Arshad Nadeem Faces Backlash After Commonwealth Games Disappointment

Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic gold medalist in javelin throw, faced backlash after a disappointing ninth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance, marked by a throw under 80 meters, raised concerns about his preparation, especially compared to rivals like Neeraj Chopra. Nadeem's struggles were compounded by a lack of support from the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation and the Pakistan Sports Board, which left him without adequate training resources. This situation highlights the challenges faced by athletes in Pakistan and the need for better support structures in sports.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 2, 2026, 23:33 IST

Arshad Nadeem's Struggles at the Commonwealth Games

Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's Olympic gold medalist in javelin throw, has faced significant criticism following his underwhelming performance at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. He finished in ninth place, failing to achieve a throw over 80 meters, while Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage secured the gold medal, with India's Neeraj Chopra and Yashvir Singh taking silver and bronze, respectively.

This disappointing result was somewhat anticipated, as Nadeem participated in only one preparatory event in Switzerland prior to the Games in 2026. His training was conducted solely in the hot climate of Lahore, without the benefit of guidance from foreign coaches or trainers.

Previously, Nadeem had trained under South African coach Terseus Liebenberg, but this time he worked with his local coach, Salman Butt, and other local trainers. The stark contrast between the weather conditions in Lahore and Glasgow likely impacted his performance.

In contrast, Nadeem's rival, Neeraj Chopra, and other Indian javelin throwers had a more robust preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Neeraj completed his final training and rehabilitation camp in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, while his teammates Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh trained in Spała, Poland, under the guidance of foreign coaches.

As a result, India clinched both silver and bronze medals in the javelin throw event. Nadeem, who was the reigning Commonwealth Games champion after winning gold in Birmingham in 2022 with a throw of 90.12 meters, could not even reach the 80-meter mark in Glasgow.

His inability to qualify for the final round dashed Pakistan's hopes for another medal. Fans were disheartened to witness his struggle, especially after his Olympic triumph with a record throw of 92.97 meters.

Salman Butt, Nadeem's long-time coach, acknowledged that the athlete was not at his peak during the Commonwealth Games and was inadequately prepared. While Nadeem must accept some responsibility for his performance, he has faced numerous challenges off the field.

One major issue was the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF), which distanced itself from him following a dispute over the retention of Butt as his coach last year. A source close to Nadeem revealed that since late last year, both the PAAF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have made it difficult for him to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

The PAAF effectively abandoned Nadeem's training preparations, ignoring his requests for support. Additionally, the PSB did not allocate any funds for hiring foreign coaches or trainers to assist him during his training in Lahore.

Former Olympic boxing bronze medalist Hussain Shah expressed disappointment, stating, "This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and a low-income family. Yet he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And still, he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure."

Pakistan's first female Commonwealth Games medallist, boxer Fatima Zehra, also voiced her concerns, noting that with better training and exposure, she could have won gold in her weight category. Despite this, Fatima secured a bronze medal in boxing, which remains Pakistan's only medal at the Commonwealth Games after sending a 36-member contingent.