ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Olympic javelin gold medallist Arshad Nadeem has pulled out of the Diamond League 2025 in Silesia, Poland, as he continues rehabilitation from a leg injury sustained during the Paris Games.
Following surgery in the UK, the 28-year-old is now targeting a full-strength return at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
Fresh off his historic gold-medal triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nadeem was expected to headline the Diamond League in Germany alongside his long-time rival Neeraj Chopra.
However, medical advice has put those hopes on hold — at least for now.
“Arshad’s injury is both recent and significant. Rushing back could risk long-term damage,” said Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa, who is overseeing the athlete’s rehabilitation in Cambridge.
“He’s begun putting weight on his leg, which is encouraging, but we must proceed cautiously.”
The 28-year-old underwent calf muscle surgery to address recurring discomfort that plagued him through the Olympic season.
Now, his sights are firmly set on a bigger goal — a strong return at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
According to his coaching staff, the decision to pull out of the Silesia Diamond League was not taken lightly, especially with fans eagerly awaiting another chapter in the Chopra-Nadeem rivalry.
“He’s focusing on long-term performance. The World Championships is the real battlefield now,” confirmed team representative Butt in a recent statement.
From history maker to healing champion
Arshad Nadeem carved his name in the record books just a year ago when he hurled the javelin a breath-taking 92.97 meters in the Olympic final, a feat that not only won him gold but also ended Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal drought. He became Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medallist, a national hero overnight.
His Olympic journey was even more remarkable given the pressure – he was Pakistan’s sole medal hope after six of seven athletes failed to advance in their events.
The country’s last Olympic medal had come in 1992, when the national hockey team clinched bronze in Barcelona.
For now, fans may have to wait a little longer to witness the next javelin showdown — but Nadeem’s eyes are fixed on Tokyo, and his spirit, as always, remains unshaken. “This isn’t the end of the season,” a team official remarked. “It’s the beginning of a stronger comeback.”
