Arshad aims for gold as he leaves for World Athletics Championship

Eyeing World Championship gold, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem on Tuesday evening underwent his last training session at the Punjab Stadium Lahore. Arshad silently entered the venue and went on to start routine warm-up at one end of the facility from where he also usually does his throwing session. He then went upstairs and spent some time in the main pavilion while doing stretching exercises.

He was calm and composed with the Lahore temperature touching 29 degree Celsius. He then returned to the main spot and started training during which he also did some throws. During his training he also took some time out to shake hands with the Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) President Arif Saeed and secretary Khalid Mehmood. Arif also presented him the document of the IOC scholarship which will help him for the next three years until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Arshad also thanked Arif for the big relief package from the IOC.

Arshad was seen in better shape during training and it looks like he has something in him to show again to the world this time despite all doubts, relating to his injury history, at the venue in Japan’s capital where he had finished fifth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Arshad recently underwent a left calf surgery in Cambridge. After successful rehab and training, he returned to Lahore and underwent rigorous training for three weeks and the best thing in him is that he has not complained about any pain during all this time. And it’s a good sign for the athlete who managed a record throw of 92.97m to win gold in the last year’s Paris Olympics.

Arshad always enters into a main event with doubts. He entered the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and subsequent Turkey Islamic Games with injury concerns but emerged victorious in both the events by winning record gold medals.

And he also entered the 2023 Budapest World Championship while having injury concerns but went on to win silver in the global event. And before Paris Olympics he also was facing injury problems and pain but bewildered the world with the monstrous throw which was not seen by anyone before in the world’s most prestigious extravaganza.

“We have been training here for three weeks. We have trained in this weather and in this condition. The physiotherapy we did in England was good and beneficial. We have no complaints as far as the injury is concerned. We focused on conditioning, strength and throwing,” Arshad coach Salman Butt told Nukta in an exclusive chat on the sidelines of the training session.

“It is important to revitalise the mental state of the player after the injury. We have completed all the stages of the training. We have reached here and will leave today,” Butt said.

“Our training will not end here before the competition. We have six days and a schedule there as well,” he said.

“It is tough when it is a competition. But every athlete faces difficulties and injuries. Some are more publicised. Some athletes don't share their problems,” Butt said.

“God will help us. If God willing, we will finish on the podium. We will try,” he said.

Being one of the world’s most celebrated athlete, Arshad may get an edge again over his opponents in the event. Arshad before his surgery in England lifted gold in the Asian Championship in Korea with an 86.40m throw. It might have given an impression that the big man has lost his gloss. But he is expected to prove the people wrong as he was seen quite confident and was in good shape.

“Yes, thanks God I am in good shape,” Arshad told Nukta in a brief interaction.

Arshad will feature in the qualification phase of the World Championship on September 17 with the final to be conducted on September 18.

Arshad-Neeraj rivalry

Former Olympic champion and reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra of India will defend the title. Neeraj also will enter into the event with all doubts relating to his form and fitness. He recently finished at the runner-up position in the Diamond League final in Zurich with a throw of 85.01 metre, much short of the winner Julian Weber of Germany who recorded a superb throw of 91.51 metre to finish at the pole position.

Neeraj has been training under the three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Jan Zelezney since November last year. And hardly six months into the partnership Neeraj produced his personal best throw of 90.23 metre in Doha in the Diamond League on May 16 this year.

However, Neeraj also carries doubts while going to defend his world title.

Julian Weber could be a threat as he is in peak form as he twice hit 91m plus in Zurich.

Two-time world champion Anderson Peters, whose personal best throw is 93.07m, could also be in the reckoning along with Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago who is a strong man and looks in good form.

But the right fight is expected to be seen among Arshad, Neeraj and Weber. But in javelin anything may happen as all prepare well for this event and if someone, who is able to avoid any big mistake on a day and everything goes well, wins the gold.

The weather in Tokyo is like Lahore where Arshad trained but is a bit humid. Arshad, who flew to Tokyo last night, has six days at his disposal and he will get properly adjusted. It is not yet known in which group Arshad will be put. It must be noted that two groups will be formed for the qualification phase a day before the event.