Why is Neeraj Chopra not participating at Silesia Diamond League 2025?

The Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem battle won’t take place in Silesia.

India’s Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra will not be competing at the upcoming Silesia Diamond League 2025, surprising fans who eagerly awaited his participation.

His name is missing from the official entry list for the event starting August 14, and no explanation has been provided by the athlete or organizers.

Similarly, the Paris Olympics gold medalist Arshad Nadeem is also absent from the competition. Fans had been eagerly anticipating a thrilling India vs Pakistan clash at Silesia, but now both stars will miss the event.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem showdown unlikely: Both javelin stars absent from entry list of Silesia DL

This would have been their first head-to-head encounter since the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Nadeem created the Olympic record with a monstrous throw of 92.97 meters. Chopra, gold medallist at Tokyo, bagged silver with his a 89.94m attempt.

While no reason has been given for Neeraj’s absence, Nadeem’s withdrawal follows recent surgery on his right calf. His coach Salman Butt confirmed that Nadeem is prioritizing recovery.

The highly expected duel between the top two javelin stars of Asia is now set to take place at the World Athletics Championships, where both Neeraj and Arshad are expected to compete.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: Who is ranked higher in men’s javelin throw?

Earlier attempts to arrange a face-off at the Neeraj Chopra Classic also fell through due to scheduling conflicts for the Asian Athletics Championship held in Gumi and ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

While Arshad did not participate, Neeraj went on to win India’s first-ever World Athletics gold meet javelin gold.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram