Islamabad: Pakistani Olympian Arshad Nadeem placed fourth in the men’s javelin final at the Asian Games in Japan on Monday, narrowly missing the podium with a best throw of 80.29 meters.
Nadeem secured Pakistan’s first Olympic athletics gold in Paris 2024 with a 92.97‑meter throw, establishing both Olympic and Asian records and edging out India’s Neeraj Chopra, who claimed silver, in an event that attracted worldwide interest.
He also captured gold at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships and earned a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships.
In Nagoya, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won gold with a 88.55‑meter throw, while India’s Yash Vir Singh secured silver at 85.72 meters and Rohit Yadav took bronze with 84.35 meters.
Olympics.com reported, “Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion and Asian record holder, finished fourth with a 80.29‑meter throw.”
The final did not feature a rematch with Chopra, who withdrew from the Asian Games due to an ankle ligament injury. Their bouts are frequently framed by the rivalry between Pakistan and India, and both athletes and their families have expressed mutual respect.
Following the Paris final, the mothers of both athletes praised each other’s sons.
Nadeem had previously earned bronze at the 2018 Asian Games but withdrew from the 2023 edition due to injury.