Arshad Nadeem’s coach Salman Iqbal Butt has hit back at the Pakistan Athletics Federation after being questioned about the Olympic champion’s poor performance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, blaming Nadeem’s lack of body support and recent injury for the disappointing result.
It emerged that Butt wrote a letter to respond to the AFP’s query after the country’s top javelin thrower failed to qualify ahead of the top eight athletes at the global event.
The coach reminded the federation that he was appointed as Nadeem’s coach and mentor in 2021. He highlighted that the javelin thrower has since won several international titles, including the Olympic gold medal in Paris, four golds and one silver between 2022 and 2025.
Butt stressed that no athlete can be expected to remain in top form all the time, adding that he would continue his coaching duties “as long as Arshad Nadeem wishes”.
He rejected claims of non-cooperation and asserted that he had never refused to share training data or progress updates with the federation.
The coach accused the AFP of distancing itself from Nadeem’s training and activities over the past year.
He also revealed that a close friend personally funded Nadeem’s overseas training sessions and sent him to South Africa twice for specialist preparation.
Detailing the athlete’s recent setbacks, Butt said Nadeem began training for the 2025 season on December 10, regularly consulting with renowned coach Terseus Liebenberg and sports physician Dr Ali Sher Bajwa, who examined the athlete several times – including three visits to Pakistan.
He stated that Nadeem suffered a leg injury on July 4, which required surgery in England.
The athlete then underwent a three-week rehabilitation program in London before traveling to Tokyo for competitions. However, Butt noted that the hot, humid conditions and hard javelin track made it difficult for Nadeem to perform comfortably, exacerbating pain in his operated leg.
He explained that discomfort in the calf muscle prevented Nadeem from achieving his best throw in the final round.
Concluding his answer, Butt noted that success and failure are collective responsibilities: “Just as everyone shares the glory in victory, the burden of defeat must also be shared by everyone.”
At the marquee event last month, the Pakistani star opened the final with a throw of 82.73 metres, which placed him seventh after the first round.
His second attempt was an error, while his third throw was 82.75 meters, followed by another error on his fourth attempt.
Nadeem failed to reach the top eight, which was necessary to earn three additional tries in the final, ending his hopes of a medal.
Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago had won his first world title since claiming Olympic gold as a teenager in 2012 when he won the men’s javelin throw final at the world championships on Thursday with a throw of 88.16 meters.
