Arshad Nadeem qualifies for Asian Championships final with table topping throw

GUMI: Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem qualified for the javelin finals in the Asian Athletics Championships on Friday in Gumi, South Korea.

Nadeem, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a record setting 92.97 meter throw, topped qualification round A with an 86.34 meter throw on his only attempt. Compatriot Muhammad Yasir also qualified, placing fourth in Qualification round B with a 76.07 meter throw.

“Alhamdulillah qualified this morning for the final competition tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 PM PKT at the Asian Championships,” Nadeem wrote on Instagram following his qualification.

“As always I would need your support and prayers.”

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Nadeem currently leads the 21 man field in the event, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage coming in at second with an 83.71 meter throw in qualifying, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama rounds out the top three with his 81.36 meter qualifying throw. Yasir is entering at ninth.

Earlier this week, Nadeem was named the Best Asian Athlete by Asian Athletics at an official ceremony held in Gumi, South Korea. The award recognised Nadeem’s impressive career, in which he has won four golds, one silver, and four bronze medals, while competing at events such as the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, and South Asian Games.

Following the finals taking place tomorrow, May 31, Nadeem is reportedly heading to England to begin preparations for the World Athletics Championships being held in September.

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