Has Neeraj Chopra Invited Arshad Nadeem to India for Javelin Event?

The first edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event is all set for May 24, but one of the biggest javelin events may take place without Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem.

The competition, named after India’s Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra, will be held at Bengaluru’s famous Kanteerava Stadium with a star-studded lineup.

Neeraj will be competing on home soil for the first time since last year, making this a special moment for Indian athletics. What could make the event even more exciting is the presence of his close friend and biggest rival—Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s Olympic gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Games.

The organizers have officially invited Arshad Nadeem to the event, but his participation is still uncertain. His coach, Salman Butt, has refuted claims from foreign media that they have received an offer.

“We have not received any such invite so far,” Butt told Nukta.

Even if Arshad Nadeem accepts the invitation, there are no guarantees that he will be able to take part in the event, given the strained relations between Pakistan and India. Sporting circles have also not been spared from these constraints, with the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan being an example, and the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup in India following the same route.

However, if Arshad Nadeem somehow makes it to the event, fans could witness one of the sport’s most exciting rivalries. Neeraj and Arshad Nadeem have shared the field in major events like the Olympics and World Championships, always competing with great respect and friendship.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic already features some of the best javelin throwers in the world—like Anderson Peters (Grenada), Julius Yego (Kenya), Thomas Röhler (Germany), and Curtis Thompson (USA). But the most talked-about showdown remains Neeraj vs. Arshad.

If Arshad Nadeem shows up, the Neeraj Chopra Classic won’t just be another athletics meet—it will be a historic moment for South Asian sport.