Ace javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem (proper) and his coach Salman Iqbal Butt (left) go to Aitchison Faculty, Lahore. — Fb/@arshadnadeem76
KARACHI: Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem’s coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, has submitted a proper response to the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), defending his position after the physique sought an evidence relating to the athlete’s disappointing efficiency on the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo.
It emerged that Butt wrote a letter to answer the AFP’s question after the nation’s star javelin thrower didn’t qualify for the highest eight athletes on the international occasion.
The coach reminded the federation that he was appointed as Nadeem’s coach and mentor in 2021. He highlighted that since then, the star javelin thrower had secured a number of worldwide titles — together with the Paris Olympic gold medal, 4 golds, and one silver between 2022 and 2025.
Butt burdened that no athlete may very well be anticipated to take care of high type repeatedly, including that he would proceed his teaching duties “as long as Arshad Nadeem wishes”.
He rejected claims of non-cooperation, asserting that he had by no means refused to share coaching particulars or progress updates with the federation.
The coach accused the AFP of detaching itself from Nadeem’s coaching and actions over the previous yr.
This file picture exhibits ace javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem (proper) and his coach Salman Iqbal Butt. — Reporter
He additionally revealed {that a} shut buddy personally financed Nadeem’s abroad coaching classes, sending him twice to South Africa for specialised preparation.
Detailing the athlete’s latest setbacks, Butt mentioned Nadeem started coaching for the 2025 season on December 10, sustaining common coordination with famend coach Terseus Liebenberg and sports activities doctor Dr Ali Sher Bajwa, who examined the athlete a number of occasions — together with three visits to Pakistan.
He acknowledged that Nadeem sustained a leg damage on July 4, which required surgical procedure in England.
The athlete subsequently underwent a three-week rehabilitation programme in London earlier than travelling to Tokyo for competitors. Nevertheless, Butt famous, the recent, humid situations and onerous javelin runway made it troublesome for Nadeem to carry out comfortably, aggravating ache in his operated leg.
He defined that discomfort within the calf muscle prevented Nadeem from reaching his finest throw within the closing spherical.
Concluding his reply, Butt remarked that success and failure are collective obligations: “Just as everyone shares the credit in victory, the burden of defeat must also be shared by all.”
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in motion through the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 on the Japan Nationwide Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, on September 18, 2025. — Reuters
On the marquee occasion final month, the Pakistani star opened the ultimate with a throw of 82.73 metres, inserting him seventh after the primary spherical.
His second try was a foul, whereas his third throw measured 82.75 meters, adopted by one other foul on his fourth try.
Nadeem was unable to achieve the highest eight, which was required to earn three extra makes an attempt within the closing, ending his medal hopes.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott had clinched his first international title since he claimed Olympic gold as an adolescent in 2012 when he received the boys’s javelin closing on the world championships with a throw of 88.16m on Thursday.
