Arshad ready to go for World Championship gold

By Alam Zeb Safi (Nukta)
With his sights set on the World Championship gold, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem completed his final training session on Tuesday evening at Punjab Stadium Lahore, just a few hours before his departure for Tokyo.
Arshad arrived quietly, beginning his warm-up at one end of the facility, his usual spot for throwing practice. He then moved upstairs before heading down to the main pavilion where he focused on stretching exercises. In Lahore’s 29°C temperature he appeared calm and composed throughout the session.
He soon returned to the field and began his main training which included multiple throws. During a brief break Arshad greeted Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) President Arif Saeed and Secretary Khalid Mehmood. On this occasion Arif Saeed presented him with the IOC scholarship document, a support package set to assist him in his preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Arshad expressed gratitude for the much-needed support from the International Olympic Committee.
Looking physically strong and mentally focused, Arshad’s throwing rhythm appeared sharp, indicative of a man ready to prove himself once again on the world stage. Arshad, who will compete at the venue where he finished fifth in the 2020 Olympics, seemed confident and in peak condition.
The other month Arshad underwent surgery on his left calf in Cambridge. Following a successful rehabilitation and intensive training he returned to Lahore without reporting any lingering pain, a promising sign for an athlete who holds the South Asian record with a 92.97m throw, which earned him gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Historically, Arshad has entered major competitions under an injury cloud but has repeatedly defied expectations. He clinched gold at both the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Turkey, despite fitness concerns. Similarly, he secured silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, again while managing injury issues. And just before his Paris triumph, he was battling pain—only to deliver a throw that stunned the world.
“We’ve been training here for three weeks,” said Salman Butt, Arshad’s coach, in an exclusive conversation with Nukta on the sidelines of the session.
“The physiotherapy and rehab went well, and we’ve had no injury complaints since. We focused on conditioning, strength, and throwing.”
Butt emphasized the mental aspect of recovery: “Rebuilding an athlete’s mental strength after injury is critical. We’ve completed all the training phases, and now we’re ready to go. Our training continues—even when we arrive in Tokyo, we have six days and a structured schedule ahead.”
On the pressure of elite competition, he added: “Every athlete faces challenges—some talk about them, others don’t. But we trust in God. If all goes well, we’re aiming for the podium.”
As one of the world’s most celebrated javelin throwers, Arshad may once again have the edge. Although his 86.40m gold-winning throw at the Asian Championships in Korea raised doubts about whether he had peaked, his current form suggests otherwise.
“Yes, thank God, I’m in good shape,” Arshad told Nukta briefly.
Arshad will compete in the qualification round of the World Championships on September 17, with the final scheduled for September 18.
His primary rival is India’s Neeraj Chopra, reigning world and former Olympic champion, who enters the event with his own fitness uncertainties. Neeraj recently finished second in the Diamond League Final in Zurich with a throw of 85.01m, falling short of Germany’s Julian Weber, who claimed the top spot with a massive 91.51m.
Since November last year, Neeraj has been training under javelin legend Jan Železný, a three-time Olympic champion and world record holder. The partnership bore early fruit when Neeraj threw a personal best of 90.23m in the Doha Diamond League on May 16.
Still, Chopra too carries question marks as he prepares to defend his world title.
Julian Weber remains a major threat, currently in peak form, having thrown over 91 meters twice in Zurich. Also in contention is Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion with a personal best of 93.07m, and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, known for his strength and consistent form.
Ultimately, the top contenders are likely to be Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra, and Julian Weber. But in javelin, anything can happen. With razor-thin margins and elite preparation across the field, the athlete who avoids major mistakes and executes on the day will take gold.
Tokyo’s weather is comparable to Lahore’s but slightly more humid. Arshad, who flew out last night, has six days to acclimatize before the competition begins. The qualification groups will be announced a day prior to the event.
credit (nukta.com)