Subhechcha Ganguly 
The much-anticipated showdown between Olympic champions Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem at the upcoming Poland Diamond League may not materialise, as the Pakistani javelin ace is recovering from a recent calf muscle surgery.
This event was set to mark the first head-to-head between the rivals since the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Arshad Nadeem clinched gold with a stunning 92.97m throw, while Neeraj Chopra secured silver with a best attempt of 89.45m. The duo was also expected to compete in Switzerland next month.
However, Arshad’s coach has indicated uncertainty regarding both events. “He is more focused on preparing for the World Championships in Tokyo in September, which is why he opted for the surgery that had been pending for some time,” said coach Salman Butt, speaking to PTI.
The Pakistani athlete is currently undergoing rehabilitation in London, with his team cautious about rushing his return. While his coach hasn’t ruled out a potential competition appearance before the World Championships, he stated, “I don’t think they will compete against each other until the World event.”
Nadeem had finished with a silver behind Chopra at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, and the upcoming Tokyo event is expected to be a highly anticipated rematch if both athletes return to peak form.
