Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra is all set to participate in the upcoming Paris Olympics. After creating history in Tokyo and winning the gold, the javelin player is all set to rewrite the tale—to clinch the gold once again.
Along with many competitors, Pakistani player Arshad Nadeem could be a big threat to Chopra.
A tough competitor
Ashad Nadeem could be a tough competitor for Neeraj Chopra. There were nine instances where Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem competed against each other.
Out of the nine competitions, the two major events are the Tokyo Olympics and the World Championship. During the Tokyo Olympics, in 2021, Neeraj Chopra clinched the gold with an 87.58-metre throw, leaving Arshad behind by 2.96 metres. Arshad finished in fifth place.
The gap between them narrowed in 2023. The World Championships showcased this perfectly. Chopra’s gold-medal throw (88.17 metres) was only 0.35 metres ahead of Nadeem’s silver-medal throw (87.82 metres). Arshad’s confidence was boosted from there. This close call signifies Nadeem’s growing threat.
Commonwealth Games Champion
Arshad Nadeem won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. However, Neeraj Chopra was not part of the game due to an injury. Nadeem’s gold medal with a staggering 90.18-metre throw filled him with confidence and momentum. This throw surpassed Chopra’s personal best of 89.94 metres, achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League.
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The Paris experience
Arshad is in Paris for a long time, he competed in the recent Diamond League; this gives him an upper edge, as the Olympics are also taking place in the same country. In the javelin, it is also important to adapt to the wind and other natural elements—an advantage Nadeem currently enjoys.
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