Amid Criticism In Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem Decides to Skip Next Diamond League
News sports other-sports Amid Criticism In Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem Decides to Skip Next Diamond League Amid Criticism In Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem Decides to Skip Next
News sports other-sports Amid Criticism In Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem Decides to Skip Next Diamond League Amid Criticism In Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem Decides to Skip Next Diamond League Published By, Last Updated: August 12, 2026, 20:01 IST Arshad Nadeem, after poor CWG performance, skips Diamond League. He will train in South Africa for Asian Games and will next compete in World Athletics Ultimate Championships. Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem. (AFP) After a poor performance in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has decided to skip the Diamond League meet in Lausanne, scheduled for later this month. Nadeem, the Paris Olympics Gold medalist, is currently training in Lahore and will soon travel to South Africa to train for a few weeks under his coach, Terseus Liebenberg, and local trainers.
According to his personal trainer, Salman Butt, Nadeem wants to prepare his body for the Asian Games in Japan in September. His next appearance would come at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships, to be held in Budapest from September 6 to 14. Nadeem looked out of sorts at the CWG and failed to qualify in the top eight in the cold and windy conditions in Glasgow. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage took the top spot with a throw of 89.75 metres, while India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh won Silver and Bronze, respectively. It led to severe criticism of him in Pakistan, prompting the athlete to defend himself on social media. “I don’t want to offer excuses for what happened, but those making hurtful and disrespectful comments about me should realise that I am a son of the soil and have brought medals for this country in the past," Nadeem said.
“My parents have brought me up to remain grounded and never forget my roots. I am not arrogant because of money or fame. It becomes very difficult for a Javelin Thrower to keep his body muscles and rhythm consistent and fluid during the throws because of the cold," he added. Meanwhile, blame was also thrown on the Pakistani authorities. PTI reported that the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) distanced itself from Nadeem after a dispute over retaining coach Salman Butt, leaving the Olympic champion to manage his preparations largely on his own. The Pakistan Sports Board also allegedly withheld funds for foreign coaches, forcing Arshad to train in Lahore under Butt despite the starkly different conditions in Glasgow.
The BriefWire