Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem fails to impress in javelin throw final at Commonwealth Games 2026
Arshad Nadeem had won a gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Games.
Arshad Nadeem’s Commonwealth Games campaign ended prematurely, as the reigning Olympic champion crashed out of the men’s javelin throw final in Glasgow after just three attempts.
The Pakistani star opened with two fouls before managing only 77.41m on his third try, a distance nowhere close enough to break into the top eight and continue his campaign.
It was Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage who stole the show, launching a sensational 89.75m on his second attempt to seize the gold medal position.
Neeraj Chopra, meanwhile, kept India’s hopes alive, sitting second after the opening three rounds with a season-best 85.83m, having started with 80.97m and following it up with his big throw despite battling the wind.
Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, the other two Indians in the field, were both inside the top six as the competition moved into its final phase.
Nadeem’s early exit, while stunning given his status as the defending champion and Olympic gold medallist, wasn’t entirely out of nowhere.
Arshad Nadeem’s 2026 season has been shaky
His 2026 season has been patchy from the start, as he kick-started his campaign at a Continental Tour meet in Switzerland with a modest ninth-place finish and a best of just 78.47m, well below his usual standards.
Also Read: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s updated schedule for Day 9 (August 1)
His coach had blamed wet conditions and a lack of proper build-up, insisting the display didn’t reflect his real form. But that shaky start seems to have carried into Glasgow, where he has now bowed out of a title he won in Birmingham with a Games-record 90.18m.
Nadeem will hope to regain his form, and his next target will likely be the 2026 Asian Games. From beating Chopra in Paris to failing to cross the 80-meter mark, the declining performance of this 29-year-old athlete is a cause for concern for Pakistan regarding the future.
What was Arshad Nadeem’s best throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
He opened with two consecutive fouls and managed a best distance of just 77.41m on his third attempt, failing to make the top-eight cut required to progress to the final three throws.
What is the next major target for Arshad Nadeem?
Following his early exit in Glasgow, Nadeem will look to regain form ahead of the upcoming Asian Games 2026.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.