Javelin standout Arshad Nadeem secured a fourth-place finish at the Paris Diamond League, marking his first international competition of the year. His performance on Sunday followed his withdrawal from an event in Finland due to a minor calf muscle issue.
Nadeem’s impressive throw of 84.21 meters on his fifth attempt placed him just outside the podium, behind Germany’s Julian Weber (85.91m), Grenada’s Anderson Peters (85.19m), and Jakub Vadlejch (85.04m).
Speaking to Dawn.com from Paris, Nadeem expressed satisfaction with his season opener, stating, “Hopefully, I’ll be able to do my best at the Olympics.”
His series included a modest 74.11m first throw, followed by significant improvements with throws of 80.28m, 82.71m, and 82.17m, culminating in the 84.21m effort.
The 27-year-old athlete and his coach will return to Lahore on Monday for approximately two weeks of training before heading back to Paris on July 24, in preparation for the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony on July 26.
“I intend to utilize these two weeks of training to address any shortcomings,” Nadeem added optimistically.
Looking ahead to the Olympics next month, Nadeem aims to achieve a personal best throw, currently set at an impressive 90.18 meters.
Coach Salman Butt echoed satisfaction with Nadeem’s performance, highlighting his swift recovery from knee surgery earlier this year.
“The good news is that his rehabilitation was successful, and he’s now back to competing,” Butt remarked, emphasizing ongoing training and refinement of technique.
The upcoming Olympics will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra, marking their first meeting since last year’s World Championships, where Nadeem secured Pakistan’s historic silver medal while Chopra claimed gold.
Chopra, who did not participate in the Paris Diamond League, has already begun the season strongly with notable performances in earlier competitions.
