While sports fans in India and Pakistan gear up for tomorrow’s Asia Cup cricket clash in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, a foretaste of its possible intensity was presented on Monday in Budapest, Hungary.
India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem produced a thriller of a contest in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships.
It ended with both athletes making history.
Separated by less than a metre in the final, Neeraj became India’s first gold medallist at the World Championships. Nadeem, who finished second, became the first medallist for Pakistan in the history of the competition.
After opening with a foul, Neeraj produced his best throw of 88.17m in his second attempt.
Nadeem, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, shrugged off a slow start to post his season-best throw of 87.82m in his third attempt, which landed him the silver.
The two remained at the top of the table till the very end, with the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch securing the bronze with a throw of 86.67m.
After their podium finish, Neeraj and Nadeem shared a hug.
Later, as Neeraj and Jakub posed in front of the cameras with their respective flags, Nadeem was missing from the frame. The silver medallist was left without a Pakistan flag. But Neeraj invited Nadeem for the photographs and the pair stood together.
“Arshad and I are happy that both our countries are making strides in the sporting arena,” Neeraj said later.
“We were also happy to have prevailed over our European counterparts, who are stronger and very competitive.
“The rivalry between our nations in sports will always be there. I feel the win here will raise the expectations of the fans going into the Asian Games. We will meet again in Hangzhou (China).”
For the first time, India had as many as three participants in the final, with Kishore Jena (84.77m) finishing fifth and DP Manu (84.14m), sixth.
India now has medals of all colours at the World Athletics Championships.
Neeraj bagged a silver last year, while Anju Bobby George got a bronze in the women’s long jump in 2003.
Neeraj now owns the Olympic and World golds, making him only the second Indian after shooter Abhinav Bindra to simultaneously hold the two titles. Neeraj also won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018.
Indo-Asian News Service
