Neeraj inspires Pakistan’s cricketer- turned- athlete
Neeraj is an amazing talent. His achievements inspire me and my goal is to emulate him one day. ARSHAD NADEEM,
Jakarta, Aug. 28: In awe of Neeraj Chopra, Pakistan’s cricketer- turned- javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem hopes to emulate the Indian star some day even though he acknowledges that the gulf between them is too huge. Nadeem settled for a bronze with a personal best of 80.75m at the ongoing Asian Games, where Neeraj was the undisputed star of the field with a national record throw of 88.06m on Monday.
The 20- year- old from Khanewal in Pakistan Punjab is aware that he has got a mountain to climb. “Neeraj is an amazing talent. I have competed with him about eight times now including the SAFF Championships in India and Asian Junior Championships. But he has a foreign coach and I don’t. His achievements inspire me and my goal is to emulate him one day, may be beat him too,” Nadeem said.
The imposing Pakistani played U- 17 cricket at the state level before picking up the javelin three years ago. He used to be a fast bowler, using both his arms while running in like Pakistan leftarm pacer Sohail Tanveer.
“I used both my arms but I was a righthand
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Javelin thrower from Pakistan
fast bowler unlike Tanvir bhai. Like India, cricket is big in Pakistan but then I was introduced to javelin three years ago and ever since I have stopped following cricket,” he said.
Nadeem wants to discuss the tricks of the trade with the Indian but says Neeraj is not very forthcoming. “Neerj bhai jawaab hee nahi dete ( he hardly responds to my whatsapp messages). He has done that only a couple of times and after that he stopped. I don’t know the reason for that. “May be he is busy,” he said.