Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem failed to qualify for the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Competing in Group B at the Japan National Stadium, Nadeem’s two attempts fell short of the 84.50m automatic qualification mark. This marks a disappointing end to his qualification round in the event.
Nadeem, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist with a record 92.97m throw, entered Group B with high expectations. However, his first throw measured below the qualifying distance, and his second attempt also did not meet the 84.50m threshold. The final, set for September 18, will feature the top 12 throwers from qualification, including India’s Neeraj Chopra from Group A.
Nadeem arrived in Tokyo in strong form, having won gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in May 2025 with an 86.40m throw. He trained under coach Terseus Liebenberg in South Africa and expressed confidence in pre-event interviews. Nadeem aimed to challenge Chopra for gold, but the sticky conditions in Tokyo hindered his performance.
Olympic champ Arshad Nadeem needed all 3 throws to qualify for javelin final at #WorldAthleticsChampionships. He threw 76.99m & 74.17m with first 2 throws, before throwing 85.28m with his 3rd attempt. #NeerajChopra needed just 1 throw of 84.85 to qualify https://t.co/TjahoelSko
— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) September 17, 2025The Tokyo event was poised for a Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem showdown, their first since Paris 2024. Chopra qualified easily in Group A with a first-throw 85.71m. Other contenders include Germany’s Julian Weber and Grenada’s Anderson Peters. Nadeem’s exit shifts focus to the final, where Chopra defends his 2023 world title.
Read: Arshad Nadeem Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 South Asia 2025 for Sporting Excellence
Nadeem’s failure to qualify is a setback for Pakistan’s athletics, following his historic Olympic win. The event underscores the javelin throw’s competitiveness, with European dominance challenged by Asian stars like Nadeem and Chopra. Fans await the final, hoping for more record-breaking throws.
Arshad Nadeem’s missed qualification in Tokyo 2025 ends his world championships campaign early. Despite the disappointment, his Olympic legacy endures.
