Pakistan-India javelin rivalry between Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra draws fans from subcontinent

Pakistan-India javelin rivalry between Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra draws fans from subcontinent
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem (center) celebrates with his national flag after winning gold with silver medallist Neeraj Chopra of India (left) and bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada in the Men's Javelin Throw Final in Paris Olympics 2024 in Saint-Denis, France on August 08, 2024. (REUTERS)
Short Url
Updated 09 August 2024
Follow

Pakistan-India javelin rivalry between Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra draws fans from subcontinent

Pakistan-India javelin rivalry between Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra draws fans from subcontinent
  • Nadeem and Chopra’s rivalry has caught the imagination of India and Pakistan, known as intense cricketing foes
  • Nadeem, who started out playing state-level cricket, was Pakistan’s flag bearer during opening ceremony in Paris

SAINT-DENIS., France: The heated rivalry in cricket has been well documented. Now, India and Pakistan are competing against each other in the javelin throw at the Olympics, too.

When Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India finished 1-2 at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, fans from the subcontinent were in abundance at the Stade de France.

“There’s no doubt about the cricket rivalry. Now this javelin is also there,” Nadeem said through a translator. “People back home in Pakistan and even in India, they were eager to see us both throwing the javelin and beating each other. I’m happy to see Chopra earning silver.”

Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters (305 feet) in his second attempt, smashing the old mark of 90.57 set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway in 2008.

Chopra took silver at 89.45 meters, a season best, and Anderson Peters of Grenada took the bronze at 88.54.

“When I threw the javelin, I got the feel of it leaving my hand, and sensed it could be an Olympic record, inshallah (God willing),” Nadeem said. “God indeed made it an Olympic record.”

It was the first ever gold medal in track and field for Pakistan which, along with India, can contend for gold in cricket four years from now when that sport joins the Olympic program in Los Angeles.

Chopra fouled on all five of his other throws and said he’s been in a funk the last few years.

“I’m always injured,” said Chopra, who has been slowed by a groin injury. ”Nadeem threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country. “

Chopra became a superstar in India when he won India’s first ever gold medal in track and field three years ago. But there were no fans in Tokyo because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian diaspora made sure Chopra felt the full support of his nation of 1.4 billion this time.

Spectators draped in the orange, white and green Indian flags could be spotted all over stadium. There were Pakistani fans, too.

“It’s never been a sport that’s been very big and he’s captured the imagination of a lot of people to look at javelin again,” said Varun Mathur, who traveled from London on Thursday morning with his partner, Sujata Ravi, to see Chopra.

At last year’s world championships, Nadeem took silver behind Chopra.

“It’s going to be a good rivalry,” Mathur added.

Another Indian, Kishore Jena, competed in javelin qualifiers but didn’t advance to the final.

“He’s an example of how people are taking it up further,” Mathur said. “Hopefully a lot more people come through.”

Devansh Kumar, a 20-year-old from Delhi studying in Edinburgh, Suksham Chahar, a 23-year-old from Haryana studying starting her PhD in Austria, and Ishan Maheshwari, a 27-year-old living in London, traveled to Paris to see Chopra.

They didn’t know each other but met earlier in the day while watching India’s field hockey team win a bronze medal. All three had tickets to track and field, too, so they came to the stadium together — new friends united by their support of Chopra.

“He’s a star,” Kumar said. “We are hoping that any Indian listeners and people who have power, they put more money into sports, remove the politics so we can get better athletes for all sports.”

India is planning to bid for the 2036 Olympics.

“There would be no shortage of people watching the Olympics, that’s for sure,” said Pranay Dey, a 30-year-old from Delhi who is a breast cancer researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. “But regarding infrastructure, there’s still a long way to go.”

Nadeem was Pakistan’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony in Paris. He played age-group cricket at the state level until he took up throwing sports, starting with shot put and discus.

“Not becoming a cricketer was the best thing that happened to me,” Nadeem said. “I wouldn’t be in the Olympics otherwise.”


Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow

Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow
Updated 23 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow

Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow
  • Dr. Musadiq Malik inaugurates Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction organized by the NDMA
  • He highlights the country’s efforts to strengthen disaster resilience through early warning systems

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani minister on Tuesday called for a data-driven and community-inclusive approach to disaster management, as the country faces increasing threats from extreme weather events.
Pakistan has endured repeated climate-related disasters in recent years, including heatwaves, droughts and catastrophic flooding, such as the deadly 2022 deluge that displaced millions and caused billions of dollars in damage.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadiq Malik said disaster management in complex environments required culturally sensitive solutions informed by evidence and broad inter-agency coordination.
“Pakistan’s vision for resilience by 2030 hinges on innovation, inter-agency coordination, and evidence-based decision-making,” he said while addressing the inauguration of the 2nd Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR-25), organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The event brought together diplomats, United Nations representatives, humanitarian partners and private sector leaders.
Malik highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen disaster resilience through early warning systems, localized response mechanisms and international cooperation.
He also pointed to the National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) that was set up to improve national response coordination and share technical expertise with regional partners.
“Pakistan has transformed challenges into opportunities by developing indigenous capacities like NEOC and sharing technical expertise with regional partners, creating goodwill and diplomatic leverage,” he added.
The minister praised the combined efforts of civil and military responders, civil society organizations and development partners in tackling past disasters and urged international donors to increase support for Pakistan’s adaptation and mitigation strategies, including better access to climate finance and carbon markets.


Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials

Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials
Updated 40 min 9 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials

Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials
  • Aurangzeb aims to highlight Pakistan’s improving economic outlook in meetings with investors
  • He will also discuss trade, investment and bilateral economic ties with senior British officials

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb left for London on Tuesday to meet British officials, financial institutions and business groups, as the South Asian nation seeks to attract foreign investment by highlighting its improving economic outlook.
Pakistan is striving to draw overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn that forced Islamabad to seek external financing from friendly nations and multiple loan programs with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The government has also pursued aggressive economic diplomacy in recent years, signing several agreements and memoranda of understanding with countries in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Aurangzeb’s visit to the United Kingdom is part of Islamabad’s wider strategy to expand those efforts and engage potential investors from other regions.
“The federal minister for finance, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has departed for London to meet British officials, investors, financial institutions, investment banks, business firms and organizations,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
During the three-day visit, Aurangzeb will attend multiple investment forums and seminars where he will outline Pakistan’s economic trajectory.
He is also scheduled to participate in a roundtable titled “Pakistan Access Days” hosted by Jefferies, a prominent US-based investment bank, and another session with UK tech investors focusing on government-friendly policies in artificial intelligence, mining, health care and other sectors.
Aurangzeb will be joined at the roundtables by Muhammad Ali, the prime minister’s adviser on investment.
In addition to meetings with private sector leaders, Aurangzeb will visit the UK Treasury Department for talks with Financial Secretary Lord Livermore and senior officials.
He will also meet Hamish Nickells-Falconer, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The finance minister will also hold meetings with the chief executives of Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered, and meet with Simon Baugh, CEO of the UK’s Government Communication Service.
During the trip, he is expected to hold a series of question-and-answer sessions with selected representatives from international and British media outlets.


Pakistan to crack down on smuggling of seeds from archrival India

Pakistan to crack down on smuggling of seeds from archrival India
Updated 06 May 2025
Follow

Pakistan to crack down on smuggling of seeds from archrival India

Pakistan to crack down on smuggling of seeds from archrival India
  • Pakistan’s food security minister says the country is falling behind India in seed quality and yield
  • He says National Seed Development Authority will curb fake seeds, enforce stringent regulations

KARACHI: Pakistan said on Tuesday it would launch a crackdown on the smuggling of seeds from archrival India while emphasizing better regulation of the domestic seed market and promotion of local agricultural innovation.
The move comes amid renewed tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after last month’s deadly attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, though Islamabad denied the charge.
Both countries have since taken tit-for-tat measures against each other, downgrading bilateral trade and diplomatic ties. India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a decades-old pact governing cross-border river flows, raising food security concerns for lower riparian Pakistan in the longer run.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting focusing on the issue, pointing out that Indian seeds were being smuggled into Pakistan and openly advertised on social media platforms.
“The Ministry is working closely with law enforcement agencies to take strict action against those involved in this illegal activity,” he said.
He also warned that the country, once ahead of India in agricultural innovation, was now falling behind.
“It is unfortunate that we now cite India’s example in seed quality and yield performance,” he added.
Hussain also raised the issue of the widespread sale of non-certified and substandard seeds in local markets, saying the authorities had banned 392 companies found guilty of distributing fake seeds.
The participants of the meeting said more than 50,000 metric tons of cotton seeds were available for the upcoming season, nearly meeting the total requirement of 53,796 metric tons and easing concerns about shortages.
According to a statement circulated after the meeting, the minister addressed the problem of price volatility in the seed market, saying the National Seed Development Authority had been established to monitor seed quality, prevent the sale of fake seeds and enforce stringent regulations.
He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to protecting farmers’ rights, ensuring food security, and transforming the agriculture sector through transparency, regulation and innovation.


