Lahore
Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem has dismissed talk of a personal rivalry with India’s Neeraj Chopra, saying he competes only against himself ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Speaking after his final training session in Lahore, Arshad said, “My competition is with Arshad Nadeem. I’m in good shape and ready.”
Nadeem famously beat Neeraj at the Paris Olympics to win gold, while Neeraj took silver. Now, both are considered top contenders in Tokyo, with the men’s javelin final scheduled for September 18.
Since the Olympics, Arshad has competed only once — winning the Asian Championships. Neeraj, meanwhile, has had a strong season, even crossing the 90m mark with a 90.23m throw at the Doha Diamond League.
Arshad revealed he skipped the Diamond League due to a calf surgery in July, choosing to focus on full recovery before the Worlds. “It was not worth the risk,” he said.
The 27-year-old added, “I always aim to give my best. The rest is in God’s hands.”
The showdown between the two stars promises to be one of the highlights of the championship.