LAHORE: Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem left for Paris late on Wednesday to participate in the Diamond League to be held in the French capital on July 7.
Before the Paris Olympics begin on July 26, there will be a trial event to check Arshad’s fitness and form.
Arshad recently missed an event in Finland due to a calf strain he developed before flying to Finland.
The management and its federation decided to hold the event to watch the Paris Olympics, where Arshad was Pakistan’s only hope of winning a medal. Dr Ali Sher Bajwa, Arshad’s doctor based in UK also came to Pakistan and checked his health and was happy that Arshad is fine.
Bajwa was also supposed to send Arshad to Paris for the Diamond League. Dr. Bajwa will accompany Arsha to the Paris Olympics. He has been in a relationship with him for the past few years and accompanied him to the 2022 World Cup in the USA.
Recently, Arshad underwent laser surgery on his right knee in England.
Arshad’s coach Salman Butt is optimistic about Arshad’s fitness and looks.
“Yes, he’s doing well now. It’s deserved. “We’ve done the job and let’s see how it goes,” he said.
Arshad trained in hot weather at the Punjab Stadium on Wednesday morning. Arshad, Butt and Dr Bajwa have to leave from here for Paris at 3 pm for the Diamond League. An invitational event where the best athletes in the world compete. This brings good money. After a year, Arshad will participate in any event.
After winning a silver medal at the World Championships in Hungary last year, Arshad had missed several events, including the Hangzhou Asian Games, due to a knee injury. He struggled to regain fitness and eventually underwent surgery in England, which helped him recover.
Arshad, who featured in the Diamond League, will return home on July 8 and spend a few days training in Lahore before returning to Paris on July 24 for the Olympics. Arshad will be around 12 days away from the August 6 Olympics. Arshad’s personal best throw is 90.18 meters which he managed in 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He finished fifth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
