Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s top javelin thrower and Commonwealth Games and Islamic Games champion, was upbeat about his chances at the upcoming World Championship in Hungary on Friday.
Arshad and his coach, Salman Butt, will fly to Hungary in the early hours of August 20 (Saturday night) to compete in the event. The qualifying round for the javelin throw will be held on August 25, with the final on August 27.
The Olympian Arshad will compete at the World Championship for the third time.
During a conversation with our correspondent immediately before his training session here at the Punjab Stadium on Friday, the confident-looking Arshad stated that he is feeling great and is hoping that everything will fall into place.
“I am feeling well, and InshaAllah, I will try to achieve the desired result,” Arshad said to The News.
He stated that if he can reach his best throw, he will be able to win gold in Hungary. “If I am able to achieve my personal best throw, then it may get a gold inshaAllah,” Arshad stated.
Asrahd is also pleased with the manner the PSB Coaching Centre Lahore administration and his instructor Salman Butt treated him.
“I’ve been well taken care of here,” Arshad stated.
However, Arshad stated that he is used to it. “I also competed in the World Championship in the United States last year after a one-year absence.” “I’m hoping to deliver in Hungary, and the country should pray for me,” Arshad remarked.
Arshad rose to prominence after finishing fifth in the Tokyo Olympics, an accomplishment that transformed the athlete’s life forever. It not only brought him fame and fortune, but it also changed his personality.
Last year, Arshad finished fifth in the World Championship in the United States. Soon after, he set a Commonwealth Games record with his best throw of 90.18 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
He then had elbow and left knee surgery in London, had some time to recover, and then competed in the 34th National Games in Quetta in May.
Despite failing to demonstrate his fitness there, he managed a gold for his department WAPDA. He took a hard hit in this event when he damaged his right knee, forcing him to miss the recent Asian Championship in Bangkok.
But he appears to be in good health presently. “I’m not in any pain and I’m fine,” Arshad remarked. Meanwhile, his coach, Salman Butt, told The News that Arshad is in good spirits ahead of the worldwide event.
“He is in good spirits,” Butt added. “Yes, one disadvantage is that he is playing in the international circuit after one year, but I hope he will give his best effort and the medal depends on luck,” Butt added. “We worked extremely hard because we train for about two and a half hours every day,” Butt remarked.
“He has achieved top fitness, his conditioning is quite good, and he is ready for the task,” Butt added. Arshad has been training for the World Championship at the Punjab Stadium and the University of Punjab.
According to this journalist, he has only used one javelin, which was gifted to him by former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa after Arshad finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympics. However, he will not bring this javelin to Hungary because it will cost the federation money.
Arshad’s fitness and form will be put to the test at the World Championship. Following this event, he will be Pakistan’s only medal contender in the Asian Games, which will be held from September 23 to October 8.
Butt stated that after the World Championship, they will begin training at the Punjab Stadium for the Asian Games. Arshad will be quite busy in the coming months because he will also compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
