Will a Javelin match series between Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra be a good idea?

[The Bald Eagle]

Former Pakistan cricket team star Basit Ali believes that India and Pakistan should play bilateral series of hockey, javelin or kabaddi if BCCI and PCB fail to agree on a cricket series. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket for more than a decade due to political tensions. As a result, questions remain over whether India will be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. During an interaction on YouTube, Basit said that the whole world is in front of the television when Neeraj and Arshad compete in javelin. He added that if they compete in a javelin series, it will be bigger than the India-Australia series.

"Arshad Nadeem beat Neeraj Chopra at the Paris Olympics; otherwise, it was a certain gold medal for India. The Indian cricket team has made it clear that they won't travel to Pakistan, so just conduct a bilateral series of hockey, javelin, or kabaddi between India and Pakistan in some other country, and you will know whether the India-Australia series is bigger or the India-Pakistan match is bigger," Basit said.

"When Neeraj and Arshad compete in javelin, the whole world will be in front of the television, and the stadium will be full," the former Pakistan cricketer added.

Earlier, former India coach Ravi Shastri backed the Rohit Sharma-led side to comfortably clinch the Test series against Australia. Basit said that the comments made by the Indian and Australian experts are targeted at creating a buzz around the series. He also pointed out that although there is interest in other series, they cannot compete with the popularity of an India vs Pakistan encounter.

"I think they are trying to create hype. The whole world knows that India vs Pakistan is on one side and everything else is on the other side. Even Ashes isn't that big. So, you are going to hear such statements now," he said.

Source: NDTV

 

[FearlessRoar]

Yes, it would be a very good idea, but unfortunately, it's not going to happen anytime soon

 

[Champ_Pal]

Neeraj and Arshad names will be in the News for another month. Then people will forget them.

Even if India plays Pakistan in Hockey (which they are traditionally good at), not many watch it. Who is going to watch 2 guys throw Javelin? How many times can they throw in an hour?

This event is good for once every 4 years.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I just fear one thing for Arshad after having a shower with money he may lose his focus and appetite for further glory.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The whole gripping drama between these two is competition on the biggest stage which is the olympics.

This will just be a cheap cash grab

 

[KingKhanWC]

It would be great !

Do it in Kashmir , winner takes all . Min qualifying distance of 90m to enter .

 

[sweep_shot]

Arshad should win easily.

Olympic gold medalist.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

It would be a good match to watch. In fact it would be more fascinating than a Pakistan-India cricket match.

 

[ElRaja]

would make more sense to make it a 10 man competition, both countries could use the spotlight of the olympics to develop an actual legacy, but this wont happen and once neeraj and arshad retire both countries will return to obscurity in the sport, imo

 

[Vikram1989]

would make more sense to make it a 10 man competition, both countries could use the spotlight of the olympics to develop an actual legacy, but this wont happen and once neeraj and arshad retire both countries will return to obscurity in the sport, imo

I don't think it's the case in india. 6 medals plus 12 finishes in 4th place.All the medalists are quite young, if govt can continue to spent money as latest one,it should be respectable tally in 15 years.
Wrestling, Archery, Shooting, Badminton, Table tennis ,Boxing are going in good direction. Will like to see few more horizons to join to preserve the intensity and depth. Atleast people have stopped to see athletes as harmful virus on their kids.As both of us are not a sporting country, it's good .

 

[BouncerGuy]

Anything idea related to India-Pakistan sports is a good idea especially cricket and now this Javelin throw event is all hyped up.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Arshad Nadeem's mother expresses strong desire to invite Neeraj Chopra to Pakistan, says 'I will call him to my home...'

Arshad Nadeem's mother, Raziah Parveen, has extended a heartfelt invitation to her son's rival-turned-friend, Neeraj Chopra, to visit their home in Pakistan. While Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem clinched gold medal with a record-breaking throw in javelin final at Paris Olympics, India's Neeraj Chopra won silver with his season-best throw. Arshad Nadeem shattered the Olympic record with a phenomenal second attempt of 92.97m, securing the gold medal. Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra's impressive throw of 89.45 meters earned him the silver.

The invitation came in response to a question from a Pakistani news channel about the heartwarming bond between the mothers of the two javelin stars.

The journalist highlighted the positive interactions between Saroj Devi and Raziah Parveen on social media, where they expressed immense pride and admiration for both athletes. The genuine affection between the two mothers has resonated with fans worldwide, transcending the competitive spirit between their sons.

When asked if she would invite Neeraj Chopra to their home in Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem's mother, Raziah Parveen, enthusiastically agreed. Speaking to Geo News, she stated:

“Of course, I will call him to my home.”

