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[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Arshad Nadeem - Pakistan's Javelin Throw star wins the first Gold Medal for Pakistan after 40 years in Paris Olympics 2024

Damnnn Neraj Chopra is gonna win this, whatt aa throww
 
not a good throw, final rounds now, lets hope he stays at silver and can move up to gold
 
medal confimed for us. now lets see if silver bronze or gold
 
chopra and nadeem congratulated each other. Chopra also congratulated nadeem
 
Missed out on gold by the barest of margins. He needs to get the best facilities available to prepare for the Olympics.

I don't think we've seen his true potential yet.
 
Guy is a one man army ,.and has made up to this far despite the system not due to it. We have no shortage of talent but absolute shortage of proper system to groom that talent , Zra nam ho tu ye miti bohat zarkhaiz hai saqi... Arshad you legend.
 
Arshad Nadeem wins silver medal for Pakistan at World Athletics Championship

Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem secured a silver medal for Pakistan in the Javelin Throw competition of the World Athletics Championship on Sunday with his 87.82-meter throw in Hungary's capital Budapest.

This is the first-ever medal for Pakistan in the World Athletics Championship.
 
Well done to the Ind guy, an amazing follow up after the Olympics. And goes without saying, so proud of Arshad.
 
This time the difference in throw between Arshad and Neeraj wasn't substantial. Arshad had a chance at winning the gold as well but congratulations to Neeraj for securing the gold.

Arshad's performance was commendable too. Many Congratulation to Arshad!
 
Arshad still has a better personal best than Neeraj, hopefully one day he beats him to gold.
 
Congratulations Arshad.

Neeraj always has a one good throw in him, even in on bad day.

And TRHEE Indians in top 7!
 
Congratulations to Arshad Nadeem on winning the Silver medal. He consistently believes in hard work and dedication, is undoubtedly best assets for Pakistan, and we Proud on him.

Congrats to Neeraj Chopra also.
 
"Neeraj and I have a very healthy competition and we respect each other a lot. There is no Pakistan-India rivalry in a bad way. When we talk we are just happy that both of us have come to the fore in a competition usually dominated by Europeans," Nadeem told PTI.
 
I saw a clip on youtube where a sports journo claimed in all honesty that a sponsor came forward offering 10 crore for arshad bur Pakistan sports Council has not responded to it for a year till date. If this is true its incomprehendible why it wasn't processed immediately until someone in PSC wanted a cut.
 
ex-q-zit said:
I saw a clip on youtube where a sports journo claimed in all honesty that a sponsor came forward offering 10 crore for arshad bur Pakistan sports Council has not responded to it for a year till date. If this is true its incomprehendible why it wasn't processed immediately until someone in PSC wanted a cut.
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Many similar claims are being made on Twitter. I just don't get the thought process of not allowing athletes to get sponsors, it's not like the PSB or the government provides funds to these athletes themselves.
 
Nadeem is built like a tank. I feel he has it in him to to take it to a different level.

That being said Neeraj Chopra is just showing championship pedigree. He’s built different. Doesn’t look like one who could throw the longest, all pure hard work and technique.
 
Bhaijaan said:
Nadeem is built like a tank. I feel he has it in him to to take it to a different level.

That being said Neeraj Chopra is just showing championship pedigree. He’s built different. Doesn’t look like one who could throw the longest, all pure hard work and technique.
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nadeem has achieved the 90m mark, which only a few have done.
 
Has Arshad had any rewards. I saw one of 1mn rps but its peanuts. Surely we have businesses and businessman that can reward such an amazing achievement.
 
This is precisely unfortunate that the individual who is bringing fame to the name of the country in javelin throw is not receiving any support from the government. How can we motivate the young generation?
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Yes, this time the game was very closely contested but seeing the sportsman spirit of both players was heartening.
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Even Neeraj's mother when asked how she feels that her son won the medal by defeating a Pakistani she said “Look, everyone has come to Play in the field. One or the other will definitely win. So it’s not about Pakistan or Haryana. It is a matter of great happiness. Even if that Pakistani had won, there would've been great happiness,”

[YOUTUBE]
 
Arshad Needam said "Neeraj and I have a very healthy competition and we respect each other a lot. There is no Pakistan-India rivalry in a bad way. When we talk we are just happy that both of us have come to the fore in a competition usually dominated by Europeans.”

Chopra shared similar emotions.

“I met Arshad after the event and we were happy that both our countries are making serious strides in the sporting arena,” he said at a press conference.


“We were also happy to have prevailed over our European counterparts, who are stronger and very competitive. The rivalry between our two nations in sports will always be there.

DAWN
 
LAHORE: Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem appealed for better sports training facilities in the country after arriving here on Monday night from Budapest, where he won silver medal at the World Athletics Championships.

The 26-year-old arrived to huge fanfare at the Allama Iqbal Airport, being showered with petals as he made his way out through the arrival gates.

“I’m really happy that I’ve made the nation proud,” Arshad, who threw the javelin 87.82 metres to claim second place — earning Pakistan’s first medal at track and field’s top event, told reporters.

“There is not a single stadium for our training in Pakistan … We need better training facilities and patronage to earn success for Pakistan,” he said, adding he could win gold at next year’s Paris Olympics if he is provided the required facilities.

One of Arshad’s doctors told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that although the Pakistan Sports Board had set up a training camp for Arshad ahead of the world championships, the daily food allowance for him was only Rs850.

