Arshad Nadeem’s coach satisfied with Javelin Thrower’s performance in Diamond League

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Lahore: Salman Butt, coach of world silver medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, described Arshad’s performance in the Diamond League in Paris as “satisfactory.”

“If I sum it up in one word, it’s satisfactory,” Butt told The News after returning from Paris. “There are no excuses as everything is transparent. Before heading to Paris, we had only practiced one technique. Arshad had an injury that recurred, limiting our options as there are 15 to 20 techniques,” he explained.

Butt highlighted the challenging journey they undertook to reach Paris. “We had to get our Finland visa first and entered Paris from there. We traveled through Qatar and the Netherlands, spending four to five hours at a train station before a four-hour train ride. It took us 26 hours to reach Paris, and after 48 hours, we had to compete,” Butt recalled.

He noted that the extended break from competition affected Arshad’s initial throws. “He was competing after a year, and the first few throws are all about getting the feel. Additionally, we were unaware that the top three throwers were given a sixth attempt,” Butt said. “Arshad thought he was on his second-to-last throw. But overall, it was a satisfactory performance given the circumstances.”

Arshad managed a throw of 84.21m in his fifth and last attempt, finishing fourth in his first Diamond League appearance.

Looking ahead, Butt expressed optimism about utilizing the remaining preparation time effectively. “We plan to practice five techniques and will return to Paris on July 24. We will make the most of any training opportunities we get there,” he said.

He emphasized the need for continued support from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Sports Board Punjab (SBP) for facilities. “Upon arrival in Paris on July 25, we will resume our routine training, attend the opening ceremony on July 26, and have ample time to train from July 27 until August 5,” Butt added.

Arshad is expected to resume training at the Punjab Stadium on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. “He is tired and will need some time to recover. We will, inshaAllah, start training either tomorrow or Thursday morning,” Butt said.

Arshad remains Pakistan’s sole medal hope for the Olympics, with his personal best throw of 90.18m, achieved at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which also set a new Games record.