Arshad eyes 100m barrier at Asian C'ship
Pakistan's javelin ace Arshad Nadeem said on Wednesday that he has targeted a 100m throw at the Asian Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held in Korea from May 27 to 31.
The Olympic gold-medalist, who is training rigorously at the Punjab Stadium, vowed to give his best in the upcoming tournament, for which he is set to depart on Thursday.
"I will leave tomorrow for the Asian Athletics Championships. I will try to perform well at the event," said Nadeem.
"I am targeting a 100-meter throw, and I'm working hard, and by the will of Almighty Allah, I will achieve it one day," he added.
Nadeem also shared his post-Asian Athletics Championship plans, stating that he will depart for England after Eid-ul-Adha to prepare for the World Athletics Championship, alongside coach Salman Butt.
Nadeem was then probed about Indian counterpart Neeraj Chopra's recent remarks, in which the latter claimed that he does not share a close bond with the Olympic gold-medalist despite showing camaraderie in the past.
"First, I would like to clarify that I don't have a very strong relationship with Arshad. We were never really close friends or anything. But because of this [recent conflict], it will not be like before," Chopra had said.
"I never had a very deep friendship with him, but we were always respectful toward each other," he added.
"Yes, as athletes, we have to talk. I have good friends from the athletics community all over the world - not just in javelin, but in other events too," he explained.
In response, Nadeem denied commenting on Chopra's remarks, citing the currently tense diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and India.
"I don't want to talk about it because of the situation between Pakistan and India. I always stand with the Pakistan Army," Nadeem said.
The 28-year-old, however, congratulated Chopra for breaching the 90-metre barrier for the first time in his glittering career when he clinched silver at the Diamond League in Doha last week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PSB raises cash rewards for global medalists
Listen to article The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced a substantial increase in cash rewards for national athletes who secure medals at international sporting events. The decision came during the 34th meeting of the PSB Board, where the revised 'Cash Award Policy' was formally unveiled. Under the new policy, prize money for Olympic gold winners has risen to Rs30 million from Rs10m earlier. Silver medalists will now receive Rs20 million, while bronze medalists will be awarded Rs10 million. Also Read: Naqvi confirms dates for Asia Cup The revised scheme also includes enhanced financial incentives for other major international competitions. Gold medalists at the Asian Games will receive Rs15m while silver and bronze medal holders will now be entitled to Rs7m and Rs5m, respectively. For the Commonwealth Games, gold medalists will be awarded with Rs7.5m and the Asian Snooker Championship winner will get Rs750,000. The policy further covers squash, squash, with Rs10m in prize money allocated for players winning the prestigious British Open or an equivalent tournament.
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
David's century helps Aussies clinch third T20 against WI
Australian Tim David hit a century on just 37 balls to power the Aussies over the West Indies by six wickets in a series-clinching victory. Photo: AFP Tim David bashed a 37-ball century and Australia defeated the West Indies by six wickets on Friday to clinch an overall victory in their Twenty20 international series. David smashed 11 sixes and six fours to finish on 102 runs off 37 deliveries as the Aussies chased down 215 to win with 23 balls to spare. Australia took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, which continues on Saturday with another night matchup at Warner Park. David struck for 50 off 16 balls, the fastest by an Australian man, and together with Mitchell Owen delivered the highest Aussie T20I fifth-wicket partnership in history. David and Owen, who finished with 36 off 16 balls, combined for 128 to break the old fifth-wicket mark of 105 held by David and Mitch Marsh. On the first ball of the 17th over, and the final delivery of the match, David blasted a four off Romario Shepherd to reach 102 and win the match, the Aussies reaching 215 for four. The 10th over for the Aussies proved pivotal as David smashed a four off the first ball and sixes off each of the last four deliveries by Gudakesh Motie. David's 28-run over lifted the Aussies within 95 runs of the goal with 60 balls remaining. David also hit three sixes and a four off Roston Chase in the 12th over. Shai Hope hit an unbeaten hundred for the West Indies, his first T20I century. Hope struck for 102 runs not out off 57 balls with eight fours and six sixes. He powered the West Indies to 214 for four after being sent in to bat first following Australia winning the toss. Hope and Brandon King opened with a 125 partnership for the hosts before King exited on the fourth ball of the 12th over. An offering from Mitch Owen was smacked high by King and landed in the hands of Sean Abbott for the first out. King managed his 13th T20I half century with 62 runs off 36 balls with six sixes and three fours. On the first ball of the penultimate over, Hope went to deep point for one to reach his first T20I century, making 100 runs off 55 balls to join Chris Gayle as the only West Indies men with centuries in all formats.
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Verstappen starts new Red Bull era
Max Verstappen have been penalised twice for his wayward driving. Photo: AFP Formula One champion Max Verstappen won a "cat and mouse" Belgian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday in Red Bull's first race under the leadership of Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner's dismissal. McLaren's championship leader Oscar Piastri finished second, after taking a dominant pole position for the 100km race, with the Australian increasing his advantage over teammate Lando Norris to nine points. Norris ended up where he started, in third place on a bright afternoon at the longest and second fastest track on the calendar. Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari with Haas's Esteban Ocon fifth and Carlos Sainz sixth for Williams. Haas's Oliver Bearman and Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar completed the scoring positions. Qualifying for what could be a soggy main grand prix at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday followed later. "Well done Max. Very, very impressive defence, very well controlled. You didn't leave anything on the table there," Mekies told Verstappen over the team radio after the Dutch driver took the chequered flag. Verstappen, starting second, used straightline speed to slipstream into the lead at les Combes on lap one and held off Piastri for the remaining 14, with the Australian 0.753 seconds behind at the flag. The win was Verstappen's first, in either a sprint or grand prix, since Imola in May and it was knife-edge all the way. "I knew of course it was going to be very tough to keep them behind. So it's just playing like cat and mouse, DRS, battery usage," he said as the large contingent of Dutch fans celebrated. "The whole race was within seven tenths, so I couldn't afford to make big mistakes. I had one tiny lockup in the last corner, but apart from that it was, for us, a great result to keep them behind. "You have to drive over the limit of what's possible. Tyre management goes out of the window. I did 15 qualifying laps to keep them behind on a track where tyre management is important." Piastri had few real chances — close enough to hope but too far to make a move stick.
