Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has travelled to South Africa to resume training under his former coach, Terseus Liebenberg.
The move comes as Arshad prepares for two major international events in the coming weeks. He is aiming to regain his rhythm and improve his fitness after a difficult period following his historic Olympic success.
Training Ahead of World and Asian Events
Arshad has already arrived in South Africa and will spend three weeks training with Liebenberg.
He is scheduled to travel to Hungary afterward for the World Ultimate Athletics Championship. The event will take place from September 11 to 13.
The championship is being held for the first time. It is expected to feature leading Olympic and world champions.
Arshad will then compete at the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
Reunion With Former Coach Terseus Liebenberg
Liebenberg played an important role in Arshad’s preparations before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Arshad won the Olympic gold medal with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 metres. After his victory, he credited the South African coach for contributing to his success.
During their previous association, Arshad also trained in Lahore under Liebenberg’s supervision. Meanwhile, local coach Salman Butt coordinated the programme and implemented the training plans.
Salman Butt and Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari have also played important roles in Arshad’s development. However, Liebenberg provided international-level guidance as the athlete progressed in the sport.
Recent Form and Fitness Concerns
Arshad’s return to Liebenberg follows concerns about his form and fitness.
After winning Olympic gold, he also claimed gold medals at the Islamic Games and the Asian Championships. However, his throws remained below the standard he achieved in Paris.
His struggles were particularly noticeable at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Arshad finished ninth in the opening round of the 12-man final.
As a result, he did not advance to the top eight after the first three throws.
A source said his preparation for the event was affected by a demanding travel schedule. Arshad reportedly travelled from Switzerland to Manchester before arriving in Glasgow just three days before the competition.
The sudden change in weather also affected his preparations.
Asian Games Return
The Asian Games will be another important test for Arshad.
He previously won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. However, an injury forced him to miss the 2023 edition in Hangzhou.
Therefore, his return to the competition will give him another opportunity to add to his international medal record.
Pakistan Athletics Camp Continues
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s athletics camp is continuing in Islamabad under coaches Sajjad Ahmed Khan and Seemi Rizvi.
According to the Pakistan Sports Board list, the camp includes Pakistan’s No. 2 javelin thrower Yasir Sultan.
Other athletes in the camp include Shajjar Abbas, Ansar Abbas, Noreen Hussain, and Khoula Omar Khan.
Focus on Regaining Consistency
Arshad handled the arrangements for his South Africa training visit as he looks to regain consistency and improve his physical condition.
The three-week training programme could play an important role in his preparations for the upcoming World Ultimate Athletics Championship and Asian Games.
Pakistan’s first Olympic track and field champion will now hope that reuniting with his former coach helps him return to the level that made him one of the world’s leading javelin throwers.
