'Rivalry with Neeraj good, it's inspiring...': Arshad speaks out on the Indo-Pak Javelin Rivalry

History-making Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is quite pleased that his rivalry with Indian superstar Neeraj Chopra is becoming as talked about as cricketing battles between two feuding neighbours as he believes it will fuel sporting ambition of youngsters in both nations.

Nadeem bested Chopra for first time in ir 11 face-offs to claim Olympic gold medal with a sensational Games record of 92.97m on Thursday night. Chopra took silver with a season's best effort of 89.45m, adding ar chapter to ir storied rivalry.

" rivalry is re when it comes to cricket matches and or sports, definitely. But at same time, it is a good thing for youngsters in both countries who are pursuing a sport to follow us and follow ir sports icons and bring laurels to ir countries," 27-year-old Nadeem told reporters after becoming first Pakistani to clinch an individual Olympic gold medal.

He is also Pakistan's first individual medallist since 1988 Seoul Olympics where boxer Hussain Shah claimed a middle-weight bronze.

Nadeem and Chopra, despite being fierce competitors on field, are good friends off it. A few months back, when Nadeem made a social media appeal for funds to buy a quality javelin, Chopra was among those who stepped forward to offer ir support.

over six feet tall Nadeem was dark horse in Thursday night's final where Chopra entered as top qualifier.

But Pakistani, who won 2022 Commonwealth Games gold with an over 90m effort, stunned high-quality field with two throws that measured over 90m, one of m being a new Olympic record, which was previously held by rway's Andreas Thorkildsen, who cleared 90.57m in 2008 Beijing Games.

"I am thankful to nation. Everyone prayed for me, and I was hopeful of doing well. Over years, I got a knee injury and recovered, and worked hard on my fitness. I was even confident of throwing beyond 92.97m, but that throw was eugh for me to get gold," Nadeem said of his performance.

"I will continue to work hard and give my best in days and months to come. I am planning to throw beyond this mark as well." Nadeem also gave a peak into his formative years and revealed that he started out as a cricketer, before trying his hand at table tennis but eventually took to javelin throw after being told that he had built for it.

"I was a cricketer, I played table tennis, and I also participated in athletics events. But my coach told me I have got a very good physique for javelin throw and I concentrated on javelin only from 2016," he said.

"People think my technique is more like a fast bowler than a javelin thrower, but I am happy with this action and run-up I use. That is because of my early strength as a cricket bowler," he quipped.

Hailing from Khanewal vill in Punjab region, Nadeem's training was initially supported by his vill and he said that support has helped him stay grounded while touching new milestones for his country.

"I come from a farming vill, and every time I win a medal I think about my origins and that motivates me to do better. That's reason I have remained humble and that's why I want to become more successful.

"I had to go through very tough times to make it to this st," he admitted.