Unlucky: Pakistan coach Bukhari faces setbacks despite nurturing javelin talent

By Alam Zeb Safi
Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari’s journey as a javelin coach has been marked by dedication, results and an enduring streak of misfortune.
Widely regarded as a sincere and committed figure in Pakistan’s athletics circles, Bukhari has worked with some of the country’s leading throwers including Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and national No 2 Yasir Sultan. Yet, despite tangible progress under his guidance, his coaching stints have repeatedly ended in abrupt and puzzling circumstances.
Bukhari coached Nadeem for several years, playing a central role in his rise to the global stage. Under his supervision, Nadeem qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and delivered an impressive fifth-place finish, an achievement widely hailed as a breakthrough for Pakistan in track and field.
However, soon after that milestone, Bukhari was removed from his role.
He was replaced by Salman Butt, under whom Nadeem went on to secure major accolades, including a silver medal at the World Championships and a historic gold at the Paris Olympics 2024. During this period, South African coach Terseus Liebenberg also played a key role in refining Nadeem’s technique, contributing significantly to his evolution into a world-class athlete.
Following his removal from Nadeem’s camp, Bukhari, who serves as a senior coach with WAPDA, was assigned Yasir Sultan. At the time, Yasir had been struggling to break beyond the 75-metre mark.
Under Bukhari’s coaching, Yasir showed marked improvement, achieving a personal best throw of 79.93 metres at the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok where he secured a bronze medal, his first at the continental level. Despite this progress, Yasir narrowly missed a podium finish at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Over the past two years, Yasir has managed to win a few medals on the international circuit, though largely at lower-tier events that did not significantly elevate his standing as an athlete. More concerning for Pakistan’s athletics authorities has been his inability to approach his personal best again.
In a recent development that has stirred debate within the athletics community, Yasir formally requested the WAPDA Sports Board to appoint a new coach. Initially proposing a former hurdler, Khalil, Yasir was advised to opt for a more experienced hand. Consequently, Rafique Ahmed, also from WAPDA, was appointed as his new coach. However, he has no such experience as a javelin coach at the top level.
Sources said that Yasir had expressed doubts about his future progress under Bukhari, telling a vital source close to the AFP that he could not improve further with him. The claim has raised questions, particularly given Yasir’s most notable performance came during Bukhari’s tenure.
A vital figure, close to the AFP, also held discussions with both coach and athlete. According to sources, Bukhari attributed Yasir’s stagnation to a lack of focus while Yasir maintained that a change in coaching was essential for his growth.
The source close to AFP, was concerned by Yasir’s plateau despite ample international exposure.
For Bukhari, the latest setback adds to a pattern that has defined his career. Despite his contributions, he has often found himself sidelined at critical junctures.
Those close to him describe him as a coach who has served without seeking personal gain. In fact, Bukhari is said to have told federation officials that he would welcome any opportunity for Yasir to train abroad if it could benefit the athlete’s development.
Yasir’s decision to directly approach WAPDA for a coaching change, however, has raised many eyebrows.
Despite the disappointment, Bukhari remains deeply invested in the sport. He continues to train a group of young athletes, including his sons Hussain and Mohsin, whom he hopes will carry forward Pakistan’s javelin legacy.
Sources say that while Bukhari is unhappy with the manner in which Yasir sought his replacement, he remains resolute in his mission to develop the next generation of elite throwers and contribute to Pakistan’s future successes on the global stage.
Bukhari had also written to the PSB and IPC in the past requesting it to offer a solid contract for his services but he was not awarded any such decent contract.