The much-anticipated Diamond League showdown in Silesia between Paris Olympic gold and silver medallists Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra will not be happening, as the entry list released by the World Athletics did not feature the names of the two javelin throwers.
There was considerable anticipation about the possible renewal of rivalry between India’s Olympic gold and silver medallist Neeraj and Pakistan’s reigning Olympic champion Arshad after World Athletics announced in July that the two renowned Asian javelin throwers were set to face off in Silesia.
Had they turned up, this would have been their first face-off since the Paris Olympics final in August 2024, when Arshad became the first and only individual athlete in the history of Pakistan to win an Olympic gold medal. He denied the Indian a chance to defend the title he had won in Tokyo 2021 with a monstrous 92.97m throw, setting an Olympic record, and followed it up with a final throw of 91.79m. Neeraj had to settle for the silver medal with his best effort of 89.45m.
Since Neeraj broke into the 90-metre mark – clearing the distance at the Doha Diamond League meet in May this year and ending a long wait – there was renewed optimism around the meeting.
Earlier this year, Neeraj won the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru in July. The event was played in the backdrop of India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Although Arshad was invited to the event, he declined the invitation due to a conflict with his training schedule for the Asian Athletics Championships, which Arshad won, while Neeraj gave the event a miss.
As both athletes decided to withdraw from the Silesia Diamond League, they are now expected to face off in the World Championships in Tokyo in September. It will be an interesting duel, given Neeraj is the reigning world champion, having secured the gold medal in 2023 with an 88.17m throw in Budapest.