Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem Rules Out Lausanne Diamond League Appearance After CWG 2026 Debacle
Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem will not compete in the Lausanne Diamond League meet, a decision reportedly made to manage his fitness and prepare for upcoming major championships.
Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has withdrawn from the upcoming Lausanne Diamond League, opting to halt his competitive schedule following a disappointing Ninth-place finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The decision marks a critical pause for the Pakistani athlete as he seeks to address fitness and form issues that have disrupted his recent performances on the international circuit. Arshad Nadeem Meets Novak Djokovic; Paris Olympics Gold Medallist Has Friendly Interaction With Serbian Tennis Star at World Sports Summit in Dubai (See Pic).
Nadeem was initially included on the entry list for the event scheduled for 21 August at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise. However, following discussions with his coaching staff upon returning to Pakistan, the 29-year-old thrower opted to pull out of the meet to focus on recovery and physical conditioning.
Disappointment in Glasgow
The decision follows a difficult campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where Nadeem failed to defend the gold medal he won at Birmingham in 2022. Entering the competition as the reigning Olympic champion, he struggled to build momentum throughout his initial throws.
Nadeem registered an opening foul before recording throws of 77.41 metres and 75.39 metres. The subpar distance left him in ninth position among 12 finalists, failing to secure a place in the top-eight shootout for three additional attempts. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage claimed the gold medal with an 89.75-metre effort, while India’s Neeraj Chopra took silver. Sports Ministry Suspends Table Tennis Federation of India Recognition Over 'Governance Deficiencies'.
Environmental Conditions and Preparation Concerns
Addressing his performance in Glasgow, Nadeem attributed his struggles primarily to cold weather conditions that affected his physical readiness during the competition. He noted that while his health and general fitness were stable, the sharp contrast between his warm-weather training in Lahore and the climate in Scotland led to muscle stiffness.
Off the track, Nadeem’s preparations faced scrutiny following administrative friction between the Athletics Federation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Sports Board regarding funding and training support. With limited access to international exposure and specialised coaching in the lead-up to the Games, his technical rhythm was noticeably compromised.
Withdrawing from the Lausanne meet allows Nadeem to avoid a demanding travel schedule and focus entirely on a structured training block alongside his long-time coach, Salman Butt. The technical team plans to re-evaluate his run-up mechanics and workload management before determining his remaining competition schedule for the 2026 season. The Lausanne leg of the Diamond League will proceed with a strong international field, including Neeraj Chopra, Anderson Peters, and Rumesh Pathirage.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2026 06:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).