Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem is likely to skip two upcoming Diamond League events next month as he focuses on post-surgery rehabilitation in London. The 27-year-old underwent a minor procedure last week to address a recurring calf injury, with the aim of achieving full fitness ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Nadeem was originally scheduled to compete in the Diamond League meets in Silesia, Poland (August 16) and Zurich, Switzerland (August 27-28), but his recovery timeline may prevent his participation.
Nadeem’s coach, Salman Butt, confirmed that the athlete is currently undergoing a two-week rehabilitation program with a physiotherapist in London. “We are now doing rehab work before testing his readiness for regular training,” Butt told Dawn.com. “Our priority is to ensure he is in top form for the World Championships. If he recovers well, we might consider one competition before Tokyo.” The surgery was performed by Dr. Ali Bajwa at Spire Hospital in Cambridge, following an expedited medical assessment.
Road to Recovery and World Championship Ambitions
Nadeem, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, is eyeing a historic trifecta by securing the world title in Tokyo. He previously claimed silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, finishing behind India’s Neeraj Chopra. Butt, who began coaching Nadeem after his fifth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, remains optimistic about his recovery. Before the surgery, Butt had mentioned that Nadeem was pain-free, and the medical team opted for a quick intervention to avoid prolonged disruption.
Despite his limited appearances this season, Nadeem made a strong international comeback in May, winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea with an 86.40m throw. His achievements earned him a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list, recognizing his Olympic success. However, injuries have kept him from competing more frequently, unlike rivals Chopra and Germany’s Julian Weber, who currently lead the Diamond League standings.
Injury Struggles and Future Plans
Nadeem’s career has been intermittently hampered by injuries, affecting his consistency in top-tier competitions. Last year, he withdrew from the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland due to a calf issue but returned for the Paris Diamond League ahead of the Olympics. So far in 2024, the Asian Championships remain his only competition, leaving him absent from the Diamond League leaderboard. With the World Championships as his primary focus, Nadeem’s team is prioritizing a cautious recovery to ensure he arrives in Tokyo in peak condition.