Upon witnessing the javelin touch down during his third endeavor, Arshad Nadeem directed his gaze upwards and a smile graced his lips, a gesture meant for the global audience.
During the World Athletics Championships on Sunday, Arshad delivered an exceptional throw spanning 87.82 meters, marking his best performance of the season. This achievement propelled him from sixth to the runner-up position in the javelin throw final, positioning him just behind India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra.
Chopra established the benchmark during his second attempt with a valid throw that sent the javelin soaring to a distance of 88.17 meters.
Over the subsequent trio of attempts, Arshad endeavored to bridge the gap of 35 centimeters, yet his efforts fell short of replicating the impressive 90.18-meter throw that had secured his gold at the Commonwealth Games the previous year.
In the Hungarian capital, Arshad etched his name into history by clinching Pakistan’s inaugural medal at the biennial track and field spectacle. His second-place finish showcased his potential to bring an end to Pakistan’s prolonged Olympic medal drought during the upcoming Games in Paris next year.
This accomplishment becomes even more extraordinary considering that this marked his first international appearance in a year. Arshad had undergone surgical procedures on his elbow and knee following his gold-winning performance at the Islamic Games. His journey to recovery encompassed a comprehensive rehabilitation regimen.
His prowess was evident when he unleashed a throw of 86.79 meters in the qualifying round on Friday. However, he reserved his finest performance for the final event, despite an inauspicious beginning.
His initial throw achieved height but not the desired distance, spanning only 74.80 meters—a result insufficient for a top-eight placement, essential for progression to the final round.
Yet, similar to his display in the qualifiers, Arshad’s performance improved with each successive throw. The javelin reached the 82.81-meter mark in his second attempt, briefly elevating him to fourth overall. Eventually, he concluded the round in sixth position.
With his third throw, Arshad entered the race for gold, trailing only Chopra, while the remaining competitors—reduced from 12 to 8 after the initial rounds—sought to catch up.
Arshad diligently pursued Chopra, India’s historic first gold medalist at the World Championships. His fourth attempt saw the javelin reach a distance of 87.15 meters. Unfortunately, he fouled his fifth attempt, allowing the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch to claim third place from Germany’s Julian Weber (85.79m) with a throw measuring 86.67 meters.
The battle between Pakistan and India for the gold medal extended to the final round, where Arshad aimed to elevate the stakes. However, his effort yielded a distance of only 81.86 meters. With silver secured, he prostrated himself, marking a momentous occasion as Pakistan finally secured a medal in the world of athletics.
