Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem emerged victorious by winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championship held in Gumi, South Korea, crowning himself the new Asian champion.
India’s Sachin Yadav took silver with a personal best throw of 85.16 meters, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama secured the bronze with 83.75 meters. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who led early in the competition, finished just off the podium in fourth place with a throw of 83.27 meters.
Read more: Arshad Nadeem books Asian Athletics final spot with 86.34m throw
The 27-year-old athlete from Mian Channu had a slow start, throwing 75.64m and 76.80m in his first two attempts. He rose to the top with an 85.57m throw in his third round, followed by strong throws of 83.99m and 83.44m. In the final round, Arshad displayed remarkable focus and power, launching the javelin to 86.40m, narrowly missing the championship record of 86.72m by just 32 centimeters.
“I felt pressure early on, but I stayed calm and trusted my training,” Arshad said after the event. “Winning gold for Pakistan at this stage means everything to me.”
The final began modestly for Arshad, placing him sixth among 12 finalists after his opening throw of 75.64m. Other competitors’ initial throws included Japan’s 76.45m and Sri Lanka’s 81.91m. In his second attempt, Arshad improved to 76.80m, but it was his third throw of 85.57m that secured his lead.
Pakistan’s other finalist, Yasir Sultan, competed but did not place in the top five, with throws ranging from 70.53m to 75.39m.
Prominent political figures praised Arshad’s achievement. President Asif Ali Zardari lauded his outstanding performance, saying it brought great honor to Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated Arshad, expressing pride and calling him and Yasir Sultan inspirational figures for the youth. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also commended Arshad and his team for their dedication and hard work, emphasizing the pride of raising the national flag on such an important platform.
Arshad’s series of throws—75.64m, 76.80m, 85.57m, 83.99m, 83.44m, and 86.40m—demonstrated both resilience and peak athletic form, reminiscent of his Olympic record throw of 92.97m in Paris last year.