“How anyone can arrange better three times foods in such a meagre allowance?” he asked.

www.dawn.com

Javelin star Arshad appeals for better training facilities

“There is not a single stadium for our training in Pakistan," says Arshad.
www.dawn.com
 
Javelin star Arshad Nadeem will train in Germany ahead of next year’s Olympics in Paris, where he will look to end Pakistan’s 32-year medal drought at the Games.

Addressing a news conference alongside Athletics Federation of Pakistan Akram Sahi on Friday, Arshad — who won silver at last month’s World Athletics Championship — said he will try to do his best but bemoaned the lack of facilities available in the country.

“Unfortunately, there is no training facility of international standard in Pakistan,” he said. “The government should take steps towards developing them.”

“My next target is win gold at this month’s Asian Games [in China],” said Arshad, who will be jostling with India’s Neeraj Chopra for a spot at the top of the podium.

But he said he’s only “competing with myself”. “It reduces the pressure to perform,” he added.

Sahi said the AFP was also preparing Mohammad Yasir, who won javelin bronze at the Asian Athletics Championship in July, for the future and informed sprinter Shajar Abbas will train in Jamaica for the Olympics.

“When I assumed the role of AFP president in 2011, I laid out the ‘Vision 2023’,” he said. “Today, our athletic prowess is being recognised on the global stage, and I aspire for the day when we will proudly raise Pakistan’s flag and have our national anthem resonate worldwide.”

But he added that the government needs to do its bit to help aspiring athletes.

“There is a lot of talent in Pakistan and all we need is to channelise all the available resources in a better way to help them perform well at international level,” he said.

DAWN
 
This is a very good decision, and it should have been made earlier. Undoubtedly, this will improve Arshad Nadeem's performance.
 
Ahmed Shehzad gave 1 million to our national hero Arshad Nadeem today, at least someone think about him. He is more than Babar Azam to us; He gave us a lot with our shameful support in terms of money, facilities and etc.
 
Arshad Nadeem To Undergo Knee Surgery In Bid To Be Fit For Paris Olympics

Pakistan's top javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem has flown to the United Kingdom to undergo a knee surgery in a bid to be fit before the Paris Olympics.

Nadeem, who had claimed the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal, had to withdraw from the Asian Games in China last year due to his knee problem.

"I have decided to have the knee surgery now because it has been bothering me a lot since last year and I tried rehab programs but they didn't work," he said.

The 27-year-old is hopeful that having the surgery will allow him to be fit in time for the Paris Olympic Games.


NDTV
 
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How much money does a javelin cost? He does not have enough to buy one for himself, where is the Pakistan Olympic Association? Sleeping?

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Arshad Nadeem suffers due to absence of top-quality javelin ahead of Paris Olympics

Pakistan’s renowned javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is facing difficulty ahead of the Paris Olympics since he no longer has a top-quality javelin at his disposal.

While speaking to Geo News, Nadeem revealed that the only international standard javelin that he had is currently out of shape. Consequently, Nadeem is currently training with a locally-made javelin but that could lead to injury.

“I have been training for the Paris Olympics with a locally-made javelin for the past seven to eight years. The international standard javelin which I had is out of shape. For international competitions, I need five to six top quality javelins,” Nadeem said.

“Using sub-standard local javelin could also lead to injuries,” he added.

Nadeem also said that he is unable to prepare properly because “most of the times ground is not available for training due to events”.

The 27-year-old was also hopeful that he will get the opportunity to participate in couple of international events before the Olympics.

Nadeem also said that he will leave for South Africa soon in order to fine-tune his training for Paris Games.

The Mian Channu-born, who recently underwent a knee surgery, is also hopeful about regaining top fitness soon.

Last year at the World Championship in Hungary, Nadeem created history for the country by becoming the first athlete to claim silver medal with a throw of 87.82 metre, just below India’s Neeraj Chopra who won gold with a throw of 88.17m.

During the event, he also qualified for the Paris Olympics. However, last year he missed the Asian Championship, Asian Games and Asian Throwing Championship because of fitness issues.

Arshad’s personal best throw is 90.18 metre which he managed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

The javelin throw event in the Paris Olympics will be held at the France’s biggest venue Stade de France. The qualifying round will be held on August 6 with the final to be conducted on August 8. Arshad finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 84.62m in the final.

SOURCE: GEO
 
That is truly weird. Is no corporate willing to sponsor him? Even the MNCs like Pepsi?

Neeraj Chopra has so many endorsement deals and has made so much money off his medal that for a while it felt like he was the only sportsperson on TV.

Of course there's an economic difference in the countries but shows how much difference 'nearly there' vs actually winning it makes.
 
Come on, javelin is cheap. Neeraj's javelin is 1.1 lakhs INR, roughly 1330 USD.
 
Swashbuckler said:
Come on, javelin is cheap. Neeraj's javelin is 1.1 lakhs INR, roughly 1330 USD.
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I guess if he needs 5-6 javelins plus taxes and duties, it comes to $10K which is not an insignificant amount if he's getting no funding. Still a very small amount for a sponsor to put in and get the goodwill. A PSL team Shirt sponsor deal would easily be 10 times that and who remembers shirt sponsors? They barely get noticed. This is a unique opportunity to be associates with a world class athlete - probably the only one Pakistan has.

I'll tell you what he needs - an agent. Maybe one of the Pakistan Cricket players could share a phone number.
 
