Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: Reigniting the India-Pakistan rivalry in world athletics - all records

Slowly, yet surely, the Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem rivalry in men’s javelin throw is becoming one of the most anticipated match-ups in world athletics.

Rivalries, particularly between athletes or teams from two neighbouring countries with a shared history, have always been one of the most intriguing aspects of sports and a contest between India vs Pakistan on the sporting field, be it cricket or hockey, has always hogged the limelight.

However, in the world of athletics, the only notable India vs Pakistan duel that comes to mind is the one between Indian track legend Milkha Singh and Pakistan’s Abdul Khaliq from the 60s. The blossoming Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem rivalry, of course, is already much talked about at the highest echelons of athletics.

Neeraj Chopra, an Olympic, world, Asian, Commonwealth and Diamond League champion, is now a household name not just in India but the world. The Indian javelin ace has already won every major title there is to win in his sport. Chopra has firmly put Indian athletics on the world map.

But Arshad Nadeem is perfectly capable of challenging his Indian counterpart on his day. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal with a monster 92.97m throw, an Olympic record. His effort was a whopping 3.52m best than second-placed Neeraj. His final throw measured 91.79m, stamping his authority on the field. It made Arshad Nadeem Pakistan's first individual Olympic champion.

Arshad Nadeem's 92.97m throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics is now an Asian record in javelin throw.

Nadeem’s 2023 World Championships silver medal is also no less a feat. He became the first Pakistani athlete to win a medal at the world championships at Budapest 2023 and was responsible for breaking Pakistan’s 60-year wait for a Commonwealth Games gold at Birmingham 2022. However, it was Neeraj who came out on top with a historic gold at Budapest.

Coming to head-to-head meetings between the two athletes, Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem have faced off in 10 international competitions to date. Eight of them came in senior competitions while the remaining two were in junior meets.

The first time Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem met each other was at the South Asian Games 2016 in Guwahati. Chopra finished with a gold medal while Nadeem took bronze. At the time of writing, Chopra leads the head-to-head record 9-1 against Nadeem, who is a year older than the Indian athlete.

Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: head-to-head record

*At the World U20 Athletics Championships 2016, Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem were both in Group A of the qualifiers. Neeraj Chopra topped the group with a 78.20m throw and went on to win the gold in the final with 86.48m - an U20 world record. Arshad Nadeem placed 15th in the group and failed to make the final. He was 30th across both groups.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, an event Chopra missed due to injury, Nadeem won the gold medal with a mammoth 90.18m throw and pipped the then-reigning world champion, Anderson Peters of Grenada.

At the time, it was only the second time in history that an Asian athlete breached the coveted 90m mark. Chinese Taipei’s Chao-Tsun Cheng was the first with an Asian record-setting throw of 91.26m at the 2017 World Underside. The Pakistani thrower later improved his mark with his mammoth mark at Paris 2024.

In comparison, Neeraj Chopra’s personal best stands at 89.94m, achieved at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden. The mark is India’s national record.

Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: Personal best throws

Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: A rivalry forged on friendship and sporting spirit

Despite being fierce competitors, Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem’s camaraderie off the field also exemplifies the true Olympic sporting spirit.

The finest example came just after the Tokyo Olympics final after the Pakistani athlete was caught in a controversy for practising with Neeraj’s spear. While certain sections of the media called Nadeem’s act as ‘tampering’ with the Indian’s gold medal-winning spear, Chopra quickly doused the flame by defending Nadeem.

“There was nothing wrong with Arshad Nadeem using my javelin to prepare. It is within rules, and please do not use my name to push a dirty agenda,” Neeraj Chopra said.

Since Tokyo, there have been numerous occasions when both athletes have highlighted their friendship and mutual admiration for each other.

Even after Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal win at the Budapest World Championships, the genial Indian was seen urging Nadeem for a photo-op. The Pakistani, who at the time was looking for a national flag, put his search on hold to join Chopra. Their heartwarming scenes won over the social media and sent across a message of unity to both countries.

“I don’t use my mobile much before competition but today I looked at it and the first thing was India vs Pakistan,” Neeraj Chopra said later. “I felt good that Arshad threw well and we discussed how both our countries are growing now. Earlier there were European athletes but now we have reached their level.”

Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: Medals and achievements

Neeraj Chopra

• Gold medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
• Silver medal at Paris 2024 Olympics
• Most successful individual Indian Olympian
• First Indian track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal
• Gold medal at World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest
• First Indian to become an athletics world champion in any sport
• Silver medal at World Athletics Championships 2022 in Oregon
• First Indian to win a silver medal at the world championships
• Diamond League 2022 champion
• First Indian to win a Diamond League title
• Won gold medal at Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta
• Won gold medal at Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou
• Won gold medal at Commonwealth Games 2018 in Gold Coast
• Won gold medal at Asian Athletics Championships 2017 in Bhubaneswar
• Won gold medal at World Junior Athletics Championships 2016 in Bydgoszcz
• First Indian track and field athlete to become junior world champion
• Holds U20 world record and India’s national record in men’s javelin
• Won silver medal at Asian Junior Athletics Championships 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City

Arshad Nadeem

• Gold medal at Paris 2024 Olympics
• Pakistan's first individual Olympic champion
• Holds the Olympic and Asian record of 92.97m
• Won silver medal at World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest
• First Pakistani athlete to win a medal at World Championships
• Won gold medal at Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham
• First Pakistani athlete to win a gold medal at Commonwealth Games since 1962
• Second Asian athlete to breach the 90m mark (90.18m) in men’s javelin throw
• Won bronze medal at Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta
• Won gold medal at South Asian Games 2019 in Kathmandu
• Won gold medal at South Asian Games 2017 in Guwahati
• Holds Pakistani national record in men’s javelin
• Won bronze medal at Asian Junior Athletics Championships 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City