The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has revealed that Arshad Nadeem and Shajjar Abbas will be among the athletes representing Pakistan at the Asian Athletics Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, which will take place from July 12 to July 16.
The athletes were selected following trials in Lahore involving 60 participants. Yasir Sultan will join the team at the Asian Championship, sharing the spotlight with top Javelin Thrower Arshad Nadeem, a gold medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Nadeem, who also won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games, is expected to face stiff competition from India’s Olympic Champion, Neeraj Chopra.
Shajjar Abbas, a sprinter who qualified for the 100 meters event final at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, will also participate. Abdul Mueed will compete in the 200m and 400m events, while Esha Imran, the only female athlete in Pakistan’s squad, will participate in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events.
The country hopes Arshad Nadeem could bring home a medal from the Asian Athletics Championship, an achievement that has eluded Pakistan since its last medal win in 1991 in Kuala Lumpur.