but we always respect each other,” he added in a speech at the Doha Diamond League, which is scheduled for the World Track and Field Competition in Qatar on Friday.
Chopra, who won Olympic gold medals in 2021 and Nadeem, who won gold medals in Paris in 2024, gave frequent encouragement and appreciation between Chopra, which made social media darlings and rare faces of cross-border friendships.
Happy birthday to my friends and companions @neeraj_chopra1 I wish you a year full of happiness, success, better health and happiness. May you live a wonderful life!
-Arshad Nadem (@arshadolympian1) December 24, 2024
However, after the April 22 attack killed Pahargam, where 26 civilians were killed in India-managed Kashmiris, Chopra faced a fierce social media rebound, inviting Nadham to attend an event held in India on May 24 by Neeraj Chopra Chopra Classic classic javelin.
The invitation was extended before the attack, and Nadeem refused to prepare for the South Korean Asian Track and Field Championships from May 27 to 31.
Chopra's eponymous event was eventually postponed after the cross-border conflict, but ahead of the 27-year-old Indian athlete's statement on April 25, he said it was "completely impossible" to compete in the competition after the Pahalgam attack.
- Neeraj Chopra (@neeraj_chopra1) April 25, 2025
On May 7, India carried out multiple missile attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-managed Kashmir, where the Pakistani military claimed to have shot down multiple Indian Air Force aircraft.
Three days later, Pakistan retaliated against the Indian Air Force Base in a missile attack. Both countries were on the cliff of war before agreeing to a ceasefire from the U.S. agents.
In a war-like situation, both Chopra and Nadham participated in social media to ensure their support for their respective armed forces.
This is in stark contrast to the warmth shared by the world’s top javelin throwers, who often take photos at track and field competitions and share greetings on social media.
Chopra and Nadeem are gold and silver medalists at the 2023 World Track and Field Championships and celebrate together as the Indian asks his Pakistani opponent to join him and stand around each other with arms.
When Nadeem became the first Pakistani track and field athlete to win gold at the Paris Olympics, Chopra's mother said that Nadeem also won the heart of the border like her.
It is not clear when athletes will compete with each other, as Nadeem does not compete in the Doha Diamond League, while Chopra will skip South Korea’s Asian Track and Field Championships.
Despite the recent political and military stalemates, Chopra said he will continue to maintain a respectful manner to Nadham.
“Because javelin throwers are a small community, I have a lot of friends in track and field,” Chopra said.
“I will always repay the respect I have received from my colleagues and athletes.”
