Karachi:
Pakistan’s talented Arshad Nadeem became the first Pakistani to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships when he threw his javelin to a distance of 87.82 meters and finished second in Budapest on Sunday night.
The 27-year-old produced his season’s best performance in the final of the javelin throw behind India’s Neeraj Chopra, who won gold with a throw of 88.17m.
The competition was dominated by two South Asian men, including world number one Czech Jakub Vadlejch, who finished third with a personal best throw of 86.67m.
Germany’s Julian Weber surrendered fourth place after a hard-fought battle.
Before the final, Arshad said that he can see Neeraj and him winning the championship.
The top 12 javelin throwers qualified for the final. It was also the first time that three Indian throwers were in contention for the medal places.
Arshad told in his interview after the qualification round, “I can only say that when we train in Pakistan, we always say that everything is better abroad, we try to compete with these more developed countries. How can you compete with the players?” He was asked how he felt about Chopra and his being the top athlete in the historic European Games.
“I can say that I know I have worked very hard, I have endured a lot of pain and trained with injuries that I know any normal athlete would have given up on. I did it because I wanted to do well. I think I was able to do this because I wanted to make my mark. It’s all a blessing from Allah, that’s my aim, in my heart I know I need to do this, something that no one else is doing. So, I guess that’s how I got here. But we always wondered how these other countries were ahead of us, and it was because they are so much more developed in everything. But we did it.”
Before the final, Arshad said that he can see Neeraj and him winning the championship.
“I think it is a good thing for the sport that we are doing well. May we both win, I want to wish Neeraj bhai all the best,” said the Olympian.
In his own words, Arshad was not feeling 100 per cent fit, but wanted to compete in the championships to secure his place at the Paris Olympics.
He trained in Lahore with coach Salman Butt. His results are also phenomenal because his opponents have much more professional facilities, investment and resources than a heavyweight like Mian Chunnu.
He did so with an impressive performance in the qualification round on Friday, where he topped Group A with a throw of 86.79m and in the process reached the final.
The World Athletics Championships was Arshad’s first event in a year as he spent his time recovering from surgeries on his right elbow and left knee since last December, but also injured his right knee earlier this year.
“I am doing whatever I can to compete well and get results. I am switching things up, but ideally, I would like to be 100 per cent fit and then see where I really need to improve my technique,” said the illustrious javelin thrower, who has a never-say-die attitude. The feeling is amazing. at least.
Arshad started slow, like his performance in the qualifying round, his first attempt was 74.80m, but then improved in the second with 82.81m to climb the leaderboard to fifth place.
After the third attempt, he had to be among the top eight throwers to continue for the next three rounds.
Arshad showed his courage when his javelin flew out of his hand to a distance of 87.82m, which made him smile and get back to his rhythm. He was looking for more gusto as he touched 87.15m in his fourth attempt, though the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion was trying to break 90m here too.
The fifth attempt was red-flagged, but Arshad finished second with his third attempt, which proved enough to confirm his silver medal.
Arshad sought support from the crowd present in the stadium and they did.
Neeraj and Arshad had the last two attempts left for the gold medal.
But the latter only managed to achieve 81.86m, after which he humbly signed off by clapping towards the spectators and bowed down on the track.
He looked a little disgruntled at having momentarily missed the chance to win the gold; But he was also satisfied with all that he had left on the track.
Meanwhile, it was Neeraj’s last attempt but his 88.17m was his best to ensure him the top spot.
In the end Arshad and Neeraj kept their flag high.
Arshad was also one of the first contestants to congratulate Neeraj by saying “Congratulations”.
maturing as an athlete
Arshad looked more in control in the qualification but in the final, he was accused of breaking the 90m hurdle again as he did in the Commonwealth Games, he feels his priority is to get fit first so find out He has matured as an athlete to see how much he has.
Arshad said, “I know I have matured as an athlete because I had to put up with injuries and surgeries and more injuries during this time, but I am looking forward to getting better and focusing on “
Arshad also had to train carefully. Talking about his complete set of exercises, he said that he does almost all the athletic disciplines apart from running, weight training and technique work.
“Actually, I can play almost all athletic sports, eight to nine of them, and I also played football at the district level, I think I was good, if not great. Everyone knows about my short cricket career, but I actually used to play kabaddi as well, a bit of badminton, basketball, table tennis, so I was always inclined towards sports,” Arshad said, adding that He copes with the pressure of expectations. Believes that if he works hard on his skills he can achieve a goal.
