SAINT-DENIS, France — The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan, long recognized in cricket, has now extended to the javelin throw at the Olympics.
At the Paris Olympics, Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India showcased their talent by finishing first and second, respectively, attracting a large crowd of fans from both nations at the Stade de France.
“There’s no doubt about the cricket rivalry. Now this javelin is also there,” Nadeem stated through a translator. “People back home in Pakistan and even in India were eager to see us both throwing the javelin and competing. I’m happy to see Chopra earn silver.”
Nadeem made history by setting an Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters (305 feet) on his second attempt, surpassing the previous record of 90.57 meters set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008.
Chopra earned silver with a throw of 89.45 meters, a season best, while Anderson Peters from Grenada took home the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54 meters.
“I could feel the javelin leaving my hand and sensed it could be an Olympic record, inshallah (God willing),” Nadeem remarked. “And indeed, it became an Olympic record.”
This victory marked the first-ever gold medal in track and field for Pakistan, a significant achievement as both nations eye gold in cricket for the upcoming Olympics when the sport joins the program in Los Angeles in four years.
Chopra, who struggled with injuries, admitted that he has been experiencing a difficult period. “I’m always injured,” he said, referencing a groin injury. “Nadeem threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country.”
In 2021, Chopra became a household name in India by securing the nation’s first-ever gold medal in track and field, but had no fans in Tokyo due to the pandemic.
This time, support poured in from the Indian diaspora, with spectators from various parts of the world—Edinburgh, Austria, London, and Switzerland—showing their pride by waving Indian flags throughout the stadium.
Varun Mathur, who traveled from London to witness Chopra compete, commented, “It’s never been a sport that’s been very popular, but he has inspired many to take an interest in javelin.”
Last year, Nadeem secured silver behind Chopra at the world championships, leading to a promising rivalry, as noted by Mathur.
Another Indian javelin thrower, Kishore Jena, participated in the qualifying rounds but did not make it to the finals. Mathur expressed optimism about the sport’s growth, encouraging more athletes to emerge.
Several young Indian fans traveled to Paris to support Chopra, forming new friendships over their shared enthusiasm for the athlete. Devansh Kumar from Delhi said, “He’s a star. We hope that influential people in India invest more in sports and eliminate politics to nurture better athletes across all disciplines.”
India is considering a bid for the 2036 Olympics, with Pranay Dey from Delhi highlighting the potential spectator interest while acknowledging the need for infrastructural improvements.
Nadeem served as Pakistan’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony in Paris and has a background in cricket before embracing throwing sports. “Not becoming a cricketer was the best thing that happened to me,” Nadeem reflected. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here at the Olympics.”