No luck for Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem at Asian Games 2026.
NAGOYA – Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem met an unwelcome end at the 2026 Asian Games on Monday, finishing fourth in the men’s javelin throw final despite a season’s best effort of 80.29m.
Competing in rainy conditions in Nagoya, Nadeem opened his campaign with a throw of 76.69m, before his second attempt was ruled out. The Pakistani star responded strongly in the third round with a javelin throw of 80.29 meters to finish fourth and put himself back in the medal race.
But the return could not be sustained. Nadeem’s fourth, fifth and sixth attempts were all fouls, ending his challenge and leaving the Olympic champion without a medal. Sri Lanka and India dominated the podium.
Sri Lanka’s Ramesh Tharangapathiraj threw a stunning 88.55m to clinch the gold medal at the Asian Games. India’s Yashvir Singh won silver with a personal best of 85.72m while compatriot Rohit Yadav took bronze with 84.35m.
For Nadeem, a fourth-place finish adds to a difficult 2026 season. The reigning Olympic champion had previously finished ninth at the Commonwealth Games, where his best final throw was 77.41m. His Asian Games performance was an improvement, but his 80.29m effort still left him 4.06m short of the bronze medal mark. The result also means Nadeem, who famously won Olympic gold in Paris with a throw of 92.97m, leaves Nagoya without a place on the podium.
Meanwhile, Pathiraj continued his brilliant season. The Sri Lankan star entered the Asian Games as the world’s leading javelin thrower and added another major title to his 2026 campaign. His winning throw of 88.55 meters came in his sixth and final attempt.
Final results
- Ramesh Tharangapathiraj (Sri Lanka) – 88.55m
- Yashvir Singh (India) – 85.72 m
- Rohit Yadav (India) – 84.35 m
- Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan) – 80.29 m
- Muhammad Yasir (Pakistan) – 73.50 m
Nadeem’s 80.29m was his best throw of the season, but it was not enough to return the Olympic champion to the Asian Games podium.
The post No luck for Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem in Asian Games 2026 appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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