EXCLUSIVE: ‘He should think of world record now' - Arshad's first coach Fayaz Bukhari to Pakistan hero

Arshad Nadeem is a household name in Pakistan and among the athletics fraternity worldwide for his Paris Games heroics. Fayaz Bukhari, Arshad’s first javelin coach, spoke exclusively to WION, sharing his thoughts on Arshad’s record Olympic gold medal win and what is next for the Pakistan superstar. Fayaz also praised India’s Neeraj Chopra for his season-best throw at the Summer Games.

Entering the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics 2024, Arshad and Neeraj were the gold medal favourites, and as destiny had it, both were in the top two. 

While Pakistan’s Arshad ended the country’s 32-year medal drought at the Summer Games with an Olympic record throw of 92.97m, India’s Neeraj fell shy of defending his title, settling for silver with an 89.45m throw.

ALSO READ: India's Neeraj Chopra likely to undergo groin surgery after clinching silver medal at Paris Olympics 2024

Although both began with a fouled throw, Arshad and Neeraj threw their best in their second attempts, respectively. Arshad sealed his gold medal with that monstrous throw and again breached the 90m mark in his final attempt by registering a distance of 91.97m – the second-best at this year’s Games.

Considering Arshad, 27, has shown he has the stomach to break the Olympic record, his first coach feels the Pakistan star still has plenty of throws left in him, and now must think of breaking the world record (98.48m), which Czech Republic's Jan Zelezny secured in 1996.

“Arshad is among my first students. He still has throws left in him; he is not that aged. He must work hard to sustain the level attained and think of creating the world record,” Fayaz Bukhari told WION in an exclusive chat.

‘Neeraj is our child’

India’s Neeraj Chopra battled a groin injury, finishing second with his best attempt, but Fayaz feels his throw was nothing less than world-class.

Praising the former gold medalist in this event, Arshad’s coach said,

“Chopra (Neeraj) is our child; he’s a very good person, and I am glad he’s part of our athletic family. They (Arshad and Neeraj) are friends, and friendship happens because of respect, and they both respect each other. Besides, Neeraj’s throw (of 89m plus) wasn’t bad, rather it’s world-class. 

“This time, Arshad was in better form, and he won, thankfully,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Neeraj is said to have a surgery on his groin that continued troubling him even during the build-up to the Paris Olympics 2024.