Javelin throwers Arshad and Yasir ready for Islamic Solidarity Games

Pakistan is expected to win its first gold medal in the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem will be in action on Monday. 

Along with him, javelin thrower Yasir Sultan will also try his luck in the javelin throw event.

Arshad will be defending his title, and the games record that he created in the last edition in Konya where he posted a throw of 88.55 metres.

There are also expectations of another medal from the 2023 Asian Championship bronze medallist Yasir. 

Arshad, who set a new Olympic record in the javelin throw with 92.97 meters at the Paris Olympics 2024, has expressed high ambitions to perform better in the Islamic Solidarity Games as well. Olympian Arshad Nadeem says that he has worked hard for success and is very optimistic about winning. If the prayers of the nation remain with him, he will once again make the country shine.

Both athletes have reached Saudi Arabia from Pakistan along with Arshad's controversial coach Salman Butt, who received a life-time ban from the Athletics Federation of Pakistan last month due to violation of the election process as he wanted to illegally extend his tenure as the Punjab Athletics Federation president.

Butt engaged Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Pakistan Sports Board to help him keep his place as Arshad's coach. He even got his friends in the Pakistan Sports Board panel of adjudicators that includes Senator Pervez Rashid and Senator Rubina Irfan, a panel that he is a member of, to intervene on his behalf and seek agreement with Athletics Federation of Pakistan.

Arshad also wrote a letter to POA requesting Salman Butt's presence in Riyadh with him.

Meanwhile, Arshad will be looking to perform better as his last outing at the World Championships in Tokyo was less than satisfactory.

He finished 10th there.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan has won two medals in the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games so far. 

Fatima Zahra won the bronze medal by playing in the semi-finals of the women's boxing 60 kg category, while Qudratullah made it to the semi-finals in the men's boxing 55 kg event and managed to win the bronze medal for Pakistan.