Olympic Champion Reportedly Leaves for Training Camp Without No-Objection Certificate as Major Competitions Approach
Pakistan’s Olympic javelin throw champion Arshad Nadeem has travelled to South Africa for a training camp without reportedly obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), creating questions about official coordination and responsibility for the athlete’s overseas arrangements.
According to a senior PSB source, Arshad left for South Africa without informing the board beforehand. The athlete is currently training under his coach Terseus Liebenberg as he prepares for two major international events scheduled next month.
A PSB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the development was unusual because international training arrangements involving a national athlete are generally documented through official channels.
“Yes, he has not told anyone and it is something strange,” the source said.
The official added that the PSB had recorded that Arshad departed without receiving the required NOC.
Questions Raised Over Responsibility During Foreign Training
The absence of official clearance has raised concerns over who would be responsible if the athlete faces any difficulties during his stay abroad.
“If he faces any issue, who will be responsible?” the PSB source questioned.
The issue has gained attention because the PSB has played a major role in managing Arshad’s career following his historic Olympic victory in Paris, where he became Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medallist.
Since that achievement, the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has had limited involvement in his affairs, while the PSB and his support team have taken a more active role in managing his training and international commitments.
South Africa Camp Ahead of Major International Events
Arshad travelled to South Africa to work with coach Terseus Liebenberg ahead of two important competitions.
The 29-year-old athlete is preparing for:
- World Ultimate Athletics Championship in Hungary — September 11 to 13
- Asian Games in Japan — September 19 to October 4
The training camp is aimed at helping Arshad improve his technique, regain confidence and return to the level of performance that made him one of the world’s leading javelin throwers.
Recent Performance Raises Concerns
The move to intensify training comes after a disappointing outing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where Arshad failed to qualify for the top eight in the final.
The defending champion finished ninth among 12 finalists, meaning he missed out on the additional three attempts awarded to the top eight athletes.
The result was a major setback compared with his performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he won gold with a record-breaking throw of 90.18 metres.
His recent performances have also fallen below the extraordinary standard he achieved at the Paris Olympics, where he delivered a historic 92.97-metre throw, setting an Olympic record and securing gold for Pakistan.
Although Arshad later won gold medals at the Islamic Games and Asian Championships, his throwing distances have not consistently matched his Olympic-winning performance.
Coach Believes Arshad Can Return to His Best
Despite recent challenges, coach Terseus Liebenberg remains confident that Arshad can regain his peak form.
Liebenberg praised Arshad’s determination and recalled his journey from years of struggle to becoming Pakistan’s first individual Olympic champion.
“All I know is that he persevered for many years to become Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic champion,” Liebenberg said.
He added that after achieving such a historic milestone, it was natural for the athlete to reset his goals and rebuild motivation for future challenges.
“After such an incredible feat it is just natural that he had to once again reset, refocus, set new goals and regain his hunger for success at the highest level,” he said.
The coach described Arshad as mentally strong and expressed confidence that the athlete could once again reach his best performance level.
“He has an incredibly strong mindset and I firmly believe that he will once again regain his best form,” Liebenberg added.
Focus Now Shifts to Upcoming Championships
With major competitions approaching, Arshad’s priority remains improving his performance and preparing physically and mentally for the upcoming challenges.
The South Africa training camp is expected to play an important role in helping him regain consistency and confidence before representing Pakistan on the international stage.
Meanwhile, attempts to contact Arshad Nadeem and his coach Salman Butt for comments regarding the PSB NOC issue were unsuccessful.
