Arshad Nadeem's former coach Fayyaz Bukhari requests PM for civil award

Pakistan’s experienced javelin coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari, who trained Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem for eight years, has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requesting the premier to recognize his services and confer on him civil award which he deserves.

“Respected and honorable sir, I am writing to request the recognition for my significant contributions to Pakistan’s athletics, specifically in javelin throw, and to claim my rightful consideration for a national civil award in acknowledgment of my role in shaping the country’s top javelin throwers also including Arshad Nadeem,” the letter, a copy of which has been seen by Nukta, said.

“In 2015 when Arshad Nadeem appeared for trials, I was the first to recognize his extraordinary potential. I firmly believed that he could become a world-class athlete and insisted that he received structured training before appearing in another trial.

“After months of my coaching, he successfully managed 70-meter throw marking the beginning of his journey. From 2015 onwards, I remained his official coach guiding him through years of rigorous training and shaping him into a history-making athlete. Under my training Arshad Nadeem achieved unprecedented milestones for Pakistan.”

Bukhari also mentioned in the letter all the events details in which Arshad, his former pupil, did well.

“Despite a coordinator being associated with him after the Tokyo Olympics and training sessions abroad, the core foundation of his throws was built through my years of technical coaching and strategic training,” the letter added.

“Unfortunately, I have never received any financial reward for these achievements. I always considered it my duty to serve Pakistan’s athletics. However, when it comes to a national civil award it is my rightful claim and it should be awarded to me instead of any recently associated coordinator.

“Beyond Arshad Nadeem I have trained numerous national and international athletes including Yasir Sultan whom I prepared as a backup javelin thrower for the Asian Games. Under my training Yasir lifted bronze in the Asian Championship in Bangkok in 2023 by managing a throw of 78.50 meters. He won silver medal in the 2024 International Throwing Asian Championship in South Korea with a throw of 78.10 meters. He secured gold at the National Athletics Championship Multan, 2024 with a throw of 78.84 meters,” he said.

“Currently as national javelin coach I also run my own academy to prepare the next generation of elite javelin throwers including Muhammad Hussain and Yusra for the 2028 Olympics and beyond. To ensure their success I also need financial support for training and development.

“There is overwhelming evidence and articles, photographs and videos across social media and news platforms that confirm my role as Arshad Nadeem’s coach since 2015. Given my life-long commitment to Pakistan’s athletics and my instrumental role in shaping its international success I request an official investigation into this matter and the rightful recognition of my contributions through a national civil award. I look forward to your response and appreciate your time and consideration.”