Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem: Rivals on the field, friends for life

Online Desk

Arshad Nadeem bested Neeraj Chopra for the first time in their 11 face-offs to claim the Olympic gold medal with a sensational Games record of 92.97m.

(Photo | PTI)

Neeraj took the silver with a season's best effort of 89.45m.

(Photo | PTI)
The rivalry is there when it comes to cricket matches and other sports, definitely. But at the same time, it is a good thing for youngsters in both countries who are pursuing a sport to follow us and follow their sports icons and bring laurels to their countries.
Arshad Nadeem
(Photo | AP)

He is also Pakistan's first individual medallist since the 1988 Seoul Olympics where boxer Hussain Shah claimed a middle-weight bronze.

(Photo | AP)

Neeraj Chopra's mother praised Arshad Nadeem's performance, calling him "her child" and acknowledging the hard work of all the athletes. 

Nadeem and Chopra, despite being fierce competitors on the field, are good friends off it. A few months back, when Nadeem made a social media appeal for funds to buy a quality javelin, Chopra was among those who stepped forward to offer their support.

(Photo | PTI)
(Photo | PTI)
Rivalry with Neeraj is good, it's inspiring youngsters in both India, Pakistan: Nadeem