HANGZHOU: Pakistan’s javelin-thrower Arshad Nadeem, the top challenger of Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra for Asian Games gold medal, has withdrawn from the competition after flare-up of an old knee injury.
“After arrival at Hangzhou, at the first training session on September 27, Arshad Nadeem complained to Dr. Asad Abbas, who was accompanying him, that he has been grappling with persistent pain (in right knee) for several months, a concern that has become particularly pressing since the World Athletics Championships,” said a statement from the Pakistan contingent, which has Munari Ahmad as its Chef de Mission.
Nadeem won a historic silver medal at the Budapest World Championships this August, finishing behind gold medallist Neeraj Chopra. Pakistan had never medalled in World Championships before that.
Chopra will defend his 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gold medal on Wednesday (October 4).
“After arrival at Hangzhou, at the first training session on September 27, Arshad Nadeem complained to Dr. Asad Abbas, who was accompanying him, that he has been grappling with persistent pain (in right knee) for several months, a concern that has become particularly pressing since the World Athletics Championships,” said a statement from the Pakistan contingent, which has Munari Ahmad as its Chef de Mission.
Nadeem won a historic silver medal at the Budapest World Championships this August, finishing behind gold medallist Neeraj Chopra. Pakistan had never medalled in World Championships before that.
Chopra will defend his 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gold medal on Wednesday (October 4).
“On October 2, Arshad again complained of pain in the right knee and expressed a desire to undergo an evaluation to determine the impact (of injury) and if he will be able to participate in the javelin throw event at the Asian Games,” the statement further read.
After an MRI at a local hospital confirmed the flare-up of Nadeem’s “chronic injury”, Pakistan decided to withdraw him from the competition keeping his participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics in mind.
The Grand Canal in Hangzhou
