Once known as Pakistan’s top athlete, Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem is now facing strong public criticism after a disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games.
In a 12-man field, Nadeem failed to finish in the top eight to earn three extra throws, missing out on the final rounds after managing a final throw of 75.39 meters far short of his personal best.
Who stole the spotlight in the Javelin final?
In the same event, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won the gold medal with a world-leading throw of 89.75 meters, while India’s Neeraj Chopra took silver at 85.83 meters and his teammate Yash Vir Singh secured bronze at 85.41 meters. For Nadeem, this failure at the Commonwealth Games is another setback in a difficult run that started at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo where he finished in 10th place in the final.
Why is the Olympic Champion breaking his silence?
As harsh criticism grew from fans across Pakistan and local media regarding his fitness and commitment, Nadeem spoke out. He blamed extreme weather, interrupted training, and a lack of support from officials for his poor performance.
Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, Arshad Nadeem said he felt deeply hurt by the harsh criticism he received online and on TV news channels after being knocked out.
‘My coach Salman Butt and I are deeply hurt by the negative comments in the mainstream media and on social media,’ Nadeem said.
‘My request to the fans and the media is not to lose heart and not to stop supporting me. Whatever I have achieved has only been possible because Allah blessed me with the opportunity.’
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Have critics forgotten his years of sacrifice?
Looking back on his journey from a modest background to winning international medals, the Olympic champion urged critics to remember the years of sacrifice behind his success.
‘The respect and recognition Pakistan has received around the world have come through years of hard work. I worked tirelessly while staying in Pakistan,’ he noted.
Did harsh European weather ruin his run-up?
Explaining the technical issues during his throws, the javelin star said his poor result was caused by harsh European weather, which affected his movement and run-up.
‘The weather in Europe was extremely cold, which stiffened my body and I was unable to run properly,’ Nadeem said.
‘The run-up in javelin throw is the main thing, and I could not execute it during the event. You may have seen in many of my previous competitions that my run-up is usually very smooth, but this time it wasn’t because my body had become stiff due to the cold conditions. My fitness was good and my health was fine, but ultimately whatever Allah wills is what happens.’
Can a fresh reset salvage his season?
Arshad missed the Diamond League events at the start of the season. He started his season just two weeks before the Commonwealth Games, competing at the Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern meet in Switzerland. There, bad weather caused similar problems for him, and he finished ninth with a throw of 78.47 meters, behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who threw 87.04 meters.
‘I had hoped the Switzerland event would give me good preparation, but the weather there was wet and the field was tacky, so I could not get the desired result there either,’ he added, while looking forward to resetting his trajectory: ‘I will prepare extensively for the Asian Games and hopefully receive coaching from South African coach Terseus Liebenberg before travelling to Japan.’
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Was Nadeem abandoned by Pakistan’s sports authorities?
While critics quickly questioned Nadeem’s fitness, reports show a very different picture of the lack of support he faced before major events. Unlike top international rivals like Neeraj Chopra, who receive strong government funding and train abroad, Pakistan’s top athlete was mostly left to train on his own.
According to a report by Press Trust of India, tension grew after the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) disowned Nadeem following a major dispute over keeping his longtime coach, Salman Butt. The report stated that both the PAAF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) created major obstacles for him before the Games.
The federation completely cut ties with Nadeem’s training, ignoring several requests for logistical help. At the same time, the PSB held back the funds needed to hire foreign coaches or expert trainers, leaving Nadeem to train in Lahore under strict limits without top-quality equipment or modern recovery facilities, the report stated.
Is systemic neglect plaguing all Pakistani athletes?
Nadeem’s struggle is not an isolated problem in Pakistan’s sports system. Women’s boxer Fatima Zehra, who won a historic bronze medal, Pakistan’s only boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games raised similar concerns about the lack of government support.
Following a long period of poor form in top-level competitions, Arshad Nadeem has dropped to 10th place in the men’s javelin throw rankings, a list currently led by Sri Lanka’s Pathirage.