Salman Iqbal Butt, the coach who played a pivotal role in Arshad Nadeem's journey to Olympic gold, shared insights into their successful strategy and the challenges they faced.
Butt, a key figure in shaping Nadeem’s Olympic success, recounted with Samaa TV the moment Arshad Nadeem threw his javelin over 90 metres during the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024. He described his initial astonishment followed by a confident smile, realizing that no one could beat Nadeem’s performance.
"I am immensely grateful to the media for their support and encouragement throughout this journey," Butt stated. He highlighted the rigorous training regimen they followed, emphasizing that despite facing significant injuries, the team remained dedicated and did not take holidays.
"Our strategy was straightforward: hard work was the key. Managing injuries was one of the biggest challenges, but we persevered," he added. He further said they will now rest for a month, after which they will resume working again.
Reflecting on the competition, Butt revealed that when Nadeem made his second throw, it was evident it would surpass 80 metres. "As a coach, you have to maintain a calm demeanour. I didn’t show any signs of pressure to Arshad, and I was focused on the throw. I could not see the second throw as a camera was in front of me. When I saw it had reached 92.97 meters, I couldn’t help but smile," Butt said