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Arshad Nadeem's coach provides massive update on Neeraj Chopra clash in Diamond League: 'I don't think they will..'
Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem clash may not take place in the Diamond League. AFP
The much-anticipated Diamond League clash between India's double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra and the reigning Olympic champion of Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, looks uncertain after the Pakistani Javelin thrower underwent surgery on his calf muscle in England recently.
Chopra and Nadeem were scheduled to face each other for the first time since the Paris Olympics battle, where the Pakistani emerged victorious with an enormous 92.97m throw. Chopra, who had won gold in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, came second in Paris and hence had to settle with a silver.
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Since then, Nadeem has been largely inconsistent, whereas Chopra has seldom missed a big event. During the time, Chopra also breached the 90m mark for the first time in his career. He notched a throw of 90.23m in the Doha Diamond League in May. Given the fact that Chopra has been in good form, the clash was picking up buzz. However, there is question mark on whether the much-awaited contest will taken place on not in Poland.
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Chopra vs Nadeem clash unlikely
As per Nadeem's coach Salman Butt, the Olympic Gold medalist is unsure for the upcoming events as his top priority is competing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
'He (Nadeem) is more focused on preparing for the World Championships in Tokyo in September which is why he decided to have the surgery on his calf muscle, which had been bothering him for a while now,' Butt said.
'I don't think they will compete against each other until the World event,' he added.
Dr Ali Bajwa performed an interventional procedure on Nadeem's calf muscle at the Spire Hospital in Cambridge. Nadeem is now undergoing rehabilitation in London. As per Butt, Nadeem may compete in one event before the World Championships in Tokyo, if he gets clearance from the doctor.
'The World Championships are very important for Arshad (Nadeem) as he finished with a silver behind Neeraj (Chopra) in Budapest in 2023,' the coach said.
Nadeem has won gold medals at the Paris Olympics, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and recently the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, earlier this year.
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