Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: India-Pakistan javelin battle to resume at World Athletics Championships 2025

Neeraj Chopra will defend his title at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo.

The long-awaited javelin battle between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem is finally set to unfold next week in Tokyo, as the two Asian giants will go head-to-head at the World Athletics Championships 2025, starting September 13.

This will be the first meeting between the star athletes since their blockbuster face-off at the Paris Olympics 2024, where Arshad Nadeem made history by winning gold with a massive 92.97m throw, while Tokyo Olympic champion Neeraj settled for silver with 87.58m.

Fans had anticipated their reunion at the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 in Bengaluru earlier this year, but due to cross-border tensions India boycotted sporting ties with Pakistan after the Pahalgam Terror Attack.

Another expected clash at the Silesia Diamond League didn’t happen, as both athletes skipped the event.

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem after winning medals in Paris Olympics 🥇 🥈 pic.twitter.com/DQNlKA3oNd

— Gabbar (@Gabbar0099) August 9, 2024

Actually, Nadeem’s absence from recent events was due to a calf injury that required surgery in July in the UK. However now, there’s good news for fans. On Thursday, Nadeem’s doctor Asad Abbas confirmed that he is fully recovered and ready to be in action.

“Arshad has fully recovered, and I have monitored his rehab and progress. I am sure he will be right up there to compete with Neeraj and all others lined up for the javelin event,” Abbas told Telecom Asia.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: Who has a better head-to-head record?

The World Athletics Championships will take place from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo. The men’s javelin qualification round is scheduled for September 17, with the final on September 18.

Meanwhile, it will be a poetic twist, as the two will be competing on the same soil where Neeraj won India’s first Olympic gold in athletics at the Tokyo Olympics, while Arshad had finished fifth. The Indian ace will be defending his World title this time.

Chopra has enjoyed a strong 2025 season, with consistent performances and a major personal milestone – breaking the 90m barrier.

Early in the year, at the Doha Diamond League, Chopra finished second but broke the 90-metre barrier for the first time with a national record throw of 90.23m.

Also Read: 90m target ticked, Neeraj Chopra turns focus to World Athletics Championships later this year

At #Paris2024, Arshad Nadeem made history!A record-breaking throw of 92.97m earned him Olympic gold and Pakistan’s first individual title. 🥇🇵🇰@WorldAthletics | @NOCPakistan pic.twitter.com/3aQL1Lma20

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 30, 2025

That was just the warm-up to the stellar season awaiting. He followed it up with a gold medal at the Paris Diamond League, with a throw of 88.16m.

Neeraj continued his golden run in Ostrava, where he clinched victory with a solid 85.29m effort. At the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, he thrilled home fans by winning the event with a throw of 86.18m.

Also Read: Diamond League Final 2025 Payouts: How much did Neeraj Chopra earn in prize money?

Most recently, he competed at the Zurich Diamond League Final, where he finished second behind Germany’s Julian Weber.

Meanwhile, for Nadeem, the season saw only one event. Since his Olympic triumph, Nadeem has made just one appearance in 2025, winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, with a solid 86.40m throw.

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