Asian Games 2023: Pakistan’s javelin ace Arshad Nadeem withdraws due to injury

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem pulled out of the Asian Games 2023 a day before the men’s javelin throw competition takes place in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China on Wednesday.

Arshad Nadeem, the Commonwealth Games champion and world championships silver medallist, was expected to provide world No.1 Neeraj Chopra with a stiff challenge at the continental event. However, the Pakistani athlete complained of knee pain soon after landing in Hangzhou.

The MRI scans revealed that Arshad Nadeem had been carrying a chronic knee injury forcing the 26-year-old to eventually withdraw.

At the last edition of the Asian Games at Jakarta 2018, Neeraj Chopra won the gold while Arshad Nadeem claimed a bronze. Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem claimed the top two podiums at the Budapest World Championships earlier this year in a close contest. 

The javelin throw event at the Asian Games 2023 was pitted as the latest instalment of the Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem showdown. The Pakistan ace is one of only two Asians to have breached the 90m mark in the javelin throw.

Arshad Nadeem recorded a personal best throw of 90.18m en route to the Commonwealth Games javelin throw title in Birmingham last year. Neeraj Chopra was sidelined from the event due to injury.

In Arshad Nadeem’s absence in Hangzhou, Kishore Jena, who finished fifth at the Budapest world championships and world No. 8 Japan’s Genki Roderick, will be Neeraj Chopra’s top rivals.

Asian championships bronze medallist Muhammad Yasir of Pakistan and Asian record holder Chao-Tsun Cheng of the Chinese Taipei will also look to stretch Neeraj Chopra’s title defence. Chao-Tsun Cheng is the Asian record holder in javelin throw with 91.36m

The 25-year-old Neeraj Chopra is the reigning world, Olympic and Asian Games champion and will look to defend his continental crown in Hangzhou. 

The Asian Games 2023 will be Neeraj Chopra’s final competition of the year.