Arshad Nadeem leads Pakistan 1-2 finish in Islamic Solidarity Games javelin

 Arshad Nadeem leads Pakistan 1-2 finish in Islamic Solidarity Games javelin

RIYADH: Reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem successfully defended his title at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games on Wednesday, overcoming fitness concerns to lead a historic one-two finish for Pakistan in the javelin throw final.

Nadeem, who has been recovering from a calf surgery underwent in July, clinched the gold medal with a throw of 83.05 meters at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium. 

His compatriot, Muhammad Yasir, secured the silver medal with a best throw of 76.04 meters, cementing Pakistan's dominance in the event. Nigeria’s Samuel Adams Kure took bronze with a 76.01m effort.

The victory in Riyadh marks a successful title defense for the 28-year-old from Mian Channu, who had set a Games Record of 88.55m during the previous edition in Konya, Turkey, in 2022.

Despite the triumph, Nadeem admitted he was not yet operating at 100 percent. The throw of 83.05m—achieved on his second attempt—was well below the monster 92.97m Olympic record he set in Paris last year, reflecting the toll of his recent surgery and interrupted training regimen.

"I won gold here, but the recovery from surgery kept me from giving my best," Nadeem told reporters after the event. "A throw of 83.05m is not up to my standards as an Olympic champion, but it gives me satisfaction that I could win another gold medal for my country."

Nadeem’s series of throws displayed his consistency even while under recovery: 75.44m, 83.05m, 82.48m, 77.06m, followed by a foul and a final effort of 77.98m.

The event was Nadeem's third competitive outing of 2025. After winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea earlier in the year, he underwent surgery which impacted his performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September, where he finished 10th.