Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower and world silver medallist Arshad Nadeem finished fourth in the Diamond League in Paris on Sunday.
Arshad, who returned to a competitive meet after one year since featuring in the World Championship in Hungary last year, managed a throw of 84.21 metre in his last attempt to finish fourth.
His throws break-up is 74.11m, 80.28m, 82.71m, 82.17m, 84.21m. “He has managed a throw in 85 bloc which is good. He will need to boost his morale within one month before Olympics,” Arshad’s former coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari told The News. “He should keep cool and I think his lower body is a bit weak.
“The way he should have managed throws was not seen. There are a couple of areas which I think need improvement and if work is done on those areas then he can overcome in a month time over weak areas,” he said.
“Let’s see how his coach handles his training during the next few days before Olympics,” he said. “If he removes these faults then he will be in a very good position to manage 90 metre plus throw in the Olympics,” Fayyaz said.
Julian Weber of Germany finished at the summit with a throw of 85.91m. His throws break-up was 83.41m, 74.74m, 82.40m, 77.05m, 85.91m and 84.41m. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada ended as runner-up with a throw of 85.19m. His throws break-up was 78.62m, 83.40m, 79.42m, 78.64m, 85.19m and 83.92m.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Wadlejch of Czech Republic wrapped-up the journey at the third spot with a throw of 85.04m. His throws were X, 81.47m, 81.83m, 85.04m, 85.04m, 82.57m. Artur Filfner of Ukraine finished fifth with a throw of 80.48m. Then follows: Andrian Mardare of Moldova (79.30m), Toni Keranen of Finland (79.22m), Kishore Jena of India (78.10m), Edis Matusevicius of Lithuania (77.36m) and Poland’s Marcin Krukowski (75.52m).
Arshad will now return home on Monday (today). He will undergo training here for few days before flying back to Paris to feature in the Olympics. His Olympics meet will be conducted on August 6. Arshad will also attend the Olympics opening ceremony which will be held on July 26.