PSB promises new javelin for Arshad Nadeem ahead of Paris Olympics

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has promised that Arshad Nadeem will be provided a new javelin ahead of the Paris Olympics this year.

While speaking to Geo News, Director General PSB Shoaib Khoso said that Nadeem will be “given money to buy as many javelins as he wants”.

“Arshad is our national hero and has qualified for the Olympics. He will be given the support he needs in terms of buying a javelin,” he added.

Earlier, Nadeem had revealed, while talking to Geo News, that the only international standard javelin that he has is currently out of shape. Consequently, Nadeem is currently training with a locally-made javelin but that could lead to injury.

“I have been training for the Paris Olympics with a locally-made javelin for the past seven to eight years. The international standard javelin which I had is out of shape. For international competitions, I need five to six top quality javelins,” Nadeem said.

“Using sub-standard local javelin could also lead to injuries,” he added.

Nadeem also said that he is unable to prepare properly because “most of the times ground is not available for training due to events”.

The 27-year-old was also hopeful that he will get the opportunity to participate in couple of international events before the Olympics.

Nadeem also said that he will leave for South Africa soon in order to fine-tune his training for Paris Games.

The Mian Channu-born, who recently underwent a knee surgery, is also hopeful about regaining top fitness soon.

Last year at the World Championship in Hungary, Nadeem created history for the country by becoming the first athlete to claim silver medal with a throw of 87.82 metre, just below India’s Neeraj Chopra who won gold with a throw of 88.17m.

During the event, he also qualified for the Paris Olympics. However, last year he missed the Asian Championship, Asian Games and Asian Throwing Championship because of fitness issues.

Nadeem's personal best throw is 90.18 metre which he managed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

The javelin throw event in the Paris Olympics will be held at the France’s biggest venue Stade de France. The qualifying round will be held on August 6 with the final to be conducted on August 8. Arshad finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 84.62m in the final.

SOURCE: GEOSUPER
 
Hard to believe: Neeraj Chopra on Arshad Nadeem’s struggles to acquire new javelin

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra on Monday expressed astonishment when he found out that his on field rival and friend from Pakistan Arshad Nadeem was struggling to acquire a new javelin.

“It has now got to a stage where the javelin is damaged and I have asked the national federation and my coach to do something about it before the Paris Olympics. When I started off in 2015, competing in international events I got this javelin … for an international athlete aiming to win a medal in the Olympic Games, you need proper equipment and training facilities,” Nadeem had said a few weeks back.

Chopra, who shares a great bond with Nadeem off the field said that it was really hard to believe that the Pakistan athlete was facing such a struggle for a new javelin.

“It is hard to believe that he has been struggling to get a new javelin. Given his credentials, this should not be a big issue at all,” Chopra said to SAI Media on Monday.

“It can’t be that he (Nadeem) doesn’t have the means to buy a javelin. He is a champion and must be doing some brand endorsements. I reckon he has earned a bit of money too. But having said that, his government can look at Arshad’s (Nadeem) need and support him just like how my government is doing so,” Chopra added.

“Additionally, Arshad (Nadeem) is a top javelin thrower and I believe that the javelin makers will be more than happy to sponsor him and provide what he wants. This is a piece of advice from my side,” he added.

With a 90.18m throw, the 27-year-old Pakistani had created a new javelin throw record at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to claim the title. It ended Pakistan’s 60-year wait for a CWG gold medal.

Nadeem had undergone an elbow operation in the UK in December 2022. Last year, he again underwent a knee surgery and skipped the Hangzhou Asian Games, where Chopra won the gold.

indianexpress.com

Hard to believe: Neeraj Chopra on Arshad Nadeem’s struggles to acquire new javelin

Chopra, who shares a great bond with Nadeem off the field said that it was really hard to believe that the Pakistan athlete was facing such a struggle for a new javelin.
indianexpress.com indianexpress.com
 
Well, everyone knows how we treat our sportsmen, but still, this is quite disappointing.
 
PM announces award worth Rs2.5m for javelin athlete Arshad Nadeem

Pakistan's ace javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who achieved a historic feat of winning a silver medal in the World Athletics Championship 2023, and now eyeing to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics, called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.

During a meeting with Nadeem, the world famed javelin throwing athlete, the premier praised his efforts to clinch the silver medal despite scant resources. His achievement made the nation proud, he added.

PM Shehbaz announced an award worth Rs2.5 million for Nadeem.

The prime minister said that there is immense talent in the country in sports which required to be groomed. He also underlined the need of focusing on promotion of sports in the rural areas.

Nadeem apprised the premier of his sports career and achievements.


The News
 
Arshad Nadeem set to fly for training in South Africa

Pakistan’s star athlete Arshad Nadeem, who had won a Commonwealth gold medal for the country, is all set to fly to South Africa to train under the top javelin coach in the world.

As per the details, the Athletics Federation of Pakistan has completed all preparations for Arshad Nadeem’s training in South Africa and is only awaiting his visa.

“The javelin thrower will travel to South Africa a day after his visa is granted where he will be trained under the supervision of the world’s best javelin coach,” the sources privy to the development said.

Arshad Nadeem is expected to get a South African visa in the next one or two days.

Besides clinching the gold medal at the Commonwealth games in 2022, Arshad Nadeem also secured second place, the silver medal in the World Athletics Championship 2023.

