GUMI, SOUTH KOREA (Kashmir English): Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem and up-and-coming javelin thrower Yasir Sultan have made it to the final round of the javelin event at the Asian Athletics Championships.
Arshad led Group A with an outstanding first throw of 86.34 metres, while Yasir qualified from Group B with a solid effort of 76.70 metres.
The final will be held tomorrow in Gumi, South Korea, where the 2025 edition of the championships is currently taking place from May 27 to 31.
Pakistan has sent a small but hopeful team of five athletes to the event. Nadeem, who won gold at both the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, is leading the squad.
This is his first top event since his exceptional gold-winning performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics when he broke the world record with his throw of 92.97 metres.
He became the first Pakistani athlete to win an individual gold at the Olympics and the country’s first-ever medallist in athletics at the Summer Games.
So far in his international career, Arshad has secured four gold medals, one silver, and four bronze across major events such as the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, South Asian Games, and the Asian U20 Championships.
Recently, Arshad received the esteemed Best Asian Athlete Award from Asian Athletics. The recognition was presented during a ceremony in Gumi, South Korea, last Sunday, following the Asian athletics meeting.
In the sprint events, Pakistan is represented by Shajar Abbas and Mueed Baloch, both competing in the men’s 400 metres. Shajar, known as the country’s fastest sprinter, has shown steady progress and is aiming to compete strongly against Asia’s top runners. Mueed’s presence adds strength to the sprint squad.
Tameen Khan is the only female athlete in the Pakistani team and will take part in the women’s 100 metres. Her inclusion reflects the rising talent among women athletes in Pakistan, and officials are hopeful about her performance.
The Pakistan Athletics Federation has shown faith in the team, stating that the aim is not just to participate but to fight for medals.
It is worth noting that Pakistan has won a total of eight medals at the Asian Athletics Championships over the years, two gold, three silver, and three bronze. Meanwhile, China currently tops the medal table, with Japan in second place.
