Arshad takes 8th place in javelin throw finals

GOLD COAST: Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem could not click at a stage when it mattered the most when he finished eighth in the men’s javelin throw finals of the 21st Commonwealth Games athletics competitions here at the Carrara Stadium on Saturday.

The Asian Junior Championships, South Asian Games and Islamic Games bronze medalist, who had bettered his national record on Friday in the qualification round of the event with 80.45m throw, fell even very short of that too. His best effort in the 12-man finals remained 76.02m. His attempts in the finals remained 74.46, 73.55, 75.75, 74.91, 76.02 and 73.84. As he had developed a back pain during his life best effort on Friday, every time he completed the throw on Saturday in the finals he was seen holding his back with both hands and pressing it.

India’s Neeraj Chopra won the gold with his season’s best effort of 86.47m. The statistics of his six throws in the high voltage event at the Jam-packed stadium remained 85.50, X, 84.78, 86.47, 83.48 and X. The cross shows the fouled attempts. Australia’s Hamish Peacock claimed silver with a throw of 82.59m.