Javelin thrower Arshad into finals, seeks gold

GOLD COAST, Australia: A couple of years ago, Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem told this correspondent that he can do anything in international circuit. And the Mian Channu-born former IAAF Under-20 world No 3 produced something majestic here on Friday at the first hurdle of the men’s javelin throw event of the 21st Commonwealth Games, writes Alam Zeb Safi.

Arshad, who rarely feels any pressure, created a new national record by inking an 80.45 metre throw at the Carrara Stadium to qualify for the finals. In fact Arshad, from WAPDA, bettered his own record which was 78.33m which he set in the 2016 South Asian Games athletics event in Guwahati, India, which had also fetched him a bronze medal.

After a fouled first throw, Arshad managed an impressive second throw which was enough for him to progress to the finals. As per the rules, 78m was the qualifying performance. Of the 12 athletes whoqualified for the finals, Arshad trails at the second position. As many as 24 athletes took part in the qualification phase who had been bracketed in two groups.

Australia’s Hamish Peacock inked an 81.22m throw in his third attempt. If Arshad clicks in the finals to be held on Saturday (today), it would bring Pakistan’s athletics back on the victory stand of the quadrennial event after a few decades.

Arshad said he would fight for the gold. “My effort in the qualifying round was good and I will try to win a gold medal tomorrow,” Arshad told ‘The News’ here after his fantastic effort.However, the bad news was that he also felt pain in his back.

“I feel serious pain in my back, but I will try my best to gift a gold to my nation,” the athlete said.Pakistan had last time grabbed three bronze in athletics in the 1966 Kingston Jamaica Commonwealth Games.

In 1954 Vancouver Commonwealth Games, Pakistan had claimed one gold, one silver and one bronze in athletics. In 1958 Cardiff edition, the country had snared two silver and a couple of bronze medals.

The qualifying round show from Arshad also impressed the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) president Major Gen (retd) Akram Sahi.“No doubt, it’s a great effort and we are looking forward to see another fine effort from Arshad in the finals tomorrow,” Sahi told ‘The News’.

Besides snaring bronze in the South Asian Games in India in 2016, Arshad also claimed bronze in the Asian Junior Championships in Vietnam the same year. And in 2017 Baku Islamic Games, he earned bronze.