The showdown between the two is one of the most anticipated events of the Athletics World Championships but Arshad Nadeem played down his contest with Neeraj Chopra, saying ‘I have my competitions against myself’.
The World Championships begin in Tokyo on Saturday but Chopra, the reigning world champion, will defend his title on Thursday, September 18. He returns to the venue — the National stadium — where he became the Olympic champion four years ago. However, Nadeem dethroned him in Paris last year. It was Pakistan’s first Olympic gold in 40 years with a record throw of 92.97m.
However, Nadeem — who has been recovering from injury — has competed just once since the Paris Olympics, winning the Asian Championships in May. Chopra did not compete at the continental meet but he has had another remarkable season, finishing in the top two in every competition he’s taken part in and also crossing the 90m-mark, throwing 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League.
Nadeem spoke to reporters at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore after his final training session before leaving for the Japanese capital. “I always target to do my best in every event and I am going to Tokyo with the same mission with high hopes. And rest is on God,” Arshad was quoted as saying by Pakistani daily, Dawn.
When asked about his rivalry with Chopra, Nadeem replied: “My competition is always against Arshad Nadeem, I have my competitions against myself. I am in good shape and well prepared for the contest in Tokyo. Most of the other main rivals in Tokyo [javelin throw event] are same who were at the Paris Olympics, so it will be good contest.”
Nadeem, who had undergone a calf surgery in July, added he ‘regretted’ missing the Diamond League. “But the decision was taken just not to take any risk before the World Championships,” he added.
Asad Abbas Shah, one of Nadeem’s doctors, was quoted as saying by the newspaper that the thrower was in ‘best physical shape’. “Yesterday (Tuesday), Arshad passed all the fitness tests; that is a good news that he has recovered from his calf injury,” Shah said.
