Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem ruled out of men's javelin throw final at Asian Games 2023

Indian contingent in the event comprises of Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Kumar Jena.

Pakistan's star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, suffered a major setback just 24 hours before his scheduled appearance in the finals of the men’s javelin throw at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) confirmed that Nadeem would not be able to participate due to a chronic knee injury. This unexpected blow was delivered as Nadeem complained of knee pain following the first training session in Hangzhou.

The situation escalated when he expressed his desire for a comprehensive evaluation of his condition given the persistent pain that had troubled him for months, which was exacerbated by the recent World Athletics Championships.

Subsequently, Arshad Nadeem underwent a thorough medical examination including an MRI scan which revealed the extent of his longstanding injury. After consulting with medical experts, Nadeem made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Asian Games. This decision aimed to avoid any further complications that could impede his training regimen and participation in the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This unforeseen setback is undoubtedly a blow to Pakistan's hopes of securing another medal at the Asian Games, given Nadeem's exceptional talent in the javelin. He recently made a historic achievement in August when he secured a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships. This remarkable feat marked Pakistan's inaugural medal in the history of the tournament.

The men's javelin final is scheduled for October 4 at 4:35 PM IST. With Nadeem's withdrawal, Neeraj Chopra will now contend with strong competition from two Japanese throwers, Yuta Sakiyama and Roderick Genki Dean as well as two Chinese contenders, Haoran Hu and Heqing Niu.

Among the competitors is also Kishore Kumar Jena, who stands out as one of India's most consistently impressive throwers this year.