Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra are set to reignite their long-standing rivalry as they face each other at the upcoming Diamond League meeting in Poland next month — their first direct contest since the Paris Olympics.
The high-profile event, scheduled for August 16, has garnered significant attention, particularly given the current political tensions between Pakistan and India.
A press release issued by the Diamond League on July 9 confirmed the list of competing athletes, including reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Pakistan’s top javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, and Kenyan middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon.
The Poland meeting is being described by analysts as a “chance for revenge” after the Olympics, where Chopra clinched gold and Nadeem, returning from injury, failed to reach the podium.
The form of the Pakistani athlete remains a talking point, as Nadeem has been absent from most European competitions this season.
However, the Mian Channu-born athlete is now confirmed to travel to Europe especially for this face-off, with eyes set on regaining momentum ahead of the 2025 World Championships and building up to the next Olympic cycle.
Neeraj Chopra, meanwhile, has maintained his dominance in the sport. Earlier this spring, he reportedly crossed the 90m mark in training — a milestone he’s yet to officially achieve in competition — and recently added another gold to his tally at the inaugural ‘Neeraj Chopra Classic’, a world-class field event held in India.
In contrast, Arshad Nadeem’s last major appearance was in May at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where he threw 86.4m to secure gold.
Relations between the two athletes also came under public spotlight earlier this year when Nadeem was initially invited to participate in the Neeraj Chopra Classic.
However, the invite sparked criticism in India following the Pahalgam false flag incident in occupied Kashmir on April 22, just a day before Chopra’s announcement. Amid growing pressure and political commentary, Arshad eventually did not attend the event.
Despite the broader tensions, both athletes have maintained a cordial relationship over the years, often expressing mutual respect for each other’s achievements on the field.
