Neeraj Chopra vs. Arshad Nadeem: Diamond League Showdown in Doubt After Surgery

Uncertainty Surrounds Upcoming Javelin Clash

The highly anticipated matchup between double Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra and reigning champion Arshad Nadeem at the Diamond League in Poland is now in jeopardy. This uncertainty arises after Nadeem recently underwent calf muscle surgery in England.

Chopra and Nadeem were set to compete against each other for the first time next month, a year after their thrilling javelin contest at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Nadeem triumphed with an impressive throw of 92.97m, securing the gold medal.

Chopra, who clinched gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had to settle for silver in Paris, achieving a best throw of 89.45m.

The two athletes were scheduled to face off in the Diamond League in Silesia, Poland, on August 16, followed by another event in Switzerland next month.

Nadeem's coach, Salman Butt, currently with him in England, revealed that the Olympic champion is uncertain about participating in both events, as he is prioritizing his recovery for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

Butt stated, "He (Nadeem) is concentrating on preparing for the World Championships in Tokyo in September, which is why he opted for surgery on his troublesome calf muscle."

He further added, "I don't anticipate them competing against each other until the World event."

Dr. Ali Bajwa conducted the surgical procedure on Nadeem's calf at the Spire Hospital in Cambridge.

Currently, Nadeem is undergoing rehabilitation in London, and Butt mentioned that if the doctor approves, he might participate in one event before the World Championships.

"The World Championships are crucial for Arshad (Nadeem) since he secured silver behind Neeraj (Chopra) in Budapest in 2023," the coach emphasized.

Nadeem has previously won gold medals at the Paris Olympics, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and most recently at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, earlier this year.