Sports Desk; Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem was unable to secure a podium finish in the men’s final of the World Athletics Championships 2025, held at Tokyo’s Japan National Stadium on September 18. Despite high expectations following his strong qualification performance, the 32-year-old could not break into the top eight after an inconsistent series of throws.
Arshad, who returned to competition barely two months after surgery for a lingering calf injury, opened his campaign with a throw of 82.73 metres, placing him seventh after the first round. His second attempt was ruled a foul, increasing the pressure to improve his standing. In the third round, he managed 82.75m, only a marginal improvement over his opening throw. A foul on his fourth attempt effectively ended his medal hopes, and he did not advance further.
Earlier in the qualification round, Arshad had impressed with a throw of 85.28m, earning direct entry into the final from Group B and fueling hopes of another stellar showing. However, his lack of consistent training in run-ups — a critical component in javelin throwing — appeared to impact his performance on the night. Speaking ahead of the final, Arshad himself admitted that simply making it this far, given his recovery from injury, was a major achievement.
Meanwhile, the competition for medals was fierce. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott delivered a season’s best of 88.16m on his fourth attempt, securing the gold medal. Grenada’s Anderson Peters claimed silver with 87.38m in his second attempt, while American Curtis Thompson took bronze with 86.67m. India’s Neeraj Chopra registered a best of 83.65m, while his compatriot Sachin Yadav surprised many with an impressive 86.29m throw in the early rounds, though he eventually missed the podium.
Germany’s Julian Weber opened proceedings as the first thrower, followed by Peters, before Arshad entered as the third competitor. Despite his early promise in qualification, Arshad could not replicate the form that once made him a consistent medal contender on the world stage.
For Pakistan, his performance still represents resilience in the face of adversity, as he continues to battle injuries while competing against the world’s best.
