By Moneycontrol Sports Desk | September 15, 2025
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The ongoing Asia Cup cricket tournament in the United Arab Emirates has become the biggest sporting spectacle for fans across the Indian subcontinent. While several teams are competing, the spotlight inevitably falls on the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan.
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Away from cricket, another fierce sporting duel is about to unfold in athletics. Neeraj Chopra, who created history by winning a javelin throw gold medal for India at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had narrowly missed out on repeating that feat at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where he settled for silver.
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The gold on that occasion went to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. Notably, Neeraj is only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold, after Abhinav Bindra, who achieved the milestone in shooting at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
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Now, Neeraj and Arshad are set to renew their rivalry at the upcoming World Athletics Championships, marking their first clash since the Paris Games. Scheduled from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, the men’s javelin qualification round will take place on September 17, followed by the final on September 18.
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Arshad, who underwent surgery on his right calf in July, has been declared fit by his doctor Abbas and confirmed to participate. This sets the stage for another thrilling contest between two Olympic champions.
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In the previous edition of the World Athletics Championships in 2023, Neeraj had clinched the gold while Arshad finished with silver. This time, the stakes are higher than ever.
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Neeraj, currently in excellent form after recently breaching the 90-metre mark, will be eager to reclaim his dominance. Meanwhile, Arshad’s massive throw of nearly 93 metres had earned him the Olympic gold last year.
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When it comes to head-to-head encounters, Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem have competed against each other in 10 international events so far. Eight of these clashes have taken place at the senior level, while the other two occurred during their junior careers.
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Their first meeting dates back to the South Asian Games in 2016, held in Guwahati. On that occasion, Chopra captured the gold medal, and Nadeem secured the bronze. As things stand, Chopra holds a dominant 9–1 lead in their overall head-to-head record, despite Nadeem being a year older than him.