Olympics: Rivals Neeraj Chopra, Arshad Nadeem set for India-Pakistan clash
Reigning champion Neeraj Chopra qualified for the men's javelin throw final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 6. The Indian star recorded a mammoth throw of 89.34m on his first attempt in the Group B qualification round. This was Chopra's second-best throw ever. Chopra's rival Arshad Nadeem finished behind him with an 86.59m throw. The duo is set to clash in the final.
Nadeem has touched 90m-mark
Although Nadeem hasn't beaten Chopra in head-to-head clashes, the Pakistan javelin thrower is a tough competitor. Nadeem touched the 90m-mark at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG). He threw a record 90.18 to win the gold medal. Meanwhile, Chopra's best-ever throw came at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League. He threw 89.94m to clinch gold.
What happened at 2023 World Athletics Championships?
Chopra and Nadeem were neck-to-neck in their head-to-head last clash, at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. The Indian claimed gold with a 88.17m throw, while Nadeem settled for the silver medal with a 87.82m throw.
First South Asian athlete to touch 90m-mark
Nadeem, the 2022 CWG gold medalist, became the first-ever Pakistani athlete to reach any track and field final at the Olympic Games (2020 Tokyo) and the World Athletics Championships. He is also the only Pakistani athlete to win a World Athletics Championships medal (silver). At the Brimingham CWG, Nadeem became the first-ever athlete from South Asia to touch the 90m-mark.
Chopra won gold for India at Tokyo Games
On the other hand, Chopra is already an Olympic gold medalist. In 2021 (Tokyo 2020 Games), Chopra became only the second Indian to clinch an individual gold medal at the Olympics after former shooter Abhinav Bindra. He threw 87.58m to enter the record books. Chopra could now become the first-ever Indian to bag multiple individual gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Other athletes who can challenge Chopra, Nadeem
While Chopra topped qualification round, Grenada's Anderson Peters finished just behind him with a 88.63m throw. He poses a threat to both Chopra and Nadeem. Germany's Julian Weber, who threw 87.76m, is another contender for the medal.
