Javelin star heads to South Africa to revive form before World Championship and Asian Games
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has returned to South Africa to train under his former coach Terseus Liebenberg as he looks to rediscover his form and fitness ahead of two major international competitions.
Arshad, who produced a historic 92.97-metre throw to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has struggled to reproduce that level since his record-breaking performance.
His decision to return to South Africa comes after a disappointing showing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where the world’s leading javelin thrower failed to qualify for the top eight in the final.
“Yes, he has gone to South Africa to undergo training under Terseus. It may help him revive his form ahead of the World Championship and Asian Games,” a source privy to the development told this correspondent.
Arshad has already reached South Africa and will undergo three weeks of training with Liebenberg before travelling to Hungary for the World Ultimate Athletics Championship, scheduled for September 11-13.
The championship is being staged for the first time and is expected to feature leading Olympic and world champions.
Liebenberg played an important role in Arshad’s development before the Paris Olympics, helping him refine his technique and prepare for competition at the highest level. Arshad credited the South African coach after his Olympic triumph, saying the skills he learned from Liebenberg contributed to his success in Paris.
During their previous association, Arshad also trained in Lahore under Liebenberg’s guidance, with his local coach Salman Butt coordinating the programme and implementing the South African’s training plans.
Butt and Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari have also played significant roles in Arshad’s development, while Liebenberg provided international-level expertise as the athlete progressed to the top of the sport.
Arshad’s decision to reunite with Liebenberg follows concerns over his form and physical condition.
After his Olympic triumph, Arshad won gold medals at the Islamic Games and Asian Championships, but his distances remained below the exceptional standard he established in Paris.
His difficulties were particularly evident at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where he finished ninth in the first round of the 12-man final and failed to make the top eight after the opening three throws.
A source who was in Glasgow told this correspondent that Arshad’s preparation was also affected by his late arrival.
“He had gone to Switzerland for an event and then he came to Manchester for fundraising and landed in Glasgow just three days before the event. And there he found a cold weather,” the source said.
Arshad now faces a quick succession of major competitions, with the World Ultimate Athletics Championship followed by the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
He won bronze at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta but missed the 2023 edition in Hangzhou because of injury.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s athletics camp is continuing in Islamabad under coaches Sajjad Ahmed Khan and Seemi Rizvi, according to the official Pakistan Sports Board list.
Pakistan’s No 2 javelin thrower Yasir Sultan is among those training at the camp, along with Shajjar Abbas, Ansar Abbas, Noreen Hussain and Khoula Omar Khan.
This correspondent has also learnt that Arshad himself managed the arrangements for his South Africa tour.
His immediate priority will be to regain the consistency., spirit and fitness that helped him become Pakistan’s first Olympic track and field champion and establish himself among the world’s elite javelin throwers.
