By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem clinched gold in the men’s javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championship in Gumi, South Korea, on Saturday with a commanding throw of 86.40-meter.
Nadeem, 28, started with throws of 75.64-meter and 76.80-meter before surging ahead on his third attempt with 85.57-meter. He sealed victory with 86.40-meter on his final throw, narrowly missing the championship record of 86.72m.
India’s Sachin Yadav secured silver with a personal-best 85.16m, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama took bronze with a personal-best 83.75-meter.
“Arshad Nadeem has once again made the nation proud by making a massive 86.40 meter throw and led the field in the men’s Javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championship in Gumi,” the state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
Nadeem’s victory marks Pakistan’s first gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championship in 50 years. The 28-year-old, who set an Olympic record with a 92.97-meter throw at Paris 2024, came close to breaking the championship record of 86.72-meter.
Pakistan’s Allah Daad last topped the podium in javelin throw and Muhammad Younis won the 80-meter event in 1973.
“This victory belongs to the Almighty first, His blessings, His will. To my coaches, my team, my family, and every Pakistani who prayed for me, this medal is yours,” Nadeem said in an Instagram post.
His coach, Salman Butt, praised the performance but noted room for improvement. “It was a good performance, especially since this was his first competition of the season,” Butt said. “If there had been one day of rest between heats and finals, he would have had more recovery and a better throw. But this is a good start.”
Television footages show the stadium buzzed with anticipation as Nadeem stepped onto the field, with Pakistani flags waving and “Dil Dil Pakistan” echoing through the stands. This was his first international outing since the Paris Olympics last year. After his winning throw, Nadeem dropped to the ground in prostration, a gesture that has become his trademark.
The javelin star’s journey to the final was equally impressive. In Friday’s heats, he cruised through with an 86.34-meter throw on his sole attempt, while teammate Yasir qualified with a 76.07-meter effort. “As always I would need your support and prayers,” Nadeem posted on Instagram after securing his spot.
Nadeem’s gold stands as Pakistan’s lone medal at the championship. His resume already boasts a gold from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and a silver from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Next, he heads to England to prepare for September’s World Athletics Championships, the only major title yet to elude him.
Ahead of the event, Nadeem was named Best Male Athlete of the Year by Asian Athletics, a testament to his growing stature.
Back home, leaders and sports figures hailed the achievement.
President Asif Ali Zardari said Nadeem “has once again brought glory to Pakistan,” congratulating the athlete on his win. “He had excellent performance throughout the championship, including in the final,” Zardari was quoted as saying in a post on X by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “I congratulate the entire nation on this victory and pray for his success in the future.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Nadeem’s hard work, dedication and outstanding success are a worthy example for young athletes. “The glory of the crescent flag has increased after Arshad’s outstanding performance,” Sharif said on X.
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