Pakistan’s star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, is expected to sit out the upcoming Diamond League meets in Poland and Switzerland as he continues rehabilitation in London following recent calf muscle surgery. The decision comes as part of a strategic recovery plan aimed at ensuring his full fitness ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
Originally, Arshad was scheduled to travel to the UK this month to prepare for the World Championships and participate in the Diamond League meet in Silesia on August 16, followed by the event in Zurich from August 27–28. However, a recurring calf injury forced a change in plans. He underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure at Spire Hospital in Cambridge last week, conducted by Dr Ali Bajwa.
Arshad’s coach, Salman Butt, shared updates on his condition:
“We are now doing rehab work with a physiotherapist in London. This is a two-week plan before we test ourselves for going back to regular workouts.”
Butt remains optimistic about Arshad’s return, adding that while the focus is firmly on Tokyo, there is a chance the athlete could participate in one preparatory competition if his recovery progresses smoothly.
The Tokyo World Championships hold immense significance for Arshad. After securing gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics, a victory in Tokyo would make it a career-defining hat-trick. Arshad previously earned a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, finishing behind his arch-rival, Neeraj Chopra of India.
Coach Butt began working with Arshad shortly after his impressive fifth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and has since been guiding him through a journey marked by both glory and injury setbacks.
Butt also detailed the swift response that led to the recent surgery:
“We contacted our doctor in Cambridge, secured an appointment within three days, and had an MRI done. We’re grateful that the entire process moved quickly.”
He further noted that prior to the surgery, Arshad was not in pain, which allowed the team to act decisively and opt for a quick medical intervention.
Earlier this year, Arshad made a strong start to his season by claiming gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in Gumi, South Korea, with a throw of 86.40 meters. The performance marked his first and only competitive appearance in 2025 so far. He was later honored by Forbes, which listed him in its 30 Under 30 Asia list, celebrating his stellar performance at the Olympics.
Despite his high-profile achievements, Arshad has had a relatively limited presence on the international circuit, largely due to injury. His absence from most Diamond League events has prevented him from accumulating points, in contrast to rivals like Julian Weber and Neeraj Chopra, who currently lead the standings with 15 points each.
In June 2024, Arshad had withdrawn from the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland due to a mild calf strain, but made a comeback a month later at the Paris Diamond League ahead of the Olympics. Since then, however, persistent fitness issues have curtailed his participation.
As of now, his rehabilitation in London is progressing steadily, and his team remains focused on achieving peak performance for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships. Whether he returns to competition before then depends entirely on how well his body responds to the current recovery plan.