He created the history by becoming the first Pakistani to earn a medal at the World Athletics Championship.


arynews.tv

Arshad Nadeem set to fly for training in South Africa

LAHORE: Pakistan’s star athlete Arshad Nadeem, who had won a Commonwealth gold medal for the country, is all set to fly to South Africa to train under the
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 

Arshad Nadeem leaves for South Africa for Tokyo Olympic training​


On Friday, Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem has departed for South Africa for training ahead of the Olympics.

Expressing gratitude, he wished everyone happiness for Ramadan and Eid.

'With perseverance and dedication, I aim to make Pakistan proud,' says Nadeem

Having completed two months of training in Pakistan after knee surgery, Nadeem requested prayers for his continued recovery.

With his rehab complete, he feels much better and is focusing on rigorous preparation for the upcoming Olympics.

Nadeem thanked Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his support and appreciated the collaboration with the Pakistan Athletics Federation, particularly acknowledging Salman Iqbal for his excellent coaching.

www.samaa.tv

Arshad Nadeem Embarks on Olympic Journey: Training for Tokyo 2024

Follow Arshad Nadeem's journey as he trains in South Africa for the Tokyo 2024 Olympics. With dedication and perseverance, he aims to bring pride to Pakistan.
www.samaa.tv www.samaa.tv
 
I wish him all the luck and pray for his success. And I appreciate Shehbaz Sharif for supporting local athletes.
 

Arshad Nadeem gets six new javelins ahead of Paris Olympics​


Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem got a major boost as he prepares for the Paris Olympics this year.

The Pakistani star has confirmed that he now has six advanced carbon-fibre javelins which will aid his preparation for the elusive event.

“Thank you all for your cooperation because the new javelin will be very beneficial to me. If I work hard, I will undoubtedly win an Olympic gold medal,” Nadeem said.

It is to be noted that Nadeem has returned home after five weeks of training in South Africa and is now fine tuning his preparations at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore with his new javelin.

“I’m very thankful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan Sports Board, Punjab Sports and the Athletics Federation for cooperating with me. Additionally, the Athletics Federation has helped me and set up a camp where my coach Salman Butt is putting in a lot of effort,” Nadeem said.

The silver medalist of World Athletics further added that the training in South Africa was also greatly beneficial for him.

Continuing, Nadeem said that it was cold in South Africa but in Lahore he had to train in scorching heat. However, he believes that for an athlete should also be prepared and cold and hot weather do not matter.

Meanwhile, Salman Iqbal Butt, Nadeem’s coach, said that he has received the South African coach’s report. The javelin thrower’s output is currently 65%, but he is working on 35% of it, and he will throw 100% by mid-June.

Nadeem will also participate in a javelin event in Finland along some top throwers, for which the training plan is proceeding according to plan.

Nadeem’s potential and experience will work to his advantage and help him win the Olympic medal, Butt added.

www.geosuper.tv

Arshad Nadeem gets six new javelins ahead of Paris Olympics

Nadeem has returned home after five weeks of training in South Africa
www.geosuper.tv www.geosuper.tv
 
Pakistani Olympian javelin thrower will not participate in the upcoming athletic events in Finland, confirmed the Pakistan’s Athletics Federation (PAF) on Tuesday

This decision was taken right after Nadeem sustained a leg injury during a training session in Lahore.

The PAF further stated that the athlete’s withdrawal was not based on fitness but on a lack of time to get used to the Finnish weather.

Earlier, Nadeem received a visa for the Schengen region, which would enable him to compete in the Diamond League events in Finland and France.

Shah Jahan, the federation’s secretary, explained that they want Nadeem to rest before the big events. He said that it was very important for him to stay fit before the Olympics in Paris.

"To keep Arshad Nadeem safe from injuries before the Olympics, we have devised a plan," Jahan stated.

"Nadeem will compete in the Diamond League in Paris in July, which will give him the opportunity to acclimatise before the Paris Olympics. Training in the hot weather in Lahore led to some fitness issues for Nadeem. However, this wasn’t the only issue; instead, the schedule made it difficult for him to adjust to the weather in Finland,” he added.

Source: Geo
 
Arshad Nadeem set to participate in Diamond League in Paris ahead of Olympics

Olympian javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has recovered from a recent leg injury and is all set to participate in the forthcoming Diamond League on July 7 in Paris.

Nadeem is being trained under the guidance of his coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, following his injury that was caused by Lahore’s intense heat.

Earlier on Tuesday (June 18), Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) confirmed that the javelin thrower will not participate in the events in Finland. However, Nadeem reports that his condition has improved significantly.

The gold medallist of 2022 Commonwealth Games is currently preparing for the mega Olympics event in Paris. As part of his training, he will be playing the Diamond League in Paris.

Nadeem believes that this event will provide valuable experience before the Olympics. He chose not to participate in recent events of Finland to avoid risking his injury.

“The extreme weather conditions led to excessive sweating that led to severe cramps and leg pain. I’m practising really hard for the Olympics, competing in the Diamond league as part of my training would be really helpful for the mega event. I did not risk my injury by participating in the events held in Finland,” Nadeem reported.

Coach Butt reported that sweating had negatively impacted Nadeem’s muscles. He added that the thrower is progressing well through the rehabilitation phase.

“Sweating due to weather conditions negatively impacted Nadeem’s muscles. Despite the setback, he’s progressing well through the rehabilitation phase. He’s training hard and will recover soon. Diamond League is after two weeks, hopefully Nadeem will be in full rhythm by them,” Butt said.

