New Delhi [India], August 9 (ANI): Indian’s World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn from Silesia Diamond League, scheduled for August 16, with Pakistan’s reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem additionally being absence from the checklist for the meet to be held in Poland.
The meet was anticipated to be the primary conflict between the Indian and Pakistani rivals since their Paris Olympics 2024 face-off, the place Arshad outclassed Neeraj with a record-breaking throw that earned him a gold medal, whereas Neeraj needed to keep content material with silver, as per Olympics.com.
The high-profile conflict, teased by occasion organisers again in July, was doubtful as Nadeem underwent a surgical procedure in his proper calf throughout final month. The Pakistani star was dominated out of the competitors by his coach and doesn’t seem within the checklist unveiled this week.
On the opposite hand, the explanation behind Neeraj’s absence is unclear.
The Indian celebrity has loved a spectacular begin to the 2025 season.
Chopra took the highest honours within the inaugural version of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a contest named after him at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru final month. The reigning javelin throw champion stood triumphant with 86.18m.
Neeraj kickstarted with a win on the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April and adopted it up with a really particular second-place end at Doha Diamond League, the place he crossed the 90-metre mark for the primary time ever, with a throw of 90.23 m.
He additionally went on to safe a second spot within the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month and resumed his profitable methods with back-to-back titles at Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike this month, with greatest efforts of 88.16 m and 85.29 m. Most just lately got here his NC Classic triumph in entrance of his residence crowd.
Neeraj and Nadeem are each aiming to participate in World Athletics Championships scheduled for Tokyo from September 13-21. During the earlier version, Neeraj had completed forward of Nadeem to win the gold, changing into the first-ever Indian to land a gold on the marquee occasion.
Before the celebrated Tokyo meet, the Lausanne Diamond League on August 20 would be the final main athletics occasion the place Neeraj may get some recreation time. (ANI)