Criticism for Arshad Nadeem After Commonwealth Games Disappointment
Glasgow – Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist in javelin throw, faced backlash following a disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games. Finishing in ninth place with a throw below 80 meters, Nadeem struggled as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage took home the gold, while India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yashvir Singh secured silver and bronze.
The results didn’t come as a surprise. Nadeem only attended one training event in Switzerland ahead of the games, and spent most of his time training in the hot climate of Lahore without direct support from foreign coaches. He trained under local coach Salman Butt, while previous training under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg was absent this time around, leaving him unprepared for the cold conditions in Glasgow.
In contrast, Neeraj Chopra and fellow Indian javelin throwers had robust training support, utilizing their training camp in Biene, Switzerland, and training with foreign coaches in Spala, Poland. This preparation paid off, as India won silver and bronze medals in the javelin events.
Defending his Commonwealth title from the previous Games in Birmingham in 2022, where he threw a personal best of 90.12 meters, Nadeem couldn’t even reach the 80-meter mark in Glasgow’s finals. His performance kept him from qualifying for the final round and dashed hopes for another medal for Pakistan.
Fans were disheartened seeing their champion struggle, especially after Nadeem’s memorable Olympic Gold victory with a record throw of 92.97 meters. His long-time coach, Salman Butt, confessed that Arshad’s performance didn’t reflect his true potential and that he was underprepared for the competition.
Arshad also faced challenges outside of sports. The Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) distanced itself from him after a dispute regarding his coaching staff. A source close to Nadeem indicated that the PAAF and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) didn’t support his training efforts, leaving him to manage on his own. Requests for training assistance went unanswered, and no funds were released to bring in outside help.
“This athlete is self-made, coming from a village and a low-income background, yet he brought pride to Pakistan with his achievements. It’s unfortunate that he couldn’t prepare properly for the Commonwealth Games,” expressed former Olympic boxer Hussain Shah.
Further highlighting the struggles of Pakistani athletes, Fatima Zahra, the first woman from Pakistan to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, mentioned that better training could have led to a gold medal in her category. Nevertheless, she secured a bronze in boxing, marking Pakistan’s only medal in the Games, despite sending a 36-member team.
In the wake of these events, Arshad’s challenges shine a light on the urgent need for improved support for athletes in Pakistan.