GEO SUPER
 
Arshad Nadeem departs for Paris to partake in Diamond League

Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has departed for Paris from here in the wee hours of Thursday to participate in the Diamond League before the Paris Olympics 2024.

Diamond League will be played in the capital city of France on July 7.

The star athlete shared that he was eager to end Pakistan’s medal drought at the Olympics.

“It has been too long that Pakistan has not won any medal at the Olympics, what was it, 1992 that we won it last in hockey? I am aiming to win that medal really, and I will do all that I can in my power to achieve that,” stated Nadeem.

The star athlete resumed his training for the upcoming events last week under his trainer after recovering from a leg injury a few weeks ago.

The leg injury forced Nadeem to withdraw from a couple of events in Finland but the star athlete shared that he is undergoing rehab and is “feeling better”.

“I have to go to Paris to play Diamond League, pray that I stay fit,” said Nadeem.

“I have been suffering from injuries for a long time, but that is part of the game.

“I played an event a year after the Tokyo Olympics. If I am fit, I will try to do my best throw in the Olympics.”

For the unversed, besides clinching the gold medal at the CWG in 2022, Arshad Nadeem also secured the silver medal in the World Athletics Championship 2023 in Budapest.

He created history by becoming the first Pakistani to earn a medal at the World Athletics Championship.

He also earned his qualification for the Paris Olympics during the World Athletics Championship.

The automatic qualifying benchmark for the Paris Olympics was 85.50 meters, which Nadeem breached with an amazing 86.79-meter throw.

The star player also got his hands on the gold medal in the ongoing 34th National Games last year. He proved his mettle once again as he recorded the longest throw of 78.02m in his third attempt.

a-sports.tv

Arshad Nadeem departs for Paris to partake in Diamond League

Arshad Nadeem departed for Paris in the wee hours of Thursday to participate in the Diamond League before the Paris Olympics 2024
a-sports.tv a-sports.tv
 
FearlessRoar said:
Arshad Nadeem departs for Paris to partake in Diamond League


For the unversed, besides clinching the gold medal at the CWG in 2022, Arshad Nadeem also secured the silver medal in the World Athletics Championship 2023 in Budapest.

He created history by becoming the first Pakistani to earn a medal at the World Athletics Championship.

He also earned his qualification for the Paris Olympics during the World Athletics Championship.

The automatic qualifying benchmark for the Paris Olympics was 85.50 meters, which Nadeem breached with an amazing 86.79-meter throw.

a-sports.tv

Arshad Nadeem departs for Paris to partake in Diamond League

Arshad Nadeem departed for Paris in the wee hours of Thursday to participate in the Diamond League before the Paris Olympics 2024
a-sports.tv a-sports.tv
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The sad part , when he won the Silver. There was no one to hand him the Pakistani flag. Arshad looked confused and embarrassed, Neeraj Chopra invited him to stand beside him for the photos. Reminds of the utter apathy to sports Indian administration used to show into the 90s.

This man deserves a medal truly.
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Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s javelin thrower, is set to participate in the Diamond League in Paris, marking his first competition in 2024.

With the exception of India’s Neeraj Chopra, the event will feature almost all of the world’s leading throwers.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s javelin thrower, is set to participate in the Diamond League in Paris, marking his first competition in 2024.

With the exception of India’s Neeraj Chopra, the event will feature almost all of the world’s leading throwers.
Click to expand...
There won't be the 6th round for Arshad as he couldn't finish among the top 3.

He finished Paris Diamond League at 4th position with a throw of 84.21m.

This was Arshad's first major event since August 2023. Good comeback by him after recovering from injury.

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Javelin ace Arshad Nadeem has walked away with a fourth place finish at the Paris Diamond League

The elite one-day track and field event on Sunday was his first international competition of the year, following a precautionary pullout from an event in Finland due to a mild calf muscle injury.

His impressive 84.21 metre throw on his fifth attempt was not enough to secure a podium finish, with Germany’s Julian Weber (85.91m), Grenada’s Anderson Peters (85.19m) and Jakub Vadlejch (85.04m) all finishing ahead of him.

Speaking to Dawn.com from Paris, Nadeem said he felt good about his season opener.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to do my best at the Olympics,” he said.

His modest first throw of 74.11m was followed by a much improved 80.28m second throw. He then progressed to 82.71m and 82.17m before throwing 84.21m to narrowly miss out on a medal.

The 27-year-old and his coach are headed back from Paris on Monday, where he’ll train in Lahore for roughly two weeks before heading back to the French capital on July 24 ahead of the Olympics Games’ opening ceremony on July 26.

“God willing, I’ll use these two weeks of training to make up for any deficiencies,” Nadeem said.

The goal heading into next month’s Olympics is to land a personal best throw, which currently stands at a whopping 90.18 metres.

Coach Salman Butt was just as satisfied with Nadeem’s performance, especially after a knee surgery in February that the javelin star recovered from quickly in two months.

“So the good news is that his rehabilitation was successful and he can now resume taking part in competitions.

“We [will] continue with training and working on some fine points,” Butt told Dawn.com.

The Olympics will be the first time Nadeem and India’s javelin powerhouse Neeraj Chopra compete against each other since last year’s World Champions, where the former made history by winning Pakistan’s first-ever medal (silver) at the prestigious championship, while the latter bagged gold.

Source: Dawn News
 
Arshad Nadeem expresses satisfaction over fourth place finish in Diamond League

Pakistan’s top javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, expressed his satisfaction after finishing in fourth place at the Paris Diamond League on Sunday.

