KARACHI: Although all eyes were on Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem to produce the goods, Pakistan’s first medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games came in women’s boxing.

Fatima Zahra, who had guaranteed herself a medal after qualifying for the semifinals of the 60kg event, picked up a bronze after losing to Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh.

Olympian Arshad Nadeem eliminated after first three rounds of javelin final

Under the competition’s format, losing semi-finalists receive the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, in the javelin final, while the world fixed its gaze on the India-Pakistan rivalry of Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem, Sri Lankan Rumesh Pathirage stole the show with a stellar 89.75-metre throw.

Arshad’s best effort of 77.41m was well off the pace, putting him among the four eliminations out of 12 competitors, after the first three rounds. Chopra, meanwhile, managed a throw of 85.83m, putting him in second place.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026