Addressing his recent comments on Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem being spotted with his javelin just before the final of the event at Tokyo Olympics 2020, Neeraj Chopra has said that he is saddened with people making mountain out of a molehill. In a video released on Twitter, Neeraj revealed that as per rules, a thrower can use others’ javelin.

In the video, Chopra said that Nadeem wasn’t trying to tamper with his javelin and it was a routine thing. “I would request everyone to please not use me and my comments as a medium to further your vested interests and propaganda. Sports teaches us to be together and united. I’m extremely disappointed to see some of the reactions from the public on my recent comments,” Neeraj said.

Speaking to The Times of India, Neeraj had revealed that he had taken his first throw hurriedly as he could not find his javelin which was with Nadeem. The video of Neeraj taking his javelin from Arshad had gone viral after his comments. 

“I was searching for my javelin at the start of the final in Olympics. I was not able to find it. Suddenly, I saw Arshad Nadem was moving around with my javelin. Then I told him, ‘Bhai give this javelin to me, it is my javelin! I have to throw with it’. He gave it back to me. That’s why you must have seen I took my first throw hurriedly,” Neeraj told TOI.

Soon after his comments, the social media users criticised Arshad for his actions. But as per Neeraj, the Pakistani javelin thrower did nothing wrong.

One of the strongest contenders to win a medal in the event, Arshad had come up with the best throw of 84.62m. Neeraj had ended India’s wait for a medal in track and field events after he came up with the best throw of 87.58m. Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.