Arshad Nadeem was asked about the possibility of inviting Neeraj Chopra to Pakistan. The 28-year-old athlete explained that their interactions have been limited to competitions and training camps, leaving little opportunity for a personal visit. However, Nadeem added with a laugh that he might extend an invitation in the future.

“Whenever we meet, it is mainly during an event or while training before an event. So I never got a chance, but now I will (laughs),” Nadeem said.

Arshad Nadeem's mother previously expressed her admiration for Neeraj Chopra, describing him as her son's friend and brother. She even revealed that she prayed for Chopra's success during the javelin throw final.

"Wo (Neeraj chopra) mere bete ka dost bhi hai aur bhai bhi. Main donu ke liye duaien kar rahi thi. Haar jeet to kismat ki baat hai. (Winning or losing is a matter of destiny. He (Neeraj Chopra) is both a friend and a brother to my son. I was praying for both of them)." Arshad Nadeem's mother, Raziah Parveen, told Independent Urdu.

Upon Neeraj Chopra's return home with the silver medal, his mother, Saroj Devi, expressed immense pride and warmth towards Arshad Nadeem.

"We are happy with the silver. The one who got the gold is also my child," Saroj Devi had earlier said.

Arshad Nadeem's mother expresses strong desire to invite Neeraj Chopra to Pakistan, says 'I will call him to my home...' - thesportstak

Arshad Nadeem's mother Raziah Parveen wishes to invite Neeraj Chopra to her home in Pakistan. While Arshad Nadeem won gold at Paris Olympics, Neeraj Chopra clinched silver medal.

thesportstak.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

"I Never Thought...": Neeraj Chopra On Arshad Nadeem's Olympic Record Throw That Earned Pakistan Star Gold​

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics, said he couldn't push himself to his extreme. Chopra fell short of retaining his gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the recent-concluded marquee event securing silver with a best throw of 89.45 meters. Speaking at a virtual press briefing, Neeraj said that mentally he was ready but lacked in the physical area. The 26-year-old accepted that his legwork was not how it should have ben during the final.

"I never thought I couldn't do it... Arshad Nadeem's previous best was at 90.18 metres which he threw at the Commonwealth Games, and my previous best was 89.94 metres... I couldn't push myself to my extreme. Mentally I was ready but physically, I was retraining myself. My legwork on the runway was not how it should have been. My efforts were going in vain. My throw immediately after Nadeem's throw was good because I was extremely positive...," Neeraj said.

Neeraj also revealed his next competition and said that he will participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, which will kick off on August 22.

"... I have finally decided to participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, which begins August 22," he added.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won gold with a throw of 92.97 meters, setting a new Olympic record and surpassing Denmark's Andreas Thorkildsen's mark from Beijing 2008. Grenada's Anderson Peters secured bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters.

Earlier, Chopra had achieved a throw of 89.34 meters in the Group B qualification round, his second-best all-time throw. Despite a competitive rivalry with Nadeem, where Chopra led 9-0 in their head-to-head matchups, Nadeem's throw of 90.18 meters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games exceeded Chopra's top effort.

Following the failure to defend his gold medal, Neeraj expressed dissatisfaction with his performance and revealed that the last two to three years were not good for him in terms of fitness.

"It was a good throw but I am not that happy with my performance today. My technique and runway was not that good. (I managed) only one throw, the rest I fouled," Neeraj said according to Olympics.com.

"(For my) second throw I believed to think I can also throw that far. But in javelin, if your run is not so good, you cannot throw very far," added Neeraj.

The Indian ace javelin thrower, who also is the current Asian Games champion, said that injuries leading to his title defence in Paris made some difference and he will have to work on being injury-free and on his technique.

"The last two or three years were not so good for me. I am always injured. I really tried hard, but I have to work on my injury (staying injury-free) and technique," the 26-year-old added.

"I Never Thought...": Neeraj Chopra On Arshad Nadeem's Olympic Record Throw That Earned Pakistan Star Gold | Olympics News

Neeraj Chopra failed to defend his men's javelin crown at the Paris Olympics 2024, with Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem taking gold with a Games record throw of 92.97m.

sports.ndtv.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1825851420655915246

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Neeraj Chopra Lausanne Diamond League Javelin: Indian Olympic Medallist Aims Glory​

According to reports, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem will miss the Diamond League event scheduled for Friday. Nadeem, who clinched the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, will not be competing in the upcoming meet.

Neeraj Chopra Lausanne Diamond League Javelin: Winning an Olympic silver is a remarkable achievement, but for Neeraj Chopra, his standards have always been set for gold since his historic triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Reflecting on his performance, Chopra, despite his smile on the podium, acknowledged that his goal had been to secure the top spot once again. He candidly mentioned that a minor injury played a role in limiting his performance, but it didn’t deter his relentless pursuit of excellence. His mindset remains focused on pushing the boundaries and reclaiming gold in future competitions.

