Tokyo (SNP Report): Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has qualified for the final of the Men’s Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo.
Nadeem secured his place with a throw of 85.28 metres in his third and final attempt on Wednesday, after recording 76.99m and 74.17m in his earlier tries. He will now compete in the medal round scheduled for Thursday. Twelve athletes advanced to the final out of 37 competitors. From Group B, Anderson Peters (85.96m) and Julius Yego (89.53m) also booked their places, while Curtis Thompson registered 84.72m to qualify.
India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra cleared the automatic mark of 84.50m on his first attempt with 84.85m, while later recording 86.56m. Currently ranked world No. 2, Chopra enters the final as a leading contender alongside Germany’s Julian Weber, the world No. 1, who managed 87.21m. Other qualifiers include Poland’s Dawid Wegner, who achieved a personal best of 85.67m, and Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch (84.11m).
Nadeem and Chopra share a history of high-profile contests. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Chopra won gold and Nadeem took silver. The rivalry reversed at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Nadeem secured gold and Chopra claimed silver. “In my mind, I knew I would qualify. And God willing, I did,” Arshad causally said in a media interview with World Athletics as he ran a thumb across his forehead and flicked the sweat off.
“As you all know, I had surgery just two months ago because of a calf injury. I was a bit confused about how much of a run-up to take, so I was just setting that up. Thanks to God, I qualified on the third attempt,” he said of his 85.28m throw that placed him fifth in the heat rankings. “The nation’s prayers are with me, and I hope I perform well like this in tomorrow’s final.”
While speaking to World Athletics, Arshad broke down the technicalities of his throws. “I knew I had to take a longer run-up; I opened my mind to that. Tomorrow is the final, I’ll need to be strategic and think about it going in. “I haven’t had much practice with my run-ups since my surgery, so that’s something I need to focus on tomorrow. If I can get a good run-up, I’ll have my throw. “The goal tomorrow is to do my best. Whatever else God has written for me is what shall happen,” he said.
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