Javelin medal hope rises as Arshad storms into finals

PARIS: Arshad Nadeem had to put in little effort to earn a place in the finals of javelin throw at the Paris Olympics Tuesday at the Stadia de France.

On his first attempt, he covered a distance of 86.59 metres, enough to take him to the finals tomorrow (Thursday). He also became the first Pakistan athlete in the ongoing Olympics to have checked into the final round and did that with an implacable style.

Olympic gold medalist and India’s iconic athlete Neeraj Chopra topped the field with a big 89.34m throw, also on his first attempt. Both Arshad and Neeraj crossed the qualifying round barrier with the opening throw showing no pressure at all. Arshad, who was placed in Group B with some of the best javelin throwers including world and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, crossed 86.50m with four others, even getting over 88m. Czech Jakob Vadlejch threw his javelin to 88.65, Gerenade’s Anderson Peters sent his javelin to 88.63m and Germany’s Julien Weber covered the distance of 88.37m. All four along with Neeraj Chopra (89.34) and Arshad came out strong from the qualifying round.

Two Finland javelin throwers also made it to the finals to be held at 11.25 (PST) and 8.25 pm local time here in Paris. For the first time during the past so many years, Arshad looked fitter and in rhythm and that was what he proved during his first attempt.

Even his fiercest rival Neeraj, who talked in detail with this correspondent at the Mixed Zone at Stadia de France, admitted that Arshad looked in good nick. “He looks good and in form. That is good for Pakistan sports.”

On his effort, Neeraj said that what he wanted was to make the qualifying easier. “I did not put up all my efforts during my first attempt but it was enough to take me into the finals.”

Neeraj threw 89.34m in his first attempt, his best throw this season. His first attempt was his all-time second-best throw at a men’s javelin event, with his top throw coming at Stockholm Diamond League 2022 with a distance of 89.94 m. It was also the 26-year-old’s best throw in any qualification round. He won India’s sole gold medal in the last Olympics.

Arshad Nadeem, who is also one of Neeraj’s closest rivals, joined the Indian star for the men’s javelin final with his season-best throw of 86.59m. Arshad and Neeraj have developed a healthy rivalry over the years, with Neeraj dominating the head-to-head record 9-0. However, Arshad’s best effort of 90.18m in the 2022 Commonwealth Games is ahead of Neeraj’s top effort.

Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Jena finished ninth in Group A of the men’s javelin throw qualification round, failing to advance to the medal round. Kishore’s best attempt of 80.73m could give him only the ninth spot. Only four competitors from group A advanced to the medal round.