Not Neeraj Chopra! Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem Reveals His Biggest Competitor

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 20:30 IST

Another India-Pakistan rivalry is set to unfold in Tokyo when Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem will begin their campaigns at the world athletics championships later this month.

Neeraj Chopra (right) and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem during a men's javelin throw event. (PTI Photo)

Javelin throw stars Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem last squared off at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and secured the top two spots in the men’s event. However, they haven’t come face-to-face ever since due to myriad reasons, chief among them being Nadeem’s trysts with fitness concerns.

While Neeraj has reached newer heights, breaching the 90m mark for the first time in his senior career, Nadeem has managed to compete in just one major event – the Asian Championships which he won. Neeraj didn’t take part in the competition.

The World Athletics Championships 2025 gets underway from Saturday with the javelin events scheduled for Wednesday-Thursday. Neeraj will aim to defend his title which he won in 2023.

Challenging the Indian icon will be Olympic champion Nadeem, who won the gold with a record throw at the Paris Games ahead of Neeraj who secured silver.

“I always target to do my best in every event, and I am going to Tokyo with the same mission with high hopes. And rest is on God," Arshad told Pakistani daily Dawn.

Nadeem though played down his rivalry with Neeraj.

“My competition is always against Arshad Nadeem, I have my competitions against myself. I am in good shape and well prepared for the contest in Tokyo. Most of the other main rivals in Tokyo are same who were at the Paris Olympics, so it will be good contest," Nadeem said.

The 28-year-old went underwent calf muscle surgery in England earlier this year and skipped the Diamond League.

“…the decision was taken just not to take any risk before the World Championships," Nadeem revealed.

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...

Read More

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