Neeraj Chopra, despite his remarkable achievements, has yet to break the elusive 90-meter mark in his javelin career. While he has consistently thrown in the high 80s, including a personal best of 89.94 meters, crossing 90 meters remains a significant milestone.

As the Diamond League 2024 unfolds, there's anticipation around whether he can surpass that barrier. Given his steady improvements, technical refinement, and mental fortitude, it's possible that Chopra could achieve the 90-meter mark in this year's competition. However, it will depend on factors like weather conditions, his fitness (especially considering his ongoing hernia issue), and the competition environment.

Source: India Today

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Will it remain an unbreakable record?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Reflecting on the event at the Mission Olympics 2036 program in Haryana, Neeraj Chopra acknowledged the psychological impact of Arshad Nadeem’s opening throw, he said:

“The first throw impacts the athlete’s mindset to a great level. My first throw was really good, but I made a foul. I was facing some problems as the track was new. I tried to adjust to it to avoid a foul, but I failed. The competition was tough,”

“Nadeem got a good throw. And after that, I lost control of myself. I was really angry as I wanted to do better. But somewhere in that, I missed the technical aspect.”

 

[Major]

sure when chopra crosses 90m than we can think about it

 

[BouncerGuy]

sure when chopra crosses 90m than we can think about it

Yeah. It is pretty strange that neeraj is still not able to cross 90m mark even once in his career.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Would be a great idea. Finally something that Pakistan can probably beat India at.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Pakistan's Nadeem Arshad invited to Neeraj Chopra Classic

Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has said the upcoming 'Neeraj Chopra Classic'- a premier javelin throw event, organised by the athlete in collaboration with JSW Sports-as a long-standing dream of his. Neeraj confirmed that top javelin throwers, including former world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada, will compete in Bengaluru in May 2024.

Speaking to reporters on April 21, Neeraj confirmed that he had invited all top throwers, including Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan to participate in the event and expected to receive confirmation on his participation shortly.

"Yes, I have spoken to Arshad Nadeem. He said he would discuss it with his coach and confirm. But as of now, he hasn't confirmed. Once the athletes confirm, I'll be able to share the final list. Every top athlete has been invited, and Arshad has also been invited. (If he competes), it will involve the government, so once everything is confirmed, we will know the final list," Neeraj Chopra said.

Though Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem have been rivals on the field, they are friends off it. At the Paris Olympics, Neeraj finished behind Arshad, who claimed gold with an Olympic record throw of 92.97m. Neeraj's mother won hearts when she congratulated Arshad, praising him for his remarkable effort in Paris.

TOP JAVELIN STARS IN NC CLASSIC

Neeraj mentioned he has spoken to Rohit Yadav to compete in the event and said there would be 3-4 Indian athletes, including him.

Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist, will compete, Neeraj said. Thomas Rohler, a former Olympic champion, will also be part of the event, as will Yulius Yego, an Olympic medallist and former world champion. Curtis Thompson, the world leader from the USA, is also set to compete, along with another athlete from Brazil. There will also be more athletes from Europe participating.

NEERAJ CHOPRA CLASSIC MOVED TO BENGALURU

The inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, a one-day javelin event approved by World Athletics, was initially planned to be held in Panchkula, Haryana. However, Neeraj stated that they had decided to relocate the event to Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium to meet the necessary lighting requirements set by the global athletics body.

Neeraj further mentioned that he had spoken to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who gave a positive response about hosting this historic event in Bengaluru.

Neeraj has been an advocate for holding top-tier track and field competitions in India and reiterated this stance when he competed at the Federation Cup last year. He revealed that after speaking with his legendary coach Jan Zelezny, they agreed to name the event in his honour, similar to the Mondo Classic, named after the iconic pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis.

"This has been a long-standing dream. When I travelled abroad, I was in awe of the global competitions and how the athletes were supported there. I often wondered if India could host an event of that standard, where top athletes from around the world would come to compete, and our athletes could share the field with them. Finally, such an event is going to happen in India," Neeraj said.

"The idea behind the Neeraj Chopra Classic is inspired by a few athletes and my discussions with coach Jan Zelezny. He suggested naming the event after me, as Mondo Duplantis has an event named after him, and there are other similar events as well. I found inspiration in these and am really excited about it," he added.

Responding to a question from India Today, Neeraj Chopra confirmed that the Neeraj Chopra Classic will become an annual event starting next year, and the women's javelin event and few more field events will also be included. He clarified that, due to a Diamond League competition taking place shortly before, female javelin throwers would not be able to compete in the inaugural edition of the Classic.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic, a one-day javelin event, has been granted 'A' category status by World Athletics, aligning it with the Continental Tour Gold level for ranking points.

