ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s javelin ace Arshad Nadeem bowed out of medal contention at the World Athletics Championships, finishing outside the top eight in the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 82.75 meters.
Nadeem, who entered the competition recovering from a calf injury, opened with a solid 82.73m. However, his second attempt was ruled a no-throw, and his third throw slightly improved to 82.75m, still short of the 84.50m cutoff required to qualify for the final three rounds of throws. Only the top eight athletes progress to the final six throws.
Despite a valiant effort, Nadeem's performance was not enough to keep pace with the event’s leading contenders.
The javelin final featured several standout moments. Defending world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada set the tone early with a strong 84.59m throw. The USA’s Curtis Thompson was the first to cross the 85m mark, briefly taking the lead.
The biggest surprise came from India’s Sachin Yadav, who stunned the field with a massive 86.27m throw, pushing him into second place. Kenya’s Julius Yego, a former world champion, impressed with a comeback throw of 85.54m, landing him among the top five.
Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra managed a best of 84.03m in his second attempt and was placed sixth as the field tightened.
Although Arshad Nadeem’s campaign ended earlier than expected, his participation while recovering from injury underscores his determination and continued status as Pakistan’s premier field athlete.
Nadeem, who hails from the eastern district of Khanewal in Pakistan, is one of nine siblings in a modest household. The son of a daily-wage laborer, he showed athletic promise from a young age, excelling in various school sports before specializing in javelin.
A national sporting icon, Nadeem previously claimed silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a remarkable throw of 90.18 meters, a personal and national best.
.jpg)
