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LAHORE: Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem has opened up on his decision to withdraw from the forthcoming World Athletics Silver Tour, scheduled to begin on 15 July in Switzerland.
The World Athletics Silver Tour is a series of top‑level track & field competitions. The silver level is one of the event’s categories, positioned below the Gold Level and above the Bronze and Challenger levels.
While interacting with the media, Arshad revealed the reason behind his decision.
“I’ve decided to withdraw from the Switzerland event due to a strain in my calf that I experienced during training here,” Nadeem told reporters.
“I don’t want the strain to worsen, so this decision is in the interest of my long-term fitness,” he added.
The Gold Medalist emphasized the World Championship slated to commence in Japan this year, stating that he is leaving for London in a few days.
“My entire focus is on the World Championship, which will be held in Tokyo this September. I’m leaving for London on July 14 to resume training in a more suitable environment,” Arshad Nadeem said.
“The heat in Pakistan is extreme right now, and with the onset of the rainy season, training conditions have become difficult. In this weather, there’s always a risk of injury, which is what happened with my calf,” the 28-year-old said.
Arshad Nadeem mentioned the weather of England, along with upgraded facilities, in a bid to prepare for the forthcoming event.
“England will offer pleasant weather and better recovery facilities, which are crucial at this stage. Coach Salman Iqbal Butt will be accompanying me, and together we’ll prepare for the upcoming challenges.”
“I believe the quality of training and recovery in England will prepare me well for both the Diamond League and the World Championship,” he concluded.
For the unversed, Arshad Nadeem made headlines around the world last year after his gold-medal performance at the Paris Olympics, where he stunned the field with a record-breaking 92.97-metre throw, shattering the previous Olympic mark and etching his name in sporting history.
That throw not only made him the first Pakistani athlete to win Olympic gold in track and field but also the only South Asian javelin thrower to cross the 90-metre barrier.
His recent victory at the Asian Championships also carried historical significance. Arshad became the first Pakistani in over five decades to secure gold at the continental event.
The last time Pakistan won a javelin title at the Asian level was in 1973, when Allah Ditta and Muhammad Younis triumphed in the javelin and 800m events, respectively, in the Philippines.
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