Arshad Nadeem Hints at Potential Clash with Neeraj Chopra at World Athletics Championships

Arshad Nadeem Reveals Potential Showdown with Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist, recently secured his second victory of 2025 at the Ostrava Golden Spike event in the Czech Republic. His throw of 85.29 meters in the javelin competition marked a significant achievement. The event, hosted by Chopra's personal coach Jan Zelezny, a world record holder, included prominent athletes such as Rio Olympics gold medalist Thomas Rohler.

This win follows Chopra's triumph at the Paris Diamond League the previous week. Earlier in the season, he secured second place behind Germany's Julian Weber at the Doha Diamond League meet and the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion, was notably absent from these four competitions. Nadeem has strategically planned his competition schedule this season, prioritizing training in Pakistan. He did, however, participate in the Asian Athletics Championship last month, an event Chopra chose to skip. At the championship, Nadeem won a gold medal with a throw of 86.40 meters.

Nadeem has his sights set on a major upcoming event. "My focus is on the World Athletics Championships and I am working hard for that," Arshad stated. "It is very hot in Lahore. I am going to England soon and will be training there for a month."

The World Athletics Championships are scheduled to take place in Tokyo from September 13-21. Both Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem are expected to compete, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown.

Nadeem made history at the Paris Olympics the previous year by setting a new Olympic javelin record with a throw of 92.97 meters. This prevented Chopra from defending his gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics, which were impacted by the pandemic.

Recently, Nadeem was the chief guest at a World Olympic Day celebration in Lahore. During the event, he reflected on his accomplishments and offered encouragement to aspiring athletes.

"It is a matter of pride for athletes to celebrate this day and I am proud that I am celebrating it as an Olympic gold medallist for the first time," Arshad said.

He also inspired young athletes by emphasizing the importance of dedication and hard work. "My message to the youngsters is to stay focused. I came from a small place and won a gold medal. So, if they work hard, they too can win medals."