World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem showdown set for Tokyo

For Indian fans around the globe, the much-awaited battle between world champion Neeraj Chopra and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem on Sept 18, bringing in the thrills of an India-Pakistan battle in the men’s javelin throw final will be the highlight of the World Athletics Championships beginning in Tokyo on Saturday. Chopra, who failed to defend his Olympic and Diamond League Final title, is capable of hurling the big throw to upset the form book. If everything goes smooth from the run-up to the release point at the same Tokyo National stadium where he created history in 2021, the Indian star will immediately convey the message with his trademark follow through action. The Indian has had a topsy-turvy season in the run-up to the Worlds. He broke the 90m barrier with 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League earlier this year but Chopra is still behind Germany’s Julian Weber (91.51m) and Brazil’s Luiz da Silva (91m). Nadeem, who won the Worlds silver in Budapest behind Chopra, has hardly been in action this season. The Pakistani’s performance will be keenly watched. Among the medal contenders, Japan’s Yuta Sakiama, who has a season best of 87.16m, is seen as the dark horse. “The men’s javelin throw will be India’s best bet. Besides Chopra, at least two more — most likely Sachin Yadav and Rohit Yadav — may also make the final,” a national coach told TOI. Will Gulveer live up to his billing? India’s first big hope will be seen in action on the second day when national record holder Gulveer Singh will line up for the men’s 10,000m final. According to experts, it will be too much of an ask to expect the Indian, trained by American coach Scott Simmons, to climb the podium but fans can expect a thrilling show from Gulveer. In men’s long jump, M Sreeshankar scripted a spirited comeback from injury to make the starting list in Tokyo after missing out on the Paris Olympics. “Sreeshankar should get into the final,” the coach said. “We also have chances of a good show in men’s triple jump by Praveen Chitravel and Abdulla Aboobaker.” Parul, Annu lead women’s charge Parul Chaudhary, who met the automatic qualification mark in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, improved her national record time of 9:12.46 at the Asian championships in Gumi. Against the world’s best, expect the 30-year-old to come up with another superb show that will test her limits. Javelin thrower Annu Rani will be keen to erase the disappointment of her Paris show after hitting a purple patch in the run-up to the show-piece event.