Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem is making a determined return to international athletics, setting his sights on gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea later this month.
Scheduled to compete in the javelin throw final on May 31, Nadeem has been training intensely at Punjab Stadium, Lahore, following a five-month regimen after his historic Paris 2024 triumph.
"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 star, known for his calm focus and explosive power, has already collected four gold medals across global competitions. Yet, he remains hungry for more.
"My goal is to win gold in events where I haven’t yet — the World Championship, Asian Championship, Asian Games, and Diamond Leagues," he said.
"Eventually, my full focus will shift to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028."
Coach Salman Iqbal Butt shared optimism about Nadeem’s current form. "The results from the past five to six months of training have been encouraging," he said.
"We don’t look at events as big or small — every competition matters. Pressure is part of the job, and it often brings out the best."
Ahead of the World Championship in September, Nadeem plans to participate in two to three international competitions to fine-tune his form.
With national pride riding on his broad shoulders, all eyes are now on Korea as he takes the first step toward another golden chapter.
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