Arshad Nadeem Sets Sights on Tokyo World Championships for 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 javelin throw of 85.29 meters secured the win at the event hosted by his coach, Jan Zelezny.

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem may face off at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Chopra's victory in Ostrava follows his triumph at the Paris Diamond League. Earlier in the season, he finished second to Julian Weber of Germany at both the Doha Diamond League meet and the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion, has been strategically planning his competition schedule. Nadeem, who skipped the Ostrava event, focused on training in Pakistan. He did, however, secure a gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championship last month with a throw of 86.40 meters.

Nadeem is now preparing for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13-21 in Tokyo. "My focus is on the World Athletics Championships and I am working hard for that," Nadeem stated. He also mentioned his upcoming training plans: "It is very hot in Lahore. I am going to England soon and will be training there for a month."

The Tokyo championships could potentially set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between Chopra and Nadeem.

Nadeem made headlines at the Paris Olympics, setting a new Olympic javelin record with a throw of 92.97 meters.

Recently, Nadeem served as the chief guest at a World Olympic Day celebration in Lahore. He emphasized the significance of the day and motivated young athletes, stating, "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." He further encouraged aspiring athletes to stay focused and work hard to achieve their goals. "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."