Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra to clash for first time after Olympics 2024 next month

Pakistan’s Olympic javelin medalist Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra are set to compete head-to-head next month at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland, marking their first face-off since the Paris Olympics.

The event, scheduled for August 16, was confirmed in a press release issued by the Diamond League on July 9. The competition will also feature several global track and field stars, including Kenyan middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon.

The anticipated duel between Nadeem and Chopra was described in the release as “the first opportunity for revenge after the Paris Olympics.”

While Chopra has been active on the international circuit, recently achieving a 90-meter throw and securing gold at the Neeraj Chopra Classic in India, Nadeem has largely remained absent from European events. The release noted that Nadeem’s decision to compete in Poland stems from his strong desire to challenge Chopra.

Nadeem recently claimed gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea with a throw of 86.4 meters, indicating strong form ahead of the Diamond League.

The meeting comes amid strained political relations between Pakistan and India, which have occasionally impacted sports exchanges.

Nadeem had previously been invited to the Neeraj Chopra Classic but withdrew following backlash in the wake of a terrorist attack in occupied Kashmir just a day prior to the event.