Nadeem, while talking to a local media channel, stated that he is pleased with his return to the field after a year and is preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to do my best at the Olympics,” he said.

Arshad Nadeem will return to Pakistan and train under his coach Salman Butt before returning to Paris to participate in the Olympics.

“God willing, I’ll use these two weeks of training to make up for any deficiencies,” Nadeem added.


a-sports.tv

Arshad Nadeem expresses satisfaction over fourth place finish in Diamond League

Pakistan's top javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, expressed his satisfaction after finishing in fourth place at the Paris Diamond League
a-sports.tv a-sports.tv
 
Star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem on Wednesday, expressed his ambition to end Pakistan’s 32-year-long wait for an Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games

Pakistan last won a medal in the Olympics during the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, however, Arshad is hopeful that he will once again bring the glory to the country.

“I’m fit and well-prepared and I’ve worked really hard for this prestigious event,” he told reporters in Lahore. “I feel I can achieve my goal of winning a medal.”

“I will continue my training in Paris to bring further improvement before competing in the event and if everything goes to plan, I will get a medal for the country at the Olympics,” he added.

Arshad Nadeem will compete in the qualification round on August 6, with the final scheduled for two days later.

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Arshad Nadeem aims to end Pakistan's Olympic medal drought

Arshad Nadeem expressed his ambition to end Pakistan's 32-year-long wait for an Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
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Meet Pakistan’s Olympic javelin thrower

On a balmy evening in August 2022 at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, the largest athletics grounds in the United Kingdom, a packed crowd was following the drama unfolding in the men’s javelin competition.

Arshad Nadeem, the Pakistani athlete, was preparing for his fifth and penultimate throw.

Moments earlier, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, had delivered a mighty 88.64-metre (291ft) throw, propelling himself to the gold medal position and pushing Nadeem down to second place.

Nadeem took hold of his bright yellow javelin and strode towards the beginning of his run-up, holding up his arms and clapping at the crowd, which cheered back enthusiastically.

Until Peters’s throw, Nadeem had led the competition, already surpassing the 85-metre (279ft) mark three times with his longest throw at 88 metres (289ft).

As the crowd’s clapping and cheering picked up, Nadeem, his throwing arm lined with pink therapeutic tape, took long strides before launching the javelin with a low grunt.

Beneath Birmingham’s pink and blue dusk sky, the spear soared through the air for about five seconds, then landed beyond the 90-metre (295ft) mark. The crowd roared as Nadeem held up his arms triumphantly, a gentle smile on his face before hugging a smiling Peters.

Shortly after, with no other competitor matching Nadeem’s record in their sixth and final attempt, his victory became official.

Nadeem’s throw was a new event record and also Pakistan’s first gold medal in track and field in six decades. He also became the first South Asian and only the second Asian man to surpass the 90-metre mark in the javelin throw.

Nadeem, now 27, calls that throw the best of his career so far.

“I was in good rhythm,” he recalled on a June afternoon after training. “I was confident [the earlier throws] would enable me to win the gold.

“Usually, by the third or fourth throw in any event, you have an idea who will emerge on top. Then Peters sent his fifth throw and went past 88 metres. But I was not nervous. By the grace of God, despite pain in my right elbow, I somehow managed to pull off my personal best,” he recounted.

Nadeem is Pakistan’s biggest hope for a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, which began on July 26.

The nine-time international medallist and four-time gold medallist came fifth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In Paris, he hopes to secure the country's first medal in 32 years after it won bronze in field hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

“I feel strong and fit,” Nadeem said, “and quite hopeful of a strong performance in Paris.”

Training in 40-degree heat

A month before the games were scheduled to start, Nadeem arrived shortly after 8am at the University of the Punjab gymnasium in Lahore for a day’s training.

Wearing an olive green T-shirt and black pants, the broad-chested, 1.92m-tall (6ft-3-inch-tall) athlete began his routine by stretching in the sparse room.

On a day when the temperature would reach 41 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit), the gym was stiflingly hot without air conditioning, and four fans did little to ease the heat.

Nadeem’s coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, 66, himself a former national-level discus thrower, led the training.

The coach, a stout man with a gentle demeanour, has worked with Nadeem for the past four years, helping him win two gold medals and one silver.

Butt, a two-time silver medallist in the South Asian Games in 1989 and 1991, remarked that things were better in the decades he competed because there was more institutional support and resources for athletes.

There was a strong grassroots network within schools, the coach explained, which helped identify young athletes, provide them with opportunities to explore various sports, compete and progress to the national level. Until the early 2000s, Pakistan would send a squad of about 30 members to compete in the Olympics. In Paris, it is sending seven.

Nadeem added weight plates to a barbell. As he lifted it under his coach’s watchful gaze, Nadeem kept his eyes focused ahead while beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

“Last week, Arshad felt some pain in his right knee, so we are taking it lightly for the next few days where he will just focus on mobility and weights, but no running or throwing,” Butt said.

He added that they needed to look after Nadeem’s fragile knees and elbows - a common concern for javelin throwers, given the stop-start motion of the run-up and the strain of repeated throwing. In the past two years, Nadeem has had multiple surgeries, most recently in February this year.

While Nadeem said his body heals quickly, he was mindful not to push himself too much and drank water frequently. He also avoids the hottest hours by training for three hours in the morning and three in the evening.

