Harbhajan Singh believes that the friendship between Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra and Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem highlights how sports can bridge divides and bring people together.
In Paris, Nadeem won gold with an impressive Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters on Thursday, while Chopra secured silver with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters. Harbhajan praised the mutual respect shown by the athletes, noting their gesture of holding their own national flags and interacting with each other after the ceremony. “This demonstrates that sports go beyond borders and unite people. It’s a powerful message from both athletes,” he said.
Harbhajan compared this to cricket matches between India and Pakistan, where fierce competition on the field contrasts with a camaraderie off the field. He also appreciated Chopra’s mother’s comment, acknowledging that Nadeem, like Chopra, is someone’s child and deserving of respect.
Congratulations Arshad.. Great picture ❤️ Sports unite Everyone ❤️ @ArshadOlympian1 https://t.co/afyJOffWnI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 9, 2024
“Congratulations to Nadeem for winning gold, and Neeraj is our pride and a hero. He’s inspired many with his achievements, both on and off the field,” Harbhajan said. He praised Chopra for his dedication and for securing back-to-back medals for India, emphasizing that his efforts have earned him admiration and respect, even if he didn’t win gold.
Harbhajan also expressed his disappointment over wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the 50kg gold-medal match due to being 100 grams overweight, which led to her surprising retirement announcement after appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“It’s disheartening to see Vinesh miss out on the final over such a small margin. The rules are strict, but it’s tough for an athlete to face such a setback,” he said. Harbhajan offered support to Phogat during this challenging time, noting her close proximity to winning a medal for India and affirming her status as a national hero.
