Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem finished fifth at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest despite recording a season-best throw of 81.49m.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the men’s javelin title on Sunday with a commanding 91.09m effort. Grenada’s Anderson Peters took silver with 86.18m, while Germany’s Julian Weber secured bronze with 85.89m.
The result offered Arshad some improvement after a difficult season. However, the Olympic champion fell short of the top-four qualification requirement for the decisive fourth round.
Arshad improves through three attempts
The Mian Chunnu-born athlete opened with 74.42m before improving to 79.66m on his second attempt. He then produced his best effort, 81.49m, with his third and final throw.
His series showed steady progress, adding 7.07m between his opening and closing attempts. But the competition format left him without another opportunity to challenge for a medal.
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Only the leading four athletes advanced after three rounds. Arshad’s fifth-place finish therefore ended his campaign before the final throws.
His season-best performance still fell 11.48m short of the Olympic record of 92.97m he achieved while winning gold at Paris 2024.
That gap underlined the challenge facing the Pakistani star as he prepares for another major competition later this month.
Pathirage takes control of medal contest
Weber established the early lead with an opening throw of 84.09m. Peters moved ahead in the second round with 86.18m, while Pathirage recorded 85.69m.
Weber subsequently improved to 85.89m, keeping himself in medal contention. Pathirage then moved into first place with 87.11m on his third attempt.
The Sri Lankan delivered the competition’s standout moment in the fourth round, extending his lead with 91.09m. His winning mark exceeded Peters’ best by 4.91m.
Peters managed 82.63m on his final attempt, while Weber finished with 78.75m. Neither threatened Pathirage’s lead.
The victory continued Pathirage’s strong run after his Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. He also won the Diamond League Final in Brussels earlier this month with 89.04m.
Asian Games offer next test
Arshad has struggled this season to reproduce the distances that brought him Olympic gold.
His 2026 campaign began with a ninth-place finish in Switzerland. He then endured a disappointing Commonwealth Games appearance in Glasgow, where 77.41m failed to carry him into the final round.
His Budapest best improved on that Glasgow mark by 4.08m. Even so, the performance left him outside the medals against several leading international rivals.
Read More: What Went Wrong for Arshad Nadeem in Glasgow?
Attention now turns to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The men’s javelin final is scheduled for September 28.
Pathirage’s recent titles and latest throw beyond 90 metres make him a strong favourite. Arshad will seek a further improvement as he attempts to regain his place among the leading contenders.
