Arshad Nadeem hopeful of regaining fitness for Silesia Diamond League

After undergoing a procedure on his left calf muscle in Cambridge Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem is set to begin his rehabilitation on Thursday (tomorrow).

Arshad expressed hope that he would regain fitness in time for the Diamond League leg in Silesia, Poland, scheduled for August 16.

“InshaAllah, I will get fitter. Just pray for me and beyond that everything is in the hands of God,” Arshad told Nukta from London on Wednesday.

Just before Arshad spoke to Nukta, his coach Salman Butt shared an update on the athlete’s treatment.

“Arshad underwent a procedure on his left calf muscle at a hospital in Cambridge, UK. He is doing well and will now begin physiotherapy sessions for a quick recovery,” Butt said.

Arshad’s long-time doctor Dr Ali Sher Bajwa, who has overseen his treatment for years, was in the operating theatre when contacted by this correspondent.

Dr Bajwa also visited Pakistan before the Paris Olympics to assess Arshad’s fitness.

Arshad recently arrived in London for a few weeks of training and medical treatment. As one of the world’s leading javelin throwers with a powerful build he has battled various injuries over the years but timely treatment has helped him deliver under pressure.

Injury problems

Before this recent calf issue, Arshad also dealt with elbow and knee injuries as well as recurring back pain.

His focus is now on competing in the Poland leg of the Diamond League. However, given his injury history and the recurring nature of the calf problem, his participation remains uncertain.

When asked if this was an old injury resurfacing, Arshad responded, “It seems to be an old injury.”

Despite these challenges Arshad has had an exceptional season. He recently clinched his first Asian Championship gold in Korea with a throw of 86.40m.

Arshad gained worldwide fame after breaking the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m at the Paris Games. In the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, he secured silver with a throw of 87.82m, narrowly behind Neeraj Chopra’s 88.17m gold-winning effort.

The past few years have been remarkable for the Pakistani star. He first caught global attention by finishing fifth in the Tokyo Olympics. His breakthrough year came in 2022 when he won back-to-back gold medals, first at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a throw of 90.18m, then at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Turkey with an 88.55m throw establishing himself as one of the most formidable javelin throwers in the world.

In early 2023, he added a World Championship silver to his growing list of accolades. However, he later withdrew from the Hangzhou Asian Games due to injury a decision that proved wise as it allowed him time to recover for the Paris Olympics where he cemented his status as a world-class athlete.

A former international athlete told Nukta that top-level performers like Arshad often carry lingering injuries.

“You have to understand the physical load on globally recognized athletes like Arshad is immense and they are often prone to injury. Based on my experience I don’t think he will be able to compete in the Poland leg. But Arshad has a history of excelling at major events without needing prior competition,” the former athlete remarked.