Neeraj Chopra–Arshad Nadeem rivalry takes centre stage at World Athletics 2025 beyond the track

The World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo was not only about medals but also about an off-field question would Neeraj Chopra and his long-time rival Arshad Nadeem shake hands? The speculation had been brewing ever since the Asia Cup 2025 cricket controversy. In that match, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav struck the winning runs against Pakistan and then walked off without shaking hands with the opposition. The move triggered a storm. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the post-match presentation, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed a formal complaint. They accused match referee Andy Pycroft of instructing the teams to skip handshakes. When the ICC rejected Pakistan’s appeal to ban Pycroft, the tensions escalated further, even leading to a delayed start in their next fixture against the UAE.

Against this backdrop, the Chopra–Nadeem rivalry carried more than athletic weight. The two athletes, who have competed closely in recent years, became the centre of attention before the javelin finals. Broadcasters replayed old clips, while fans on social media debated whether their rivalry would echo the cricketing standoff.

On the day of the competition, both Chopra and Nadeem appeared focused solely on their performances. Cameras captured them preparing for their throws but showed little interaction between the two. Spectators noted that they did not exchange greetings or acknowledge each other during warm-ups. Reports from Tokyo suggest that a handshake never took place, with both athletes maintaining distance.

For many, this was not surprising. Political strains between India and Pakistan often spill into sporting events, and athletes are frequently caught in the middle. In this case, neither Chopra nor Nadeem made public comments on avoiding each other, but their silence was enough to fuel debate.

While Chopra went on to qualify for the final rounds, and Nadeem competed strongly as well, much of the conversation off the field remained about what they did—or did not—do once the competition was over.

In the end, the handshake that fans expected did not happen. Instead, the rivalry continued to unfold through their throws, not gestures, underlining how sport often becomes an extension of larger political narratives.