Arshad eyes comeback after Glasgow setback | The Express Tribune

KARACHI:

Salman Butt, coach of Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, is hopeful his pupil will bounce back from his disappointing performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“I hope he will stage a comeback,” Butt told The Express Tribune.

Arshad endured a rare early exit in Glasgow, finishing ninth in the 12-man javelin final after failing to make the top eight required to qualify for the final three throws.

The Pakistani star had arrived in Glasgow as the defending champion, having won gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a record throw of 90.18 metres.

That victory marked a major turning point in his career. Arshadwent on to win silver at the 2023 World Championships in Hungary before producing a historic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he secured gold with a Games-record throw of 92.97 metres.

However, his form has dipped since his Olympic triumph, culminating in the below-par showing in Glasgow.

Upon his return, Arshad attributed his performance to the cold weather, saying his body had failed to respond properly to the conditions

He also requested his fans to back him, saying he will stage a comeback. Asked about the explanation, Butt said he had not heard the statement.

The coach also remained tight-lipped about the athlete’s immediate training plans, saying he would be in a better position to provide details after Arshad returned to the gym.

“It will be seen when he gets to the gym. In two days, I will reveal all plans,” Butt said.

Arshad now faces two major assignments in September. He is scheduled to compete at the World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Budapest from September 11 to 13, followed by the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

The Asian Games will provide another opportunity for Arshadto add a missing title to his career. He won bronze at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia but missed the 2023 Hangzhou edition because of injury.

He has also won gold at the Islamic Games and Asian Championships.