KEY POINTS
- Nadeem will compete in Group B on September 17, facing strong rivals including Anderson Peters and Julius Yeg.
- Athletes throwing 84.50m or among the top 12 overall will qualify for the final scheduled on September 18
- Arshad Nadeem, returning after a long recovery, has urged fans to pray for his qualification and strong performance
TOKYO, Japan: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra, two of the sport’s biggest stars, have been placed in separate groups for the javelin throw qualifiers at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, setting the stage for a highly anticipated event in Tokyo.
Nadeem will compete in Group B, with the qualifying round scheduled to begin at 4:45 PM Pakistan Standard Time on Wednesday, September 17.
His group also features strong contenders including Indian throwers Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, World No. 3 Anderson Peters, former world champion Julius Yego, and Brazil’s Luis Mauricio da Silva.
Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra will be looking to comfortably progress from Group A, which will throw earlier in the day.
Qualification Criteria
According to the official rules, any athlete who throws 84.50 meters or more will automatically secure a place in the final. If fewer than 12 athletes achieve this mark, the top 12 overall performers from both groups will qualify for the final, scheduled to take place the following day, September 18.
Arshad’s Message to Fans
Ahead of the contest, Arshad Nadeem posted a heartfelt message to his supporters:
“You all know I have come to Tokyo for the World Athletics Championship. Tomorrow, I will compete in the qualifying round. Pray for me that I perform well and qualify for the final.”
Nadeem, who is returning to competition after a long recovery and limited appearances post the 2024 Paris Olympics, has thrown 86.40 meters this year — a mark he registered in May during his only outing of the season.
This Season’s Benchmark
Germany’s Julian Weber currently holds the longest throw of the 2025 season, with a staggering 91.51 meters. Neeraj Chopra has also crossed the 90-meter barrier, while Anderson Peters and other top contenders remain in strong form.
Final Awaits
The javelin qualifying rounds on September 17 will determine which elite throwers make it to the final on September 18, with fans across South Asia and beyond eagerly watching the performances of Nadeem and Chopra, two of the sport’s biggest stars.
The javelin competition promises to be one of the marquee events of the championship, with fierce rivalries, national pride, and personal legacies all on the line.
