Arshad Nadeem finishes ninth as Rumesh Pathirage wins Commonwealth javelin gold

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem failed to defend his Commonwealth Games javelin title after finishing ninth in the men’s final at Scotstoun Stadium, missing out on the medal round after the first three attempts. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage went on to claim gold with a huge 89.75-metre throw, which remained the best mark of the night.

Nadeem, who entered the competition as the reigning Commonwealth champion and Olympic gold medallist, struggled to find rhythm in difficult conditions. His opening throw was declared a foul, while his second attempt travelled 77.41 metres. Needing a strong third throw to break into the top eight and stay alive in the competition, Nadeem could only manage 75.39 metres, confirming his elimination from the final round.

Only the top eight athletes after the first three throws advanced to the remaining rounds, leaving Nadeem outside medal contention with a best effort of 77.41 metres.

Pathirage, the world leader had only one valid throw in the final, but it proved enough to secure the Commonwealth title. His remaining attempts either fell short of the mark or were deliberately fouled after it became clear they would not improve his standing.

India’s Neeraj Chopra took silver on his return to the Commonwealth Games after eight years. Chopra began with an 80.97-metre throw and later improved to 85.83 metres, his season-best effort. However, he could not get close to Pathirage’s leading mark. His final attempt ended in a foul after he stepped over the line.

India also secured bronze through Yash Vir Singh, who produced a personal best of 85.41 metres on his final attempt to move into third place. South Africa’s Douw Smit, who had earlier been in the bronze medal position, could not respond with a better throw and finished outside the top three.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters also missed the podium despite a final throw of 83.88 metres, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott reached 82.55 metres in his last attempt.

For Nadeem, the result marked a disappointing end to his title defence, especially after his record-breaking success at the previous Commonwealth Games and his historic Olympic gold for Pakistan.

The final began at 8:15pm local time in Edinburgh, which is 12:15am in Pakistan, with the contest drawing major attention because of the renewed rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra. However, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage entered the medal round as one of the strongest contenders after topping the qualification standings a day earlier.

Ahead of the final, Nadeem appealed to supporters to pray for his success, saying in a social media message that he hoped to perform well and make Pakistan proud. Reports ahead of the event also noted that the Olympic champion had asked fans to keep him in their prayers before the medal contest.

Pathirage led Thursday’s qualification round with a best throw of 82.84 metres. Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished second with 81.29 metres, while South Africa’s Douw Smit followed with 80.84 metres. None of the 12 finalists crossed the automatic qualification mark of 84 metres, with cold and windy conditions affecting performances across the field.

Chopra had qualified in fifth place with 79.61 metres, while Nadeem secured seventh position with a best effort of 78.63 metres. The Pakistan Olympic Association confirmed Nadeem’s place in the final after his 78.63-metre qualification throw.

The final brings together several of the world’s leading javelin throwers, including major championship medallists and top finishers from the Paris Olympics. Nadeem enters the event as the defending Commonwealth Games champion and reigning Olympic champion. He won Commonwealth gold in 2022 with a Games-record throw of 90.18 metres before making history at the Paris Olympics with a 92.97-metre throw, which earned Pakistan its first individual Olympic gold medal and set a new Olympic record.

Chopra, meanwhile, remains one of the most successful javelin throwers in the field. The Indian star has enjoyed a dominant head-to-head record against Nadeem over the years and has won major titles across the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Diamond League circuit.

Despite the focus on the Chopra-Nadeem rivalry, Pathirage’s recent form has added a new dimension to the contest. The Sri Lankan thrower has been one of the standout athletes of the season and will be looking to convert his qualification lead into a Commonwealth medal.

With Chopra already crossing 80 metres in his opening attempt and Nadeem still waiting to throw, the final remains finely poised.