The cricket rivalry has shifted to the athletics field — Pakistan’s Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem is all set to clash with India’s Neeraj Chopra in the javelin throw at the World Athletics Championship 2025 in Tokyo. Adding to the fire, Germany’s Julian Weber and other world-class throwers will also compete.
The qualifying round takes place on Wednesday at 4:45 PM Pakistan time, with the final scheduled for Thursday. Only the top eight throwers will advance, promising a fierce battle for glory.
Arshad, fresh from his gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a record 92.97m throw, and his gold at the Asian Championships 2025 (86.40m), has been declared fully fit for this blockbuster showdown. He also carries a World Championship silver from 2023, making him one of the biggest threats in the field.
In a heartfelt message, Arshad appealed to the nation: “The way you prayed and supported me at the Paris Olympics, please remember me in your prayers again. I’ve worked hard and will give my best to make Pakistan proud once more.”
With Chopra defending his global dominance, Weber pushing beyond 90 meters this season, and Arshad hungry to shine again, Tokyo is set for one of the most thrilling javelin rivalries in history.