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Ground Report | New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra-Nadeem Row; Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia has come out in support of gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, who has been embroiled in a controversy over his talk about Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem.
Bajrang Punia's message of unity
"An issue is being made on Neeraj Chopra. Athletes are athletes regardless of their nationality. We are adversaries on the ground but brothers outside it. Sports don't teach us to keep malice. It teaches us to unite and not divide. It is," Punia told ANI.
Rio Olympics bronze medalist wrestler Sakshi Malik also supported Neeraj Chopra and said, "I am against athletes being dragged into controversies or being used for political reasons and spreading hatred." We get caught up in bizarre controversies. Like Neeraj is very badly affected by what happened, and just thinking that a very small unreferenced comment has created such a huge controversy.'
ALSO READ: Why Neeraj wanted Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem on podium with him?
Neeraj Chopra-Nadeem Row
Earlier, Chopra himself clarified that he was hurt by the controversy surrounding his comments on Nadeem using his spear during the Tokyo Games and called the entire uproar "propaganda aimed at furthering a dirty agenda".
Neeraj Chopra told during an interview that he did not get his javelin from the final match. Later he saw that Pakistani rival Arshad Nadeem was practicing from the same javelin. After taking the javelin from Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra created history in the match and placed the gold medal in India's bag. Since then, Pakistani athlete is being trolled fiercely on social media. Many people are calling Nadeem a thief and many people a terrorist.
ALSO READ: Why Caste of Indian athletes being searched on Google
Neeraj Chopra expressed surprise
Responding to this whole incident, Neeraj Chopra has expressed surprise. He said through a video message on Twitter that“I would request everyone to please do not use me and my comments for your vested interests and as a medium of publicity. Sports teach us to be together and be one. I am extremely disappointed to see some of the public's reactions to my recent remarks."
The 23-year-old Army jawan who won India's first Olympic medal in athletics - a gold medal in Tokyo, said one should not use his name to stir up any controversy.
Chopra, who became the second Indian to win individual Olympic gold, said on his Twitter handle, "I would request everyone to kindly not use me and my comments for their own vested interests and as a medium of publicity." "Sports teaches us to be together and united. I am extremely disappointed to see some of the public's reactions to my recent comments.
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