Lahore: Salman Iqbal Butt, the coach of Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, stated that their strategy was straightforward: they had to work hard.
In an interview with News, former national athlete Salman Iqbal Butt mentioned that javelin throw is a technical sport. “Before the Olympics, we did not take a single day off, and the biggest challenge during this time was Arshad Nadeem’s injuries, along with the harsh weather. We had to manage the intense heat and his injuries, and that’s exactly what we did.”
He further explained that no matter how experienced an athlete is, hunger decreases, and thirst increases a day before the competition. “Athletes tend to get nervous, and if the coach also becomes nervous, the situation can become uncontrollable. So, I tried to ensure that Arshad Nadeem did not feel any pressure.”
Salman Iqbal Butt said, “When the first throw didn’t go well, I didn’t show my concern and instead encouraged Arshad with a gesture. I couldn’t see where the second throw landed because there was a camera in front of me. I thought it went up to 80 meters, but when Arshad raised his hands, I saw that it was over 90 meters, specifically 92.97 meters. I thought, ‘This is amazing; now it’s going to be tough for others.'”
The former athlete added that although Neeraj Chopra also had his best throw, Arshad Nadeem had gone far ahead. “Arshad is receiving a lot of appreciation, and he deserves it. I am very happy for him, just as one would be for their own child’s or student’s success. All relevant people and institutions have taken great care of Arshad, and we made the most of the available facilities, but I believe there is still a need to improve the system in Pakistan.”
