Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem is set to miss the Lausanne Diamond League and focus on a South Africa training camp before his next major international appearances.
LAHORE: Pakistan’s Olympic javelin throw champion Arshad Nadeem has revised his immediate competition schedule, opting for a training stint in South Africa instead of competing at the Lausanne Diamond League on Aug. 21.
Nadeem’s name had initially appeared on the entry list for the Lausanne meeting, but sources said the Pakistani star will now prioritize overseas preparation ahead of a busy international calendar. He is expected to travel to South Africa on the first available flight after receiving his visa.
The planned training camp will take place in Potchefstroom, where Nadeem has previously trained on two occasions. The move is aimed at giving the Olympic champion additional preparation time before returning to top-level competition.
The decision comes after Nadeem’s recent Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow, where he finished ninth in the javelin final. He had qualified for the final with a season-best throw of 78.63 metres but was unable to reproduce his best form in the medal contest.
His next major target is the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. World Athletics has confirmed that the new event will be held from Sept. 11-13, 2026, bringing together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and other leading athletes.
The men’s javelin final is scheduled for the final session on Sept. 13, making the Budapest event an important opportunity for Nadeem to return to the international spotlight.
Nadeem has established himself as one of Pakistan’s most successful track and field athletes. His landmark Olympic gold medal in Paris in 2024, secured with a record-breaking 92.97-metre throw, elevated him to global prominence.
With the Lausanne appearance removed from his schedule, the South Africa camp will allow Nadeem and his coaching team to concentrate on technical work, physical conditioning and competition preparation. He is also expected to feature at the Asian Games after the Budapest championship.
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