From mentor to father of hope: Bukhari’s enduring role in shaping Pakistan’s javelin future

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Pakistan’s renowned javelin coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari has played a key role in establishing Arshad Nadeem as a world-beater.
Fayyaz, who serves WAPDA as a coach, trained Arshad for eight years and developed him from around 50 metres to 86.38 metres just before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where Arshad finished fifth and shot to fame.
Before heading into the Tokyo Olympics, Arshad had a 90-metre throw in him — it was only a matter of time before he delivered it.
During their eight-year association, Fayyaz built such a strong connection with his pupil that he understood him completely, including his mindset and competitive temperament. Arshad, in turn, responded wholeheartedly to his coach’s sincere efforts in shaping his career. He held Fayyaz in high regard and diligently followed every training plan given to him.
That foundation is reflected today as Arshad stands among the world’s top javelin throwers, highlighted by his Olympic record throw of 92.97 metres at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite his dedicated service, Fayyaz was not retained after Tokyo. Following Arshad’s fifth-place finish, he was replaced by Salman Butt. Butt inherited an athlete already on the brink of breaking the Olympic record, a feat Arshad eventually achieved in Paris.
It did not come as a surprise to those who had closely followed his progress. Arshad had developed that range while working under Fayyaz, though he had not yet produced it on the biggest competitive stage.
Before the Tokyo Games, while competing in Iran, Arshad had told Fayyaz of his desire to break the 90-metre barrier. However, they decided to focus on winning a gold medal in Iran and target the 90-metre mark in Tokyo Olympics as part of their strategy. The plan did not materialise, as Arshad finished fifth with a throw of 84.62 metres in Tokyo, well short of their ambitious goal.
Three years later, however, he surpassed even that target, breaking the Olympic record in Paris, a feat that transformed his life.
Arshad is now a globally recognised athlete, handled by Salman Butt along with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), which played a key role in nurturing him during his decade-long development phase, now primarily facilitates his participation in international events.
What happened with Fayyaz after Tokyo Olympics has not dented his resolve. He continues to contribute to Pakistan’s javelin landscape. Besides working with Yasir Sultan, he is training his sons, Hussain Bukhari and Mohsin Bukhari.
Hussain, the elder son, possesses the qualities of a future star while Mohsin has also shown remarkable promise. It appears that Fayyaz may stage a major comeback — this time not merely as a coach, but as the father of two potential world-beaters in the years ahead.
Hussain has displayed signs of technical refinement, with a strong run-up, sound technique and effective follow-through — traits that could serve him well in the future. His ambition is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He has even set up an “Olympic room” at his home in Lahore’s Shahdara area, reflecting his passion and determination.
Hussain dreams big and believes hard work will turn those dreams into reality. Both brothers train regularly under their father at the Punjab Stadium and the Government College University Ground.
“I have been developing with each passing day and, InshaAllah, I will manage a 90-metre throw in the future,” Hussain told thecricketplus.com.
Hussain, a dedicated student who aims to pursue graduation in Artificial Intelligence, is disciplined in his approach to training. Mohsin, though comparatively raw, is inventive and rapidly improving.
The two brothers represent a bright future for Pakistan provided they remain injury-free and receive proper state backing. If not in 2028, they could well represent the country at the 2032 Olympics. A major advantage for them is the guidance of their father and mentor, Fayyaz Bukhari, who is fully focused on their development.
“Both are, MashaAllah, developing fast,” Bukhari said.
“Hussain has matured and is progressing quickly while Mohsin is more creative. I hope both will succeed,” he added.
With adequate federal government support including overseas training exposure the two young athletes have the potential to follow in Arshad Nadeem’s footsteps and carry Pakistan’s javelin legacy forward.