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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Shivamogga: Villagers hold candlelight protest over student Sanket’s murder
Shivamogga: Residents of Sulebailu in Urugadur, on the outskirts of Shivamogga city, staged a candlelight protest on Wednesday night condemning the murder of student Sanket, which occurred three days ago.
Villagers cutting across caste and religious lines gathered on the streets holding placards with Sanket’s photograph and lit candles as a mark of tribute. They raised slogans condemning the killing and appealed for peace in the area.
Locals alleged that the root cause of Sanket's murder was rampant drug trafficking and illegal liquor shops in the area. The villagers demanded that such anti-social elements preying on innocent youth be stopped.
During the protest, locals again alleged that rampant drug trafficking and illegal liquor sales in the locality were among the reasons behind the incident. They demanded strict action against those involved and called upon authorities to curb the illegal sale of ganja and alcohol, which they claimed was misleading youth and school students in the region.
The protesters later met Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kariappa and submitted a memorandum urging immediate measures to control illegal activities.
Sanket (16), an SSLC student of Government High School at Uragadur, was allegedly assaulted outside his school by a group of boys when he intervened in an argument over their cricket match. He was rushed to a hospital but declared dead. Seven minors have reportedly been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
