Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has said that he has not yet decided whether to compete in the Doha Diamond League on June 19, and will make a call within the next 8 to 10 days.
Speaking during a training session at Punjab Stadium Lahore, where he has resumed practice under coach Salman Iqbal Butt following a Hajj pilgrimage, Nadeem said he wants to assess his fitness before committing to the event.
“I will see where I stand after training, then decide,” he said.
Nadeem added that his primary focus this season remains on bigger competitions. “There are very important events in the season. My focus is on the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Athletics Ultimate Championship.”
The 28-year-old also credited a recent performance by a Sri Lankan javelin thrower, who recorded a throw of over 92 metres, for giving him extra motivation.
“The competition has grown, and I need to train accordingly,” he stated.
Nadeem said Hajj left him feeling refreshed and ready to compete.
“I was fortunate to perform Hajj in my youth. After completing it, I feel very light. I have restarted training and it feels like I am picking up right from where I left off.”
Nadeem won the Olympic gold at Paris 2024 with a throw of 92.97 metres, setting a new Olympic record and Asian record, making him Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist.
Before that, he claimed gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with a throw of 90.18 metres, and won silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest with a throw of 87.82 metres, Pakistan’s first ever medal at the World Athletics Championships.
