Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem sets new national record

22-year-old, however, fails to qualify for the finals of the World Athletics Championships

KARACHI: 2018 Asian Games bronze medallist, javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem made sure he makes Pakistan proud as he recorded a new national record at the World Athletics Championships in Doha.

22-year-old was the only athlete representing Pakistan at the event despite lacking a coach. While he may not have achieved his desired distance of 85 metres, he did beat American and German athletes in Group B qualifying round.

According to Arshad, the experience was good, but it did feel a little lonely at times, however, his aim was to give his best in Doha, and he did that as he marked 81.52 metres ­- his personal best and also country's best record in the javelin throw.

"It was good, and I'm just glad I improved, I made a new record, I may not have gone further in the event, but I know I did what I could," Arshad told The Express Tribune.

While Arshad did not meet the automatic qualification distance at the javelin throw event in World Championships for the final which was 84 metres, he did get praise as Pakistan is not known for Javelin throwing at the international stage.

"They were surprised that a participant from a country like Pakistan can do well like this, I know I didn't let us down, I think they liked me," said Arshad, as he finished ninth in his group.

"I'm happy because anything can happen, in fact, the athletes from countries like Germany did not do that well, when they could have done better, they were quite worried after the event, so I feel I made the best of the opportunity," said Arshad. "I know I'm improving despite the fact that I do not get the training that athletes from other countries get, I do not have the same facilities, I don't get to train abroad, and yet I'm here among them. I know I've earned respect in Doha after my performance."

Arshad had trained in Lahore for only two months to produce and visibly better record, while he knows that his competitors at the event had better resources to prepare, and that fact alone makes him more motivated.

"If I can do this after just two months of training, I know I'm capable of going to the Olympics for Pakistan too. My coach really worked hard with me. Others have better training camps too, so I know I'm good, I' extremely competitive, and this drives me, the odds, I can overcome" said Arshad.

However, he was alone in every sense of the word in Doha, without a coach, unlike his competitors. He also picked up an injury. While other participants had their coaches to guide them, Arshad, the boy from Mian Chunnu, Khanewal, was managing himself.

"I got this injury two days after I got to Doha," explained Arshad. "I came here on September 24. But I knew I can pull this off. Being here alone representing Pakistan is an honour and I wanted to make my country proud, I just don't want to let Pakistan down in any way, so I had to fight, and I know I'm a fighter.”

"Yes a coach would have helped, as they can analyze other participants and guide me, but I didn't have a coach. It was a little difficult, but I know my performance was good. In fact, being alone here was a little difficult too, I missed my family and friends and it did get a little lonely at times because when you come with a team it is more cheerful. I've really learned from this experience."

Arshad is looking to improve to 90 plus of a mark in national Games that will take place later this month, and even at South Asian Games.

The injury Arshad has picked, he feels is not as serious as the one he had last year at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and he will be able to recover in a month.

"I'm a simple village boy, I believe in all-natural healing, so I know I'll get back and get in shape soon. Although we never get enough time to recover, I will try my best. In Pakistan sports medicine is a problem, but I know I'll be totally fit for the National Games and South Asian Games," said Arshad.

"Injuries are a part of the sport. Here in Doha too, I was in pain, to a point where I had to sit after my third attempt because my head was spinning. But I'll recover soon."

Arshad said he also missed his idol and competitor, India's Neeraj Chopra, who is also injured and was not at the Championships.

"I kept asking the Indian athlete Shivpal Singh and their coach about Neeraj, I missed him," said Arshad, reminiscing the iconic moment Chopra and Arshad had shared in Asian Games.

Arshad will return to Pakistan as the championships closed on October 6 and he flies out on Monday.