The rivalry of Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem, Indian ace javelin thrower and Pakistan’s best is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated match-ups in world athletics. This rivalry is reigniting the India-Pakistan competition in a new arena, moving beyond the traditional cricket field.
Neeraj Chopra, an Olympic, world, Asian, Commonwealth, and Diamond League champion, is a household name not just in India but globally. At the age of 25, he has already won every major title in his sport.
On the other hand, Arshad Nadeem, though his achievements don’t quite scale up to his Indian counterpart, is no less a competitor. Nadeem’s 2023 world championships silver medal and his gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games are significant feats. With a 90.18m throw, the 27-year-old Pakistani created a new javelin throw record at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to claim the title. It ended Pakistan’s 60-year wait for a CWG gold medal.
Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: ‘a friendship rivalry’
The two athletes have faced off in nine international competitions to date, with Chopra leading the head-to-head record 9-0. However, Nadeem has been consistently coming closer to Chopra’s mark since 2018. Despite never overcoming Chopra in head-to-head encounters, Nadeem holds the edge over his Indian rival when it comes to personal bests.
Their rivalry came to the fore during the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest in 2023. Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold at the World Athletics Championships, pipping Nadeem in the men’s javelin final with an 88.17-metre throw. Nadeem, coming back from elbow surgery and a knee injury, produced his season’s best effort of 87.82 metres on his third attempt to win the silver medal.
Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem – the epitome of an exceptional India-Pak fight ❤️
Neeraj could not participate in 2022 Commonwealth Games due to injury. Then Arshad Nadeem said that Neeraj is like his brother, Arshad misses him. 1/n pic.twitter.com/VSFZmRy4D1
— Gabbar (@Gabbar0099) August 31, 2023
Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem – Head-to-Head
Height & Weight:
Neeraj Chopra – 5 ft 11 inches & 86 Kgs
Arshad Nadeem – 6 ft 3 inches & 95 Kgs
A look at the Neeraj-Arshad rivalry in numbers:
South Asian Games 2016, Guwahati
Neeraj Chopra 1st (82.23m)
Arshad Nadeem 3rd (78.33m)
Asian Junior Championships 2016, Ho Chi-Minh
Neeraj Chopra 2nd (77.60m)
Arshad Nadeem 3rd (73.40m)
World U20 Athletics Championships 2016, Bydgoszcz
Neeraj Chopra 1st (86.48m)
Arshad Nadeem 30th (67.17m)
Asian Athletics Championships 2017, Bhubaneshwar
Neeraj Chopra 1st (85.23m)
Arshad Nadeem 7th (78.00m)
Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast
Neeraj Chopra 1st (86.47m)
Arshad Nadeem 8th (76.02m)
Asian Games 2018, Jakarta
Neeraj Chopra 1st (88.06m)
Arshad Nadeem 3rd (80.75m)
Tokyo Olympics 2020
Neeraj Chopra 1st (87.58m)
Arshad Nadeem 5th (84.62m)
World Athletics Championships 2022, Oregon
Neeraj Chopra 2nd (88.13m)
Arshad Nadeem 5th (86.16m)
World Athletics Championships 2023, Budapest
Neeraj Chopra 1st (88.17m)
Arshad Nadeem 2nd (87.82m).
This rivalry is not just about competition; it’s also about camaraderie. Both athletes have been vocal in lending support to one another despite the fraught relationship between their countries. After the medals were handed out, Chopra asked Nadeem to join him for a photo, and they stood close with their arms around each other.
The friends across the borders are expected to be in contention for another fierce battle at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Neeraj Chopra is leading this ‘friendship rivalry’. Arshad on the other hand had undergone knee surgery to be fit for the games. So, with the recent form, Neeraj might well overcome his friend in Paris as well.
Also Read: Who is Neeraj Chopra’s Ex Coach? The Man with an Eternal Record