But on practice throwing days, there was no choice but to train outdoors under the blazing sun. Still, Nadeem said he’s used to the conditions.

A video in May on Nadeem’s Instagram profile showed him throwing in 45C (113F) weather. “45°C fuels my passion for success,” he wrote.

‘This lanky kid’

Nadeem was born on January 2, 1997, in a small village near the city of Mian Channu in southern Punjab state, about 300km (186 miles) southwest of the megacity of Lahore.

The third of seven siblings, Nadeem grew up in a household that struggled to make ends meet. His father, Muhammad Ashraf, a retired construction worker, was the sole breadwinner.

Nadeem’s older brother Shahid Azeem, 32, said their family would get to eat meat only once a year, during Eid al-Adha.

“It would be a lucky day for the family if we ate anything more than lentils or vegetables,” Shahid told Al Jazeera in a phone interview.

As a child, Nadeem towered over his classmates. By the time he was 14, he was almost 6ft (183cm) tall. It was a “gift”, Shahid said, from their father, who is also more than six feet tall.

Nadeem saw Shahid compete regionally in track and field events and became interested in sports, diving into football, hockey, badminton, kabaddi - a 900-year-old contact sport that originated in South Asia - and cricket, Pakistan’s most popular sport.

Cricket was his first love. “I used to be a very good bowler and would participate in a lot of tournaments,” Nadeem said.

“He was famous in the village for his bowling,” Shahid recalled. “He could single-handedly get teams out. If he’d have continued to play, I am sure he could have become as fast as Shoaib Akhtar,” he said, comparing Nadeem to one of Pakistan’s fastest bowlers, who retired in 2011.

But Nadeem’s father and two older brothers discouraged him from pursuing cricket.

“My father never liked cricket. He’d say, ‘You do all the hard work to win the match, but your teammates leave it all on you but don’t deliver. You should do something else,’” Nadeem recalled.

Shahid also told a teenage Nadeem that it would be difficult to break through the ranks of a popular sport like cricket. So with his brother’s encouragement, Nadeem, who was quick and well-built, started to compete in school athletics events, including sprints, long jump, triple jump, discus throwing and javelin.

Then in 2011, Rasheed Ahmed Saqi, a hotelier and resident of Mian Channu who scouts and invests in new athletic talent, saw Nadeem compete.

“I was a member of the Punjab Athletic Federation, and there was a local competition I organised where I saw this lanky kid who made quite an impression in track and field games, especially javelin and shot put. I noticed he was strong. He ran well. So I thought, maybe if I can help train him, he could make a difference,” said the 69-year-old, who had competed on the provincial level in track and field, including in javelin throw, in the 1960s and 1970s.

Two weeks after the event, Saqi, was sitting in a hotel he owns in Mian Channu when Ashraf brought his son to his office. "Arshad is your son and your responsibility from today," Ashraf told him.

“And from that day onwards, I have taken him under my wings,” said Saqi, who became Nadeem’s first coach and mentor.

First international medal

Around this time, Shahid started working as a police officer while his eldest brother joined the army.

They urged Nadeem to pursue javelin throwing. “He has always been a shy, quiet person who often keeps to himself. We both knew that he liked the sport but never spoke about it publicly,” Shadid said. “We told him, ‘Do not worry about money. We have jobs. We can support our home.'”

With Pakistan’s sports structure revolving around public sector organisations that offer employment opportunities to talented athletes, Nadeem’s athletic exploits generated attention locally, and various departments sought him out a few years later.

In 2015, an army representative came calling. “I flat out refused them,” Saqi recalled. “I told him, ‘Your training will ruin my athlete.’” He was worried about Nadeem doing both army and sports training.

“He is basically working extra hard without any recovery period. You cannot force or flog a player and say working for long hours is part of training,” Saqi explained.

Saqi, who trained Nadeem until 2015, still maintains close ties with the athlete.

Saqi believes the most important factor behind Nadeem’s success is his humility and said he has not been “tainted” by fame or money.

“He displays no arrogance or pride. When he comes to Mian Channu to see me, he makes sure he walks behind me. He ensures he opens the doors for me and waits till I sit,” Saqi said.

Recalling an incident from a few years ago, the hotel owner said Nadeem was at a training camp in Islamabad when Saqi was taken to the hospital for a heart complication.

“Somehow, he found out, and he left the camp to come and see me within a day’s notice. I had to scold him, despite my health, telling him to go back to training,” Saqi recalled with a chuckle.

Nadeem refers to Saqi as his “spiritual father”. A decade ago, when he did not even know specific spikes for javelin throwers existed, let alone owned them, it was Saqi who bought him his first pair.

The athlete also said it was thanks to Saqi that he secured employment at the sports department of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), a government-owned public utility that pays him a monthly retainer.

“WAPDA was holding trials for its sports department when Saqi sahib arranged for my entry there, and I managed to throw 56 metres [184ft] there, which made everyone pay attention,” Nadeem recalled.

Within two months of joining WAPDA, Nadeem, then 18, became Pakistan’s 2015 national champion.

“We were down to the sixth and the last throw, and by that time, I was fifth in the competition with an army athlete having thrown 69 metres [226ft]. Everybody thought that the competition was over. But somehow, I managed to push myself and threw a 70-metre [300ft] throw, which got me the gold medal,” Nadeem recounted with a brief, shy smile.

Nadeem was then selected for the 2016 South Asian Games in India, his first international competition.