The Continental Tour, launched in 2020 as a successor to the World Challenge series, is regarded as just below the prestigious Diamond League, and features four levels: gold, silver, bronze, and challenger.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/at...javelin-throwers-bengaluru-2712097-2025-04-21

 

[Ball Blazer]

Arshad Nadeem declines Neeraj Chopra’s invite for Bengaluru javelin event
Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem has formally declined Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra’s invitation to participate in the Bengaluru Classic Throwing Championship scheduled for 24 May.

According to sources, Nadeem conveyed his gratitude to Chopra in a response letter, acknowledging the invitation but stating that he would not be able to attend due to a tightly packed schedule.

“The year’s training and events have already been finalised, leaving no room for additional engagements,” Nadeem reportedly told Chopra, extending best wishes for the success of the Bengaluru event.

Neeraj Chopra had personally invited Nadeem to compete in the upcoming javelin competition named after him. The event is set to take place on May 24 in Bengaluru, India.

However, Arshad Nadeem is set to represent Pakistan at the Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea, which begins on 27 May. He is expected to depart in the third week of May to acclimatise ahead of the continental event.

It should be noted here that both athletes have previously shared the podium and mutual respect, having competed against each other at major global competitions including the World Athletics Championships.

Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/254178...aj-chopras-invite-for-bengaluru-javelin-event

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Nadeem will likely face backlash from some Indians on social media now.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

And people are lambasting him for this
====

“Given what has happened in the last 48 hours, Arshad’s participation in the NC Classic is now completely out of the question,” says Neeraj Chopra

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Neeraj Chopra: Arshad Nadeem javelin friendship ‘not the same’ after India-Pakistan clash

Doha, Qatar – India’s Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Neeraj Chopra believes the recent escalations between his country and neighbouring Pakistan will affect the hugely popular friendship he shared with his cross-border counterpart Arshad Nadeem.

Both men’s javelin athletes have earned widespread praise for overlooking the decades-old South Asian rivalry with their friendly interactions at international tournaments, but Chopra said on Thursday that his relationship with Nadeem is unlikely to remain the same.

India and Pakistan were involved in a brief but intense military confrontation last week that threatened to erupt into the fifth full-scale war between the two countries.

“It will not be like it was before [the recent escalations],” Chopra told Al Jazeera when asked about the repercussions of the tensions on his friendship with Nadeem.

“I never had a very deep friendship with him, but we were always respectful towards each other,” he added while speaking before the Doha Diamond League, a World Athletics meet scheduled for Friday in Qatar.

Chopra: Nadeem javelin friendship ‘not the same’ after India-Pakistan clash

The recent military escalations have damaged a once exemplary athlete bond between India’s Chopra and Pakistan’s Nadeem.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Ball Blazer]

Neeraj Back on Top, Arshad Nadeem Enters Top 5 in Javelin Rankings

Indian world champion and Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra reclaimed his number one spot in men's javelin throw world rankings from Anderson Peters of Grenada following a string of brilliant performances on the international stage. World Athletics updated the rankings earlier this week, increasing Neeraj's points to 1,445 compared to Peters' tally of 1,431, according to Olympics.com. Also, Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem sits at number four with 1,370 points to his name.

Germany's Julian Weber, who has the best throw of 2025 so far, a 91.06 effort at the Doha Diamond League, is third in the rankings, and Czechia's Jakub Vadlejch, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, is in fifth spot, completing a very impressive-looking top five.

Neeraj lost his top spot to Peters back in September 2024, just shortly after the Paris Olympics, where he attained a silver medal with a throw of 89.45, and Peters took home the bronze.

The year 2025 has been incredible for Neeraj, as he kickstarted with a win at the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April and followed it up with a very special second-place finish at Doha Diamond League, where he crossed the 90-metre mark for the first time ever with a throw of 90.23 m.

He also went on to secure a second spot in the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month and resumed his winning ways with back-to-back titles at Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike this month, with best efforts of 88.16 m and 85.29 m.

Neeraj has outdone Peters in all their four battles this year, extending his streak over his Grenada rival. The last time he finished behind him was during the 2022 World Athletics Championships, when Neeraj had to settle for a silver with a throw of 88.39, as Peters threw a solid 89.91 m.

Overall, the Tokyo 2020 Gold medalist leads Peters by 16-5 in major javelin throw competition finals. Both are expected for another face off at Neeraj Chopra Classic event at Bengaluru on July 5.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/athletics/n...d-rankings-pakistans-arshad-nadeem-at-8777472

 

[BouncerGuy]

Not sure about the series but these guys will come face to face once again.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem and India's Neeraj Chopra will face off at the Silesia Diamond League next month, their first encounter since the Paris Olympics, where Nadeem surpassed Chopra to win gold.