Although the Handshake series from the Indian vs of the Pakistanic cricket match on the Asia Cup T20 in Dubai is raging, another India-Pakistan is to develop-time in Tokyo. On Wednesday and Thursday, the world champion Neera Chopra will face the Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem in a men’s spear at the World Athletics Championship.
“Do not mix sport and politics,” they say. And for a good reason. Sport often acts as a bridge, which allows us to do only at a fleeting moment-to remember our differences when opponents on the opposite sides go to their heads.
Even during the war, sport continued. In January 1999, just months before the conflict of Kargil, the guest test team of Pakistan in Chennai won one of the best matches they had ever played. Indian fans, who are still frozen of the heroic century Sachin Tendulkar, became in vain, stood to clap Pakistani gravel and class – a moment that remains most of the most most in India -Pakistan.
Good will among athletes has persisted in recent years. Shaheen Afridi gives new father Jasprit Bumhrah a box of children’s clothing before the World Cup 2023 or a warm reception that the Pakistani team received during his first visit to India since 2016, shows that mutual respect can survive despite cross -border tension.
Yet times have changed. The goodwill that once softened the rivalry was repeatedly tested. In April 2025, the terrorist attack of Pahalgam, followed in May, followed by a full -fledged conflict, hardened political tensions.
Recent Handshake series During the Asia Cup T20 In Dubai, this new reality is: Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav greeted his Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha for throwing and Indian players avoided handshakes after victory. Pakistan was angry, their captain broke the ceremony after the match, and the Pakistanic cricket council has ever demanded the removal of Andy Pycroft referee, There is a risk of pulling out Asia Cup if it stays.
In the middle of this background, Neeraj-Ashad’s clash has a new meaning.
Unlike cricket, athletics rarely put India and Pakistan against each other. The Javelin brotherhood is small – a handful of first -class throwers of the competition across the circuit that sees the same faces year after year. Rivals here are less hostility and more about shared respect for craft.
Beautiful rivalry
In this ecosystem, Neera and Arshad’s relationship was often framed as a special, symbol of the ability to overcome sport. They pushed themselves, traded the front throws, and together they raised South Asia on the javelin map.
They follow their rivalry until 2016, when both athletes first competed international level. Neej quickly established himself as a dominant force, while Arshad took steps of the child, fought with his opponents and barrier in a sport dominated by cricket in his country.
According to the Asian Games in Jakarta in Jakarta, dynamics were injured in a visible rivalry. Neeraj behaved gold with 88.06 m; Arshad took bronze to 80.75 m. When she was caught up in global attention, their viral stages were: shrouded in their national flags, leaned and touched their heads while shaking hands. AFP Photos
Their bond deepened above the gestures of respect when the rivalry grew. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, Arshad borrowed Neera’s javelin During one of his throwing-the act of trust and brotherhood in the middle of a competition with a high share. For years he kept Neej on top, while Arshad improved gradually, but often dragged.
This hierarchy moved dramatically to the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Arshad released throwing 92.97 m to win the first Olympic athletic gold in Pakistan, overcame Neera’s 89.45 mA. Power dynamics turned: What was once a clear order became a real rivalry, defined by respect, determination and drive of two champions that pushed each other to unprecedented heights.
Today, the strongest India – Pákistani rivalry is not played in a cricket field, but on the protective lane – yet he has always withstand mutual respect between Arshad and Neeraj.
After the historical Olympic triumph of Arshad in Paris, the celebrations crossed the borders. Neera’s mother, Saroj Devi, expressed the heat For both athletes that the golden medalist was “like her own child”, while Arshad’s mother repeated sentiment about Neerai.
This rare moment of cross -border family affection, widely shared on social media, reminded fans that sport could rise over politics.
Has it changed now?
Yet 2025 brought new complications.
After the Pahalgam attack, Neeri was honest in interviews leading to Tokyo: He and Arshad were never close friends. They shared respect, clarified, but the narration of the fraternity was overestimated. “Things wouldn’t be the same again,” he admitted.
Dynamics was also tense around the classic Neera Chopra, the first main international international event Javelin he held. The invitations were sent to Arshad before the Pahalgam attack.
After the tragedy of the public will, she questioned Neera’s integrity and had to clarify that the participation of Arshad was “completely out of question” for circumstances, and stressed that the invitation was purely sporty.
Before you head to Tokyo, Arshad downplaying the hype around their rivalry In the note laminated with a gentle meaning: “My competition is always against Neeri Chopra. I have my competitions against myself. I am in good shape and well prepared for the Tokyo competition,” The Dawn said.
Even in this firmly confused fraternity, geopolitics now affect personal and professional interactions.
Tokyo 2025 promises to continue this narrative about high bets. Neeraj enters as the ruling world champion, whose aim is to confirm his dominance. Arshad is trying to consolidate his Olympic triumph, which proves that his victory was not a coincidence. Both will also fight the world leader Julian Weber as a key opponent.
When Tokyo is preparing to clear the spear, fans will not only watch for record feasts, but for gestures, shared views and gentle signs of respect or reserve. In the current climate, Handshake Snub could undoubtedly walk – yet for those who watched this rivalry from his Asian roots to the global scene, it would be heartbreaking.
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Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
September 16, 2025
