Uncertainty surrounds Arshad Nadeem's participation in Neeraj Chopra Classic

India’s former Olympic and reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra has invited Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem for Neeraj Chopra Classic to be held in Bengaluru on May 24 but neither Arshad nor his coach Salman Butt has confirmed it.

“Ask coach Salman Butt sahib,” Arshad told Nukta in a brief message when this correspondent asked him whether he has been invited by Neeraj for the event.

Meanwhile, Salman Butt said that he does not know anything about the event in India.

“We have not received any such invite so far and we will think about it when we are approached,” Butt told Nukta.

Earlier, Neeraj had said that he has also invited Arshad.

“Yes, I have spoken to Arshad Nadeem. He said he would discuss it with his coach and confirm. But as of now, he has not confirmed. Once the athletes confirm I will be able to share the final list. Every top athlete has been invited, and Arshad has also been invited. (If he competes), it will involve the government, so once everything is confirmed, we will know the final list," Neeraj told a virtual news conference.

The world’s top athletes including two-time world champion Anderson Peters and Yulius Vego are expected to feature in the event.

Meanwhile, Arshad Nadeem and Pakistan No.2 javelin thrower Yasir Sultan have been training hard at Lahore for their future targets.

Eyeing Asian title

Yasir is immensely focused and has been doing workout since long for achieving his goals while Arshad has also been seen undergoing training since resuming his workout recently.

Arshad is set to rejoin the camp on Wednesday or Thursday after having taken an off for a few days. The next few weeks are very vital for him if he is to feature in the Asian Championship which will be held in Gumi, South Korea, from May 27-31.

"Yes, Asian Championship is our target," Arshad’s coach Salman Butt told Nukta.

"Arshad will come to Lahore by Wednesday or Thursday and then we will resume training. It's not an issue if an athlete goes to his home for a few days or on weekend," Butt said.

"He is in shape. The last few weeks are important and we will do some good preparation," Butt said.

Under the supervision of Butt, Arshad won the 2024 Paris Olympics javelin gold which is a massive achievement by managing a record throw of 92.97 meters.

Following such a major achievement Arshad remained busy in celebrations and eventually a couple of months back he returned to the training field at the Punjab capital to prepare himself for future international engagements.

Besides the Asian Championship, Arshad's another major goal is the World Championship which will be held in Tokyo in September.

Arshad will aim to secure gold in that event. Arshad had lifted silver in the 2023 edition of the World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, with a throw of 87.82 meter.

Meanwhile, Yasir has been too consistent in his training. The continental bronze medalist is undergoing training under his coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari since long at the Punjab Stadium.

According to his coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari, he is ready for pulling off a huge breakthrough.

"Yasir is ready to give a huge breakthrough. He is in the 82 to 85-meter phase. He is in good rhythm and very soon he will give surprise to everyone," Bukhari told Nukta.

"The other day I tested him and thanks God he is in a perfect position to manage a big throw," Bukhari said.

Yasir's immediate target is the Imam Reza Cup to be held in Mashhad, Iran, from April 25-26.

However, till today its confirmation has not been made.

There is finding issue and this correspondent has learnt that Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) is waiting for state funds for the purpose.

"Yes, funding is an issue and we are waiting for any such positive response today," a source told this correspondent.

The source said that visa is not an issue, adding it can be managed within no time.

Any immediate event will be important for Yasir to check his status and the intensity of training he has passed through in recent months.

He has stuck around 79m plus and its high time for him to show to the authorities that he has the chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

At home he had an opportunity to prove himself as a major athlete in the National Games which were scheduled in Karachi next month, but its eleventh-hour postponement has unsettled the plans of athletes and their management.

The country’s other major athlete Shajar Abbas, who has switched over to the 400m from 100m, will be going with Yasir to Iran for the Imam Reza Cup which will be held in Tehran.

Iran Athletics Federation confirmed to Nukta that the Cup will be conducted from April 25 to 26.