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Nadeem Advances as Rivalry with Chopra Intensifies
Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem qualified for the Commonwealth Games 2026 men’s javelin final on Thursday after registering a season-best throw of 78.63 metres in the qualification round in Glasgow.
Nadeem opened with the 78.63m effort, briefly moving ahead of India’s Neeraj Chopra, who managed 76.48m with his first throw. Chopra improved to 79.61m on his second attempt to finish ahead in the qualification standings. Nadeem’s third throw measured 75.65m, securing him a place among the top 12 finalists.
Pakistan’s Second Entrant Misses Final
Pakistan’s second entrant, Muhammad Yasir Sultan, began with a foul before recording 71.42m on his second attempt. He improved to 74.36m with his final throw but missed out on qualification for the medal round.
Star-Studded Final Lineup
The top 12 athletes progressed to the final, where Nadeem will compete for a medal on Friday. The field includes:
- Neeraj Chopra (India): First Indian thrower to breach 90 metres
- Anderson Peters (Grenada): Two-time world champion
- Julius Yego (Kenya): Former world champion
- Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago): Former Olympic champion
- Rohit Yadav & Yash Vir Singh (India): Additional Indian contenders
Medal Battle Set for Friday
The qualification round renewed the much-anticipated rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra, one of the most closely followed contests in international athletics, with another head-to-head battle expected in the final on Friday.
