New Delhi, May 16 -- For the second time in three weeks, javelin ace Neeraj Chopra played down his camaraderie with Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem who beat him to the Olympic gold last year in Paris. Speaking in a press conference on the eve of Doha Diamond League where he is a prime contender, Chopra said he never shared a strong bond with the Pakistani thrower. "First of all, I want to make it clear that I didn't have a very strong relationship (with Nadeem). As athletes, we have to talk to each other, and I have some good friends in the athletics community around the world - not just javelin throwers but also other events. If someone talks to me respectfully, I also respond respectfully," the 27-year-old said. "Javelin is a very small community and everyone is competing for their country and everyone wants to give their best." Chopra's comments come in the wake of heightened military tension between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam last month. Days later, Chopra copped online abuse for inviting Nadeem to Neeraj Chopra Classic which was scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on May 24. "There has been so much talk about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, and most of it has been hate and abuse. They haven't even left my family out of it," the double Olympic medallist had stated on social media while revoking his invitation to Nadeem. Chopra called off NC Classic last week as India and Pakistan engaged in military action. Chopra and Nadeem have been competing together since the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati and have faced off in key international meets such as the World Championships Asian Games, and Olympics. "We were never really close friends or something. But, because of this (India-Pakistan border tensions), it will not be like before," Chopra said. The two Asian stars are not expected to face off anytime soon with Chopra set to compete in Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland on May 23 while Nadeem will be in action at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea from May 27-31. The Indian star has decided to skip the Asian event. Besides Chopra, the javelin field will have Kishore Jena. Other Indians competing in Doha are Gulveer Singh in men's 5000m and Parul Chaudhary in women's 3000m steeplechase....