Pakistan’s Olympic gold medal-winning javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has withdrawn from the Lausanne Diamond League meet later this month as he prepares for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Nadeem’s coach Salman Butt confirmed the decision, saying the athlete wants to focus on his preparation for the continental competition. The Lausanne event is expected to feature several leading javelin throwers, including India’s Neeraj Chopra, Germany’s Julian Weber and Grenada’s Anderson Peters.

Nadeem’s decision comes after a disappointing performance at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, where he finished ninth in the men’s javelin throw medal round. The result meant that he narrowly missed out on a place among the top eight competitors. His performance was below expectations following his status as one of the world’s leading javelin throwers and Pakistan’s Olympic champion.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the Commonwealth Games javelin event with a throw of 89.75 metres. India’s Neeraj Chopra finished second, while compatriot Yash Vir Singh secured third place. The result provided a strong showing for the Indian contingent, while Nadeem’s ninth-place finish added to the pressure on the Pakistani star ahead of his next major international assignment.

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With the Asian Games in Japan now a key target, Nadeem and his coaching team have opted to prioritise preparation rather than compete in another major meeting. His absence will be notable at the Lausanne Diamond League, particularly given the expected presence of Chopra and other elite throwers. Nadeem will now have additional time to recover and work on his form before attempting to return to the top level at the Asian Games.

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