The biggest rivalry in men’s javelin throw is set to return at the Commonwealth Games. Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem on Monday, July 13, confirmed that he will compete at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, setting up his much-awaited clash with India’s Neeraj Chopra later this month.

The Games, starting on July 23, will be the first Commonwealth meeting between the two since Birmingham 2022, where Chopra had to pull out due to injury. Nadeem, who will lead Pakistan’s athletics contingent in Glasgow, admitted that there will be extra pressure on him this time as he returns as the defending Commonwealth champion.

“There is more pressure on me because I am the defending champion in the upcoming Games, but I have prepared well,” Nadeem told PTI.

“It’s good to be back in competition and yes, I want to successfully defend my gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” he said.

CWG 2026: Neeraj vs Arshdad

The Glasgow Games will also be the first time Chopra and Nadeem will compete against each other 2025 World Athletics Championships in TokyoWhere both faced disappointing campaigns. Struggling with injuries, Chopra finished eighth while Nadeem finished tenth, a rare off day for two of the biggest names in world javelin throwing.

The two have shared one of athletics’ most compelling rivalries over the years, regularly clashing with each other at the sport’s biggest events.

Nadeem’s most famous win over Chopra came at the Paris Olympics in 2024While the Pakistani stunned the field with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters and won the gold medal, Chopra had to be content with the silver medal. This is Nadeem’s only major win over the Indian superstar.

The Pakistani also won Commonwealth gold with a best throw of 90.18m in Birmingham 2022 after Chopra pulled out of the Games due to injury, giving fans his first Commonwealth performance.

“I know what I need to do to regain the title in a strong field,” Nadeem said.

The 29-year-old revealed that he will be competing in an international competition in Switzerland before heading to Glasgow and will use the competition as his final event before the Commonwealth Games.

For Chopra, the Commonwealth Games offers an opportunity to reclaim the title he won in Gold Coast in 2018, while for Nadeem, it is a chance to prove that his Birmingham win was no fluke. With both fit again and returning to the international circuit, athletics’ greatest rivalry is set for another chapter in Glasgow.

Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem: Time

The men’s javelin throw final will be held on July 31. The session will start at 11 pm Indian time. The javelin throw final is expected to last till after midnight.

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