Pakistan‘s Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem is determined to return to international athletics, eyeing gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea later this month.
Marking his May 31 debut at the final in the javelin throw in Seoul, South Korea, the country’s newest national hero trained diligently at Lahore’s Punjab Stadium, after months of training schedule upon his milestone Paris 2024 victory.
“This is the first major event after the Olympics, and I’ve been working hard for the past five months,” said Nadeem, whose 92.97m throw earned Pakistan its first-ever individual Olympic gold medal.
“I do not compete with anyone else; my competition is with Arshad Nadeem himself.”
The 28-year-old javelin sensation, known for his tranquil concentration and bursting energy, has already won four gold medals in international competitions.However, despite his achievements, he hungers for more.
“My dream is to win gold in categories where I have not yet, the World Championship, Asian Championship, Asian Games, and Diamond Leagues,” he mentioned.
“Soon, my entire concentration will be on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.”
Coach Salman Iqbal Butt conveyed optimism regarding the current form of Nadeem. “Results of the past five to six months of work have been impressive,” he reported.
“We do not consider tournaments as big or small, any competition is a big deal. The line of duty often involves pressure, and it often makes or breaks individuals.”
Before the September World Championship, Nadeem will play two to three international events to sharpen his strokes. Meanwhile, with national honor on his wide shoulders, all eyes are presently on Korea as he embarks upon yet another golden chapter by taking the first step.
