ISLAMABAD: Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has urged the nation to keep him in their prayers as he braces for one of the toughest challenges of his career the World Athletics Javelin Throw Championship in Tokyo.
Drawn in a formidable Group B for the qualifying round, Arshad faces a daunting lineup of world-class throwers, including Olympic and world medalists, all vying for a place in Thursday’s high-stakes final.
Both Group A and Group B qualifiers will be contested on September 17 (Wednesday evening), with the final scheduled for the very next day, a format that leaves no margin for error. “I request the nation to pray for my success, first in the qualifying round which has a very tough field and later in the finals,” Arshad said in a video message. “I have trained hard and prepared myself, but in such competitions, the prayers and support of my people give me extra strength.”
Since his historic Olympic gold triumph in Paris just 13 months ago, Arshad’s journey has been anything but smooth. Recurring injuries, the most recent being a calf muscle tear requiring procedural surgery, have disrupted his rhythm and training cycles. Yet, through painstaking rehabilitation and relentless preparation, he has fought his way back to full fitness.
“The World Athletics stage is always the toughest,” he admitted. “But I have recovered well from my injury, worked hard in training, and now it’s about giving my best. I know the nation’s prayers will carry me through.”
Arshad’s Group B is stacked with some of the sport’s biggest names. Among them are:
Anderson Peters (Grenada) – Olympic bronze medalist and two-time world champion
Mauricio Da Silva (Brazil) – consistently over 90m
Julius Yego (Kenya) – 2015 World Champion, known as the “YouTube Man”
Curtis Thompson (USA) – a rising powerhouse in world javelin
Rohit Yadav & Yash Vir Singh (India) – emerging Indian throwers with strong potential
A total of 18 athletes will compete in Group B, with the automatic qualifying mark set at 84.50m. If fewer than 12 athletes across both groups achieve this distance, the best performers by ranking will complete the final 12-man field.
Meanwhile, Group A is no less intimidating, featuring:
Neeraj Chopra (India) – Olympic champion and Arshad’s arch-rival
Julian Weber (Germany) – consistently over 90m
Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago) – Olympic gold medalist from 2012
Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic) – Olympic and World Championship medalist
“This is a huge challenge,” Arshad’s coach Salman Butt explained from Tokyo. “For the first time, the qualifiers and finals are back-to-back. Arshad not only has to deliver a big throw in the qualifying round but also manage his recovery perfectly for the next day’s final. Conserving energy while still ensuring qualification will be critical.”
As Pakistan’s lone representative at the global athletics stage, Arshad once again carries the weight of national expectations. His golden throw in Paris gave the country its first-ever Olympic medal in track and field, and millions now look to him with renewed hope.
“Arshad has shown before that he can rise above pressure and outclass the world’s best,” Butt said. “This championship will test every ounce of his grit and determination but if anyone can do it, it’s him.”
