KARACHI: Former Pakistan shot put record holder Zafar Ibn-e-Yaqoob has advised Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem to move his training base to Europe and regularly train alongside the world’s leading javelin throwers to maintain his place among the sport’s elite.
Speaking about Arshad’s recent performances, Zafar said competing at the highest level requires exposure to world-class training facilities and athletes. He suggested Germany as a suitable base for the 2024 Olympic champion.
According to Zafar, spending more time training in Europe would allow Arshad to maintain his performance standards and increase his chances of winning further international titles for Pakistan.
The comments followed Arshad’s disappointing showing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he finished ninth in the 12-athlete final and failed to reach the top eight after his opening three attempts. He had previously won the Commonwealth title in Birmingham in 2022 with a Games-record throw of 90.18 metres.
Zafar also recommended that Arshad’s coach, Salman Butt, accompany him during overseas training camps, saying the pair would benefit from working in a stronger international environment.
He further stressed the importance of a comprehensive strength and conditioning programme, particularly weight training, for Arshad to compete consistently at the highest level.
Zafar described Arshad as a naturally talented athlete but said his potential could be better utilised through access to world-class coaching, facilities and training partners.
Arshad reached the pinnacle of his career at the Paris Olympics in 2024, winning Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold in athletics with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 metres.
He has continued to win major titles, including gold medals at the Islamic Games and Asian Championships, although his recent winning distances have generally remained below the level of his Olympic performance.
The 29-year-old also made history at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest by winning silver, becoming Pakistan’s first medallist at the event.
Arshad’s next major competitions include the World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Hungary from September 11 to 13, followed by the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
