Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Nadeem withdraws from Lausanne Diamond League ahead of Asian Games
Arshad Nadeem is a javelin star from Pakistan who throws a long spear called a javelin very far.
He won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with an amazing Olympic record throw.
Recently, Nadeem decided to skip a big competition called the Diamond League in Lausanne.
He wants to be fully ready for the Asian Games in Japan instead.
Nadeem's coach, Salman Butt, shared this news with everyone.
At the last Commonwealth Games, Nadeem did not do well and finished in ninth place.
Some people said unkind things about his performance, which hurt his feelings.
Nadeem explained that the very cold weather in Glasgow made his body stiff and hard to move.
He also pointed out that other athletes struggled with the cold too, and many made foul throws.
He believes he can do much better and wants to focus on the Asian Games.
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem will skip the Lausanne Diamond League meet later this month to focus on the Asian Games in Japan.
His coach, Salman Butt, confirmed the decision to withdraw from the meet.
Nadeem finished 9th in the Commonwealth Games javelin final in Glasgow, missing the top eight.
He blamed the extremely cold weather in Glasgow for leaving his body stiff and cramped.
Nadeem won Olympic gold at Paris 2024 with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters.
- Who
- Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's Olympic gold medal-winning javelin star, and his coach Salman Butt.
- What
- Nadeem withdrew from the Lausanne Diamond League meet to focus on the Asian Games in Japan.
- When
- The announcement came after the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and before the Diamond League meet later this month.
- Where
- Lausanne (Diamond League), Glasgow (Commonwealth Games), Japan (Asian Games) and Tokyo (World Championships).
- Why
- To be fully ready for the Asian Games after a 9th-place Commonwealth Games finish that he blamed on the extremely cold weather in Glasgow.
Critics
Nadeem and His Supporters
Commonwealth Games performance
Critics
Critics severely criticized Nadeem's 9th-place finish in the Commonwealth Games javelin final, viewing it as far below the standard of an Olympic champion.
Nadeem and His Supporters
Nadeem said the extremely cold weather in Glasgow left his body stiff and cramped, preventing him from generating momentum and run-up; he noted many finalists struggled with the cold and made foul throws, and called the comments heartless and disrespectful.
- Athlete
- Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan)
- Decision
- Withdrew from the Lausanne Diamond League meet
- Reason
- To focus on the Asian Games in Japan
- Coach
- Salman Butt
- Commonwealth Games Result
- 9th in the javelin final; winner Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (89.75m), ahead of Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh
- Recent Form
- 10th at the World Championships in Tokyo last year
- Diamond League Headliners
- Neeraj Chopra, Julian Weber, Anderson Peters
- Olympic Achievement
- Gold at Paris 2024 with an Olympic record throw of 92.97m