ISLAMABAD: In a detailed and powerfully worded response to the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), long-time mentor and training coach of Olympic record-holder Arshad Nadeem, Salman Iqbal Butt has laid bare a series of facts that have sparked fresh debate over who truly stood behind Pakistan’s greatest athletics success story.
In what can best be described as a fact-driven, logical, and eye-opening reply, Salman Butt categorically maintained that he would continue to guide and mentor the champion athlete “as long as Arshad wants me by his side.” His response to the AFP’s recent ‘Explanation Letter’ offers an unfiltered account of how the federation allegedly left the star athlete to fend for himself while individuals, specialists, and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) stepped in to ensure his journey toward Olympic glory continued uninterrupted.
The News has obtained exclusive access to Salman Butt’s written reply, which unveils previously unknown details about the financial and logistical support behind Arshad Nadeem’s remarkable rise. According to Butt, it was not the AFP, but a well-known sports enthusiast, Zahid Hussain, who personally financed Arshad’s training stints in South Africa, where he honed his skills under the renowned coach Terseus Liebenberg, a period that proved instrumental in his preparation for the Paris Olympics.
Butt’s account further highlights the critical role played by medical experts including Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa, Dr. Asad, and Dr. Rizwan, who provided professional assistance during Arshad’s recovery and rehabilitation phases. When the federation allegedly distanced itself from the athlete, it was the Pakistan Sports Board, under the direct instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that stepped forward to ensure Arshad’s continued access to world-class training facilities. Throughout his statement, Salman Butt documented the numerous challenges and obstacles Arshad faced, ranging from health complications and training disruptions to the lack of structured rehabilitation and institutional support.
In essence, Salman Butt’s reply serves as a damning indictment of the AFP’s inaction and a powerful acknowledgment of the unsung contributors who truly stood behind Arshad Nadeem’s success. His detailed response not only exposes the gaps within the national athletics system but also underscores the personal sacrifices and collective effort that helped transform Arshad Nadeem into an Olympic record-holder and national hero.
“When I began working with Arshad, he was already an 85-meter thrower, a raw talent of immense promise but his understanding of strength training, conditioning, throwing mechanics, and competitive temperament was still developing. Training facilities were inadequate, equipment substandard, and financial backing nearly absent. To make matters worse, Arshad battled serious elbow and knee injuries,” said Salman Butt, appointed Arshad’s coach in September 2021, in his detailed letter to the AFP.
Butt credited financier Zahid Hussain for transforming Arshad’s career. “Amid these challenges, my longtime friend Mr. Zahid Hussain believed in our vision and financed Arshad’s training at the PSB Lahore, later sponsoring two international training camps in South Africa (2022 & 2023) under world-renowned coach Terseus Liebenberg. He also funded Arshad’s medical treatment in the UK on three occasions and continues to support his rehabilitation and professional needs.”
Butt lamented that AFP had ignored the years of consistent progress. “Your recent correspondence seems to overlook four years of structured development. The AFP gradually distanced itself from his training, while the Pakistan Sports Board stepped up as a true guardian of the athlete.”
He expressed disappointment at how his efforts were dismissed. “After Arshad’s world-class performances at the World Championships and the Paris Olympics, I was mocked on television and social media as merely a ‘coordinator.’ Ironically, after his first setback, I am now painted as solely responsible. Such extremes are not familiar in sports. Both praise and blame follow those who stand beside athletes through triumph and adversity.”
On Arshad’s preparation, Butt explained: “Our training resumed on December 10, 2024, following a periodized program to address strength deficits and optimize functional performance. Coach Liebenberg continued providing technical guidance and video analysis, while Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa ensured medical oversight. Dr. Asad Abbas supervised rehabilitation, nutrition, and WADA compliance, supported by PSB’s high-performance dietary program. Dr. Rizwan and the National Hospital DHA Lahore offered biomechanical assessments and medical care free of cost.”
Regarding Arshad’s recent setback, Butt clarified: “He sustained a calf injury on July 4, evaluated by Dr. Bajwa and treated at Spire Hospital, Cambridge, followed by rehabilitation at Warrior Physio, London. Though he recovered well, the hard runway at the Tokyo World Championships aggravated stiffness. Despite this, Arshad still qualified for the final with 85.25m but was limited to 82.65m due to discomfort.”
“In sport, victory and defeat are parts of the same journey,” Butt concluded. “Our evidence-based training approach remains unchanged. The Tokyo result was affected by injury recurrence not lack of planning or effort. My tenure will continue as long as Arshad desires my involvement. Until then, I remain fully committed to his progress, steadfast through both triumph and adversity.”