Arshad preparing for Wanda Diamond League

LAHORE: Having missed the June 18 Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland due to a minor calf muscle strain, Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has resumed training and is set to feature in the Wanda Diamond League to be held in Paris on July 7.

Arshad along with his coach will depart for France to feature in the vital event at Paris at a time when Olympics are round the corner.

The event will help Arshad to know where he stands and how fit he is ahead of the Paris Olympics.

His coach Salman Butt told ‘The News’ on Saturday that there is nothing serious about his fitness, adding it was just a minor calf muscle strain and from next week they will start full throws.

“He had a minor strain in calf muscle. Keeping in view the coming Olympics, Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP)decided that it would be good to skip the Finland event as it boosts injury chances when things get tougher,” Butt told this correspondent in a detailed chat.

“After the decision to skip the event, Arshad took three days rest and today is the fourth day since we have resumed training and our next event is the Diamond League which will be held on July 7 in France and we will feature in that,” Butt said.

“His rehab is in progress and results are encouraging,” Butt was quick to add.

“England-based Dr Bajwa told us that we should not do any explosive movement and from next week we will start full throws,” said Butt.

Asked whether Arshad was complaining about his muscle strain during his last training session before the Finland’s trip for the Paavo Nurmi Games, Butt said he was not complaining. “Injuries occur suddenly,” he said.

“The basic issue is that it’s very hot and sweating is too much. We are training in 45 degree celsius. Look today we are training in 38 degree Celsius and humidity is also too much. It’s very uncomfortable. It weakens the muscles due to reduction of salts level in the body,” Butt said.

“And because of this Arshad had that issue at the last moment, although it was not that serious, the doctor said that it was a strain. He got better with a little walk and massage but we did not take risk,” he said.

After featuring in the Paris Diamond League on July 7, Arshad will return home on July 8 before leaving for the Paris Olympics on July 24.

“We will also attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics on July 26 and we will train for ten to 11 days there as the javelin event will be held on August 6,” Butt said.

“It’s enough time to adjust with the local conditions. Dr Ali Sher Bajwa will accompany us during the Olympics. He will also be with us in the Diamond League. We are in contact with him. We have consulted Dr Bajwa and Dr Asad about Arshad’s strain,” he said.

“South African coach Terseus is also in contact but now his role is not the same which was before. He is acting as a sort of well-wisher and we consult him on different things,” Butt said.

“We will do our best in the Olympics. I have been to various major events and this is the eighth or ninth time that I am going to a big event as an athlete or an official,” Butt said when asked how he feels to act as a coach during Olympics for the first time.

“Pressure is normal in such major events and we will work and we will leave the rest to God Almighty,” he said.

Arshad had been handled by Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari as a coach during the Tokyo Olympics where he finished fifth.

Arshad qualified for the Paris Olympics thanks to his silver medal feat in the World Championship in Hungary last year.

Arshad’s best throw is 90.18m which he managed during his historic gold medal winning feat in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.