Pakistan’s star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, has set an ambitious target for himself ahead of the Asian Athletics Championship, aiming to break the 100-metre barrier. The championship is scheduled to take place in South Korea from May 27 to 31.
Currently in intensive training at Lahore’s Punjab Stadium, the Olympic medalist expressed confidence in his preparation as he prepares to leave for the competition on Thursday.
“I’m flying out tomorrow for the Asian Athletics Championships and will give it my best,” Nadeem said. “My goal is to achieve a 100-metre throw. I’m training hard and, with the grace of Almighty Allah, I believe I’ll reach it someday.”
Following the Asian Championships, Nadeem plans to travel to England after Eid-ul-Adha to continue his training under coach Salman Butt for the upcoming World Athletics Championship.
During a media interaction, Nadeem was asked about recent comments made by Indian javelin champion Neeraj Chopra. Chopra had stated that, despite past moments of mutual respect, he and Nadeem never shared a close friendship.
“I want to clarify that Arshad and I were never close friends. We were always respectful but not personally close. That said, recent events have changed things,” Chopra remarked. “I have good friendships with many athletes globally, not just in javelin but across other disciplines.”
In response, Nadeem chose not to address Chopra’s comments directly, citing the strained diplomatic relations between Pakistan and India.
“I don’t want to comment because of the current situation between our countries. I stand with the Pakistan Army,” he stated.
However, Nadeem did extend his congratulations to Chopra for surpassing the 90-metre mark—a personal best that earned the Indian thrower a silver medal at the recent Diamond League meet in Doha.
At 28, Nadeem continues to be a beacon of hope for Pakistani athletics, with his sights firmly set on new milestones and international success.
