Geared for his qualifying round, Pakistan’s star athlete and Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has requested Pakistanis to pray for his success. According to PST Nadeem’s round would be at 4:45pm tomorrow in Tokyo at the World Athletics Championship.
Scheduled from September 13 to 21, Arshad will also be renewing his rivalry with India’s Neeraj Chopra. The men’s qualification round takes place on September 17 (tomorrow), followed by the final on September 18 at Japan’s National Stadium, the same venue where Chopra won Olympic gold in 2020.
For Nadeem, the tournament marks a highly anticipated return after undergoing surgery on his right calf earlier this year. He missed the Silesia Diamond League in July, sparking fitness concerns, but his medical team insists he is back to full strength. “Arshad has fully recovered and is ready for Tokyo,” said his doctor, Asad Abbas.
The championship also brings added intrigue because of the fierce sporting rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra, which has intensified against the backdrop of heightened political tensions between their countries. Once praised for the warmth they and their families showed each other, with both mothers exchanging congratulatory messages, the two athletes have since kept their relationship professional following the deadly military clash in May.
Nadeem, who delivered Pakistan’s first Olympic athletics gold in Paris 2024 with a Games-record throw of 92.97 metres, will aim to improve on his silver from Budapest 2023. Chopra, meanwhile, arrives as the defending World Champion and remains a formidable opponent.
Beyond medals, Tokyo offers Nadeem a chance to reaffirm his standing among the sport’s elite, while fans across South Asia and beyond will be watching closely. Their clash promises not just a sporting spectacle but also a symbolic contest, blending athletic excellence with the weight of national pride.