The sporting event, which took place in Guwahati, India, was also the first time Nadeem competed against the then-emerging Indian star Neeraj Chopra.

Nadeem, who went into the tournament with a niggle in his throwing elbow, still managed a throw of 78.33 metres (257ft), winning his first international medal, a bronze, with Chopra securing gold.

“The previous Pakistani record lasted for nearly two decades, so I was very pleased with my effort,” Nadeem reflected.

A 100-metre throw?

Spears were once hurled as weapons for hunting and fighting. As a sport, it was one of the original disciplines at the ancient Olympic Games in Greece.

In its modern iteration, the sport has been part of the games since the 1908 London Olympics.

Over the decades, the spear has gone through various changes.

The most important change to the javelin, however, was made in 1986 after the feats of East German athlete Uwe Hohn, who in 1984 threw the spear an astonishing distance of 104.8m [343.8ft], raising safety concerns. The javelin at that time would also fall flat instead of on its tip, often resulting in arguments over the validity of the throw.

Consequently, the spear was redesigned to bring the centre of gravity 3cm (1.2 inches) forward, ensuring the javelin landed tip first and also reducing the flight range.

Only 24 male athletes have thrown beyond the 90-metre mark, some multiple times. Czech athlete Jan Zelezny, considered the greatest javelin athlete of all time, retains the world record with a throw of 98.48 metres (323ft) in 1996 using the redesigned spear.

Zelezny went on to launch more than 30 throws that crossed the 90-metre mark.

While Nadeem has managed one throw of more than 90 metres in his career, he remains quietly confident in his abilities and talent.

“People have seen me throw long distances, and I have also heard chatter that I can go close to 100 metres [328ft]. But I don’t want to appear too ambitious. If I have crossed 90 once, my next attempt is to touch 92,” he explained.

“From the beginning, I just tell myself to keep a simple approach, make small changes and hope for the best, and it has worked out for me.”

Zen-like, quiet, focussed

On July 7, Nadeem participated in the Diamond League competition in Paris, his first international event since his surgery in February.

Wearing a white vest emblazoned with “Nadeem”, the Pakistani athlete managed a best throw of 84.21 metres (276ft) on his fifth attempt, which landed him in fourth position.

Grimacing after every throw, it was evident that Nadeem was easing his way into a rhythm, something his coach confirmed later.

“The first and foremost aim was to see how well the rehabilitation has been, and now we can work on making small tweaks in training and just fine-tuning,” Butt said.

Nadeem credits his coach with helping his quick recovery.

“In the world of elite athletics, it all comes down to your support system and who is looking out for you. In Pakistan, even though our overall structure might not be the best, coaches like Butt sahib really make a difference,” he said.

Nadeem and Butt said the Pakistani authorities do what they can, including helping finance medical trips to the United Kingdom. But when he travels for competitions, Nadeem pays for part of the trip while the Athletics Federation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Sports Board finance the rest. Nadeem earns a living from his three sponsors, a clothing, shoe and car manufacturer in Pakistan, as well as his modest WAPDA stipend.

In August 2023, Nadeem won silver at the World Athletic Championships in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, guaranteeing him a place on the Paris Olympic squad. He also won $35,000 in prize money, but competitions such as the Olympics, Asian Games and Islamic Games do not award cash prizes. Instead, it is at the discretion of the home country or sports authorities to give such prizes.

However, from the 2024 Olympics, gold medal winners will receive a $50,000 reward, and from the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, prize money will also be awarded to silver and bronze medal winners.

While training, Nadeem spends time away from his wife, two sons and a daughter, who live in Mian Channu, and stays in the Punjab sports board’s hostel for athletes.

“I do not have many friends. I keep to myself, and besides training, I stay indoors. I just keep telling myself that I cannot go into a negative spiral and try to look at the positives,” he said.

Butt chimed in, saying Nadeem's mental strength is his “superpower”, adding that in his decades of coaching, he has not met another athlete with the same level of focus as Nadeem, who bows his head as he hears his coach’s words.

“He is Zen-like. He is quiet. He is focused, and no matter the setback, he does not let it linger. This is one of the most incredible things about Nadeem, and you cannot really teach it either,” his coach said.

‘Don’t have to focus on our differences’

At the opening ceremony of the Olympics on July 26 in Paris, Nadeem carried the Pakistan flag along with swimmer Jehanara Nabi.

“This is something straight out of a dream to be able to carry your country’s flag at the Olympics and a huge honour. But this is not the only thing for me. My main objective is to see my country’s flag being raised and the anthem being played if I get the gold,” Nadeem told Al Jazeera about a week before the Olympics began.

Among his competitors will be India’s Chopra, a now 27-year-old who has won seven gold medals. When they competed against one another at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, people on social media fanned the flames of the traditional rivalry between the South Asian countries and criticised Nadeem for being distracted and not winning a medal while Chopra won gold.

But Nadeem speaks fondly of his rival from India.

“Neeraj and I are on very good terms. Whenever we are abroad in training or an event, we always talk to each other and stay in touch, but when it comes to competition, then you only think of yourself,” the athlete explained. “Look, India is our neighbour. People on both sides say a lot of things about each other’s country, but this is what sports teaches us – to be friendly and that we don’t have to focus on our differences.”

He continued: “I know I have great rivals like Chopra or Peters or others, but ultimately, I compete against myself.”

SOURCE: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/lo...self-meet-pakistans-olympic-javelin-thrower-2
 
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