We are always natural friends: Arshad Nadeem says while sharing picture with Neeraj Chopra
Paris: Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's star javelin thrower, created history on Thursday night by clinching the Olympic gold medal with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters. This victory marks the first time Nadeem has bested his Indian counterpart, Neeraj Chopra, in their 11 encounters, adding a new chapter to their growing rivalry.
Nadeem's gold-winning performance not only set a new Olympic record but also made him the first Pakistani to win an individual Olympic gold medal. His achievement comes 36 years after boxer Hussain Shah won a bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, making Nadeem the first Pakistani to secure an Olympic medal since then.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Nadeem expressed his happiness over the rivalry between him and Chopra, likening it to the famous cricket battles between India and Pakistan. He shared a picture with Chopra, captioning it with the words, "We are always natural friends," along with the flags of both nations.
"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," Nadeem told reporters after his historic win.
Nadeem and Chopra have developed a strong friendship off the field, despite being fierce competitors on it. Their camaraderie was evident earlier this year when Nadeem made a social media appeal for funds to purchase a high-quality javelin. Chopra was among those who offered support, showcasing the bond they share.
Chopra, who entered the final as the top qualifier, secured the silver medal with a season's best throw of 89.45 meters. Nadeem, however, was the surprise of the night, with two throws exceeding 90 meters, one of which broke the previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters set by Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Games.
We are always natural friends 🇵🇰💕🇮🇳#ArshadNadeem #NeerajChopra #PakistanZindabad #GOLD #OlympicGamesParis pic.twitter.com/5YyuWORRk7
— Arshad Nadeem 🇵🇰 (@ArshadNadeemPak) August 8, 2024
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Boards barring non-Hindus at Har ki Pauri come up in Uttarakhand
Haridwar (PTI): Amid demands to declare the Haridwar Kumbh area in Uttarakhand a Hindu zone and restrict entry to non-Hindus at all religious places and Ganga ghats within it, signs reading 'Non-Hindu prohibited area' were put up at Har Ki Pauri on Friday.
The Ganga Sabha, the organisation that manages and maintains Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding ghats, has put up these signs on all entry points to the area, including on bridge railings and pillars.
However, the main bathing ghat of Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding area are already restricted for non-Hindus according to the Haridwar Municipal Act of 1916.
These signs were put up after a video went viral three days ago showing two young men wearing Kandura (traditional Arab attire) roaming in the Har Ki Pauri area. However, it was later revealed that these two young men were Hindus and had come to make a video for their YouTube channel.
The Sabha has demanded that all religious places, temples, and Ganga ghats in the entire Haridwar Kumbh area be restricted for non-Hindus before the 'Ardh Kumbh' next year, a demand that the Uttarakhand government is also seriously considering.
Following the Kandura incident, the Sabha had also appealed to officials of government departments, other organisations, and media houses not to appoint their non-Hindu employees in this area. They stated that this was necessary to maintain the sanctity and purity of the area.
Regarding the installation of the new signs, Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam told PTI, "According to the Haridwar Municipal Bylaws of 1916, the entry of non-Hindus into the Har Ki Pauri area is completely prohibited. This sign has been put up to inform everyone about this bylaw."
He said that this step has been taken to publicly share information about the law and traditions, so that the sanctity of the pilgrimage site is maintained and no confusion or controversy arises.
Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar also stated that the 1916 bylaws prohibit the entry of non-Hindus into the Har Ki Pauri area.
