Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic champion in javelin throw, is facing intense scrutiny following his underwhelming performance at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. The athlete, who made headlines by setting an Olympic record of 92.97 meters to secure gold at the Paris Olympics, finished in ninth place during the finals on Friday, raising questions about his readiness as he gears up to defend his Olympic title in Los Angeles in 2028.
Nadeem's journey to the finals was a narrow one, as he barely qualified for the 12-man final round. His best throw in Glasgow was 77.41 meters, achieved in his initial three attempts, which unfortunately placed him outside the top eight competitors. This outcome starkly contrasts with his remarkable performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he clinched gold with a record throw of 90.18 meters.
Since his triumph in Paris, Nadeem has struggled to replicate his peak performance. Although he secured gold medals at the Islamic Games in Riyadh and the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea, his throws in those events were significantly lower than what he had previously achieved. His recent performance in Switzerland also failed to impress, culminating in a disappointing outing in Glasgow.
Throughout the competition, Nadeem appeared visibly uncomfortable, with his body language indicating that he was not in optimal form. This has led to speculation regarding the changes in his support system, which have been implemented since his Olympic victory. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has taken over the management of Nadeem, while the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), which previously played a crucial role in his training and international representation, has been relegated to merely handling entries for competitions.
Before his Olympic success, Nadeem had the advantage of a robust support team, including South African coach Terseus Liebenberg and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa, along with coach Salman Butt and AFP officials. Dr. Bajwa expressed his surprise at Nadeem's performance in Glasgow, stating, "I don’t know because I have not been with him this year and I was not in Glasgow. As far as I know, he is physically fit. It’s sad though. The performance is well below par."
An anonymous official from the AFP has suggested that reinstating the previous support structure could be vital for Nadeem's return to form. The official emphasized, "I think Arshad will need to be brought again into a proper system handled by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan. This is the only way that can help him bounce back in global events. We had built a strong team that prepared him for the Paris Olympics, and we believe we can do that again."
Looking ahead, Nadeem has a critical period approaching, with the Asian Games set to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Following that, he will shift his focus to the World Championship in 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where he aims to defend his title. However, significant changes may be necessary for him to regain his competitive edge. Attempts to reach Nadeem and coach Salman Butt for comments went unanswered.
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