Delegation from Pakistan’s top military university in UAE to discuss academic collaboration

Delegation from Pakistan’s top military university in UAE to discuss academic collaboration
Updated 06 May 2025
Follow

Delegation from Pakistan’s top military university in UAE to discuss academic collaboration

Delegation from Pakistan’s top military university in UAE to discuss academic collaboration
  • Delegation members are representatives of National Defense University, Pakistan’s leading military educational institute
  • Pakistani delegation will meet UAE officials, think tanks and other institutions during visit, says Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of senior Pakistani military and civil officers has arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to enhance bilateral dialogue, academic cooperation and understanding between the two nations, the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi said on Tuesday. 

The delegation are representatives of the National Defense University, Pakistan’s leading military educational institute situated in Islamabad, the embassy said in a statement. It added that the delegation comprises senior military and civil service officers, including those from friendly countries as well. 

“The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi hosted a delegation of National Security and War Course (NSWC) of the National Defense University (NDU), Islamabad, during their foreign study visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” the embassy said in its statement.

“The visit aims to enhance bilateral dialogue, academic collaboration, and mutual understanding between Pakistan and the UAE.”

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi welcomed the delegation, stressing the significance of these exchanges in deepening bilateral cooperation. He stated that the visit also reflects our commitment to strengthening the historic Pakistan-UAE partnership, the embassy said. 

“During their visit, the delegation will have high-level interactions with UAE government officials, think tanks, and other institutions of UAE,” the statement said.

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE foreign ministry.

It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.

The two nations have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their business and investment ties. In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure.


Pakistan, Bangladesh resolve to strengthen bilateral ties, maintain high-level contacts

Pakistan, Bangladesh resolve to strengthen bilateral ties, maintain high-level contacts
Updated 06 May 2025
Follow

Pakistan, Bangladesh resolve to strengthen bilateral ties, maintain high-level contacts

Pakistan, Bangladesh resolve to strengthen bilateral ties, maintain high-level contacts
  • Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks to Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, says state media 
  • Islamabad and Dhaka have attempted to rebuild bitter relations since ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar agreed to strengthen bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and maintain high-level contacts with its leadership, state-run media reported on Tuesday, as Islamabad looks to forge closer ties with the Muhammad Yunus-led government. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh, once one nation, split after a brutal 1971 war with Dhaka drawing closer to Islamabad’s arch-rival New Delhi. However, long-time Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted after her government was overthrown in August 2024. She fled via helicopter to India as Dhaka attempts to extradite her. 

Relations between India and Bangladesh’s interim government have been frosty since then, allowing Islamabad and Dhaka to rebuild ties slowly. Dar spoke to Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, over the telephone on Monday, Pakistani state broadcaster said. 

“Pakistan and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations and maintain regular high-level engagements,” Radio Pakistan reported. 

Direct private trade between the countries restarted in November 2024, when a container ship sailed from Pakistan’s Karachi to Bangladesh’s Chittagong. It was the first cargo ship in decades to sail directly between the countries.

Dar discussed Pakistan’s increased regional tensions with India during his conversation with Hossain, in light of New Delhi’s “unfounded” allegations it was involved in an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

Gunmen killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam tourist resort on April 22, straining ties between the two nations as India blamed Pakistan for backing the attack. Islamabad denied involvement and has asked New Delhi to share proof to substantiate its claims, something it hasn’t done yet. 

“The Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Adviser expressed concern over the current situation and emphasized the need for de-escalation and exercising restraint by all parties,” Radio Pakistan said. 

India and Pakistan — carved out of the subcontinent at the chaotic end of British colonial rule in 1947— have fought multiple wars and remain bitter foes. The two countries claim the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir in full but govern only parts of it separated by a Line of Control (LoC) de facto border.