ISLAMABAD: Star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem created history by clinching Pakistan’s first-ever medal at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary, with an impressive throw of 87.82 meters. India’s Neeraj Chopra secured the gold medal with a best throw of 88.17 meters.
Although Arshad Nadeem faced a slow start in the competition, launching his javelin only to a distance of 74.80 meters in his initial attempt, he rallied back with a remarkable throw of 82.81 meters on his second try.
However, it was his third throw that marked a significant breakthrough, propelling the Mian-Channu-born Olympian for a season’s best of 87.82 meters.
Arshad Nadeem’s fifth attempt fell short of the 80-meter mark, yet he managed a distance of 81.86 meters in his sixth and final attempt. The confirmation of his medal came when Germany’s Julian Weber fell short with a final throw of under 80 meters. Additionally, a foul by Jakub Vadlejch in his last attempt secured Nadeem’s position in the final two.
In a bid to surpass his achievements, Nadeem reached a distance of 87.12 meters in his fourth attempt, a result below his expectations.
qualified for the final with his best throw
Earlier in the tournament, he qualified for the final with his best throw of 86.79 meters, surpassing the Olympic benchmark of 85.50 meters.
Nadeem’s recent victory follows his standout performance, where he finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympics, a turning point that significantly impacted his life and persona.
He also secured a fifth-place finish in the previous year’s US World Championship. Notably, he achieved his best throw of 90.18 meters at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, setting a record for the quadrennial event.
Following his achievements, the star athlete underwent elbow and left knee surgeries in London, taking time for rehabilitation. He made his competitive return in May at the 34th National Games in Quetta, where a knee injury setback compelled him to skip the Asian Championship held in Bangkok.
