Once celebrated as the crown jewel of Pakistan’s athletic landscape, Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has found himself at the epicenter of intense public backlash following a dismal performance at the Commonwealth Games (CWG). Failing to advance to the final eight in a 12-man field, Nadeem logged a best effort of just 75.39 meters, far below his personal best and insufficient to earn the three extra throws granted to top-tier contenders.
The event saw Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pahthirage claim gold with a world-leading 89.75-meter throw, while India’s Neeraj Chopra took silver with 85.83 meters and compatriot Yash Vir Singh secured bronze at 85.41 meters. For Nadeem, the CWG failure marks another low point in a turbulent cycle following last year’s World Championships in Tokyo, where he finished 10th in the final.
As fans across Pakistan and sections of the mainstream media raised harsh questions regarding his fitness and commitment, a wounded Nadeem broke his silence, pointing to extreme weather conditions, broken preparation, and systemic neglect.
HEAT FROM FANS, COLD ON TRACK
Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, Arshad Nadeem expressed deep pain over the sharp narrative that unfolded online and in television studios following his elimination.
“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.”
Reflecting on his journey from humble beginnings to international podiums, 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.
Addressing the technical breakdowns during his throws, the javelin star attributed his underwhelming mark to harsh European weather that compromised his physical movement and approach run.
“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.”
Arshad missed the Diamond League events at the start of the season. He began his season only two weeks before the Commonwealth Games, competing at Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern meet in Switzerland. He suffered similar setbacks due to inclement weather, where he finished ninth with a throw of 78.47 meters behind Germany’s Julian Weber (87.04m).
“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.”
HAS PAKISTAN FAILED ARSHAD?
While critics have been quick to challenge Nadeem’s conditioning, reports paint a starkly different picture of the structural isolation he faced leading into major events. Unlike elite international rivals such as Neeraj Chopra, who benefit from substantial government funding and overseas training camps, Pakistan’s premier track-and-field athlete was largely left to navigate his preparations alone.
According to a Press Trust of India report, tension brewed after the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) disowned Nadeem following a sharp feud over the retention of his long-time coach, Salman Butt. The report claimed that both the PAAF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) created significant hurdles ahead of the Games.
The federation distanced itself entirely from Nadeem’s training, ignoring multiple requests for logistical support. Meanwhile, the PSB withheld funds required to hire foreign coaches or specialized trainers, leaving Nadeem to train under restrictive circumstances in Lahore without world-class equipment or modern recovery infrastructure, the report claimed.
Nadeem’s plight is not an isolated incident within Pakistan’s sports hierarchy. Female boxer Fatima Zehra, who brought home a historic bronze medal, Pakistan’s sole boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games, echoed similar grievances regarding the lack of state backing.
Following a prolonged lean patch at the highest level, Arshad Nadeem has slipped to No. 10 in the rankings for men’s javelin throwers, a list headed by Sri Lanka’s Pathirage.
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