ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s javelin ace Arshad Nadeem and fellow athlete Muhammad Yasir have qualified for the finals of the javelin throw event at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships, currently underway in South Korea. This marks Nadeem’s return to international competition following his historic gold-medal victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Competing against over 2,000 athletes from 43 nations, Nadeem made an emphatic statement in the A Qualification round, securing a spot in the final with a powerful throw of 86.34 meters — achieved on his very first attempt. He currently leads the 21-member field.
Muhammad Yasir also earned his place in the final with a throw of 76.07 meters in the B Qualification round, entering the final ranked ninth overall.
Trailing behind Nadeem are Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who recorded an 83.71m throw, and Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama with 81.36m.
In a video message shared on Instagram ahead of the qualifiers, Nadeem had urged fans to pray for his performance. “I’m competing tomorrow morning at 6:15am Pakistan Time here in South Korea,” he said, adding that it was his first major event since the Olympics. He also expressed hope to make it to the finals and “make Pakistan proud.”
The final is scheduled for May 31 at 1:10pm PKT.
Other Pakistani Performances
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s fastest female sprinter, Tameem Khan, clocked 12.14 seconds in the women’s 100m heats, finishing 17th.
In the men’s 400m, top sprinter Shajar Abbas ran 47.17 in the heats and 47.38 in the semi-finals, securing 12th place overall. Compatriot Abdul Mueed finished 27th with a time of 50.10 in the heats.
Nadeem, who hails from Mian Channu, remains a beacon of excellence in Pakistani athletics. His 92.97m throw at the Paris Olympics not only earned him gold but also set a new Olympic record. He is expected to head to England next to prepare for the World Athletics Championships in September.
