CWG 2022: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem wins gold, breaks Neeraj Chopra’s record of 89.94 metres in javelin throw

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 8

In the men’s javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games, India returned empty-handed in the absence of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who had pulled out due to injury.

D P Manu and Rohit Yadav finished fifth and sixth with best efforts of 82.28m and 82.22m. respectively.

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the gold with a sensational fifth round throw of 90.18m, which was also a Games record, beating world champion Anderson Peters (88.64m), who settled for silver.

Nadeem became the second Asian and 23rd in the world to have thrown the javelin past 90m. Chinese Taipei’s Chao-Tsun Cheng was the first Asian to achieve the feat with a throw of 91.36m in 2017.

Earlier, Arshad Nadeem had said that he will miss competing against Neeraj Chopra at the Commonwealth Games here as they are part of ‘one’ family.

Neeraj won a historic silver at the World Championships last month with a throw of 88.13m as Arshad finished fifth after becoming the first Pakistani to qualify for the finals.

“Neeraj bhai is my brother. I miss him here. May God give him the best of health and I get to compete with him soon,” Arshad told PTI.

The ‘bromance’ has been brewing between Indo-Pak rivals ever since they took part in the South Asian Games in 2016 in Guwahati.

“He is a good person. Initially you tend to be a bit reserve. When you get to know each other, you tend to open up. We have a very good friendship. I hope he keeps performing for India and I keep performing for my country. We both have made an impact. We are like one family,” said the 25-year-old.

“The way Neeraj bhai has got a lot of fame in your country, I have got a lot of support from my government and the people. I am really grateful for that,” said Arshad who hopes to compete in India again soon. With PTI inputs