LAHORE: Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower, continued his fine performance as he earned gold medal at the Imam Raza Athletics Cup in Iran.

According to the information received here from Mashhad on Tuesday, the 24-year-old Arshad in the process set a new Pakistan record by throwing the javelin at a distance of 86.38 metres to claim the gold medal in Mashhad where the event was staged.

Besides setting the Pakistan record, the Khanewal-born Arshad also improved his South Asian Games record (86.29 metres) set during the 2019 edition held in Nepal where he won gold to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics will be held in July-August this year after last year’s postponement due to Covid-19.

Czech Republic’s Jan Železný, now retired, holds the javelin throw world record (98.48 metres) set in 1996.

Now Arshad will leave for Turkey for three-month training under Kazakhstan coach Victor, who is already working with the Pakistan athlete online.

Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Pakistan congratulated Arshad for producing excellent show in the Iran event.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2021