Neeraj Chopra clarifies stance on Arshad Nadeem amid border tensions: "not a strong relationship"

As the spotlight returns to the track for the Diamond League in Doha, Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra addressed recent questions about his relationship with Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem.

With renewed tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, speculation had risen around the camaraderie between the two elite javelin throwers.

Chopra, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo and secured silver in Paris, was clear and composed in his response. "First of all, I really want to clear that I don't have a very strong relationship. I mean we have to talk...I have good friends in the athletics community all around the world. But if somebody talks to me respectfully, I always like to talk to him respectfully. It's good that all javelin throwers are...because it's a very small community, everyone competes for their country, everybody wants to give their best," he said at a pre-event press conference in Doha.

Chopra acknowledged the close-knit nature of the global javelin community but emphasised that each athlete ultimately represents their own country. He firmly added that recent geopolitical events will not change his approach. "Because of this (recent border tension between India and Pakistan) I don't think so, it will be not like something like before. If somebody gives me respect, I will give him the same."

Earlier, Chopra had faced backlash on social media for allegedly endorsing the participation of Arshad Nadeem in the NC Classic. The athlete clarified that the invitations for the event were sent out prior to the April 22 terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly of tourists. He expressed disappointment at the personal attacks directed at him and his family, calling them unfair and hurtful.

As he prepares for Friday's competition, Chopra will face a strong field of javelin throwers, including two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Czechia’s Jakub Vadlejch, who narrowly defeated Chopra in Doha last year with a throw of 88.38m—just 2cm more than Chopra’s 88.36m.

Also competing are Germany's Julian Weber and Max Dehning, Kenya’s Julius Yego, and Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean. Notably absent is Arshad Nadeem, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

India’s Kishore Jena, the Asian Games silver medallist, will also be part of the 11-man competition lineup. However, Jena has struggled to maintain form recently. He placed ninth at the same venue in 2024 with a best throw of 76.31m, well below his personal best of 87.54m.

Chopra, who first appeared in the Doha Diamond League in 2018 with a fourth-place finish, remains a consistent medal contender on the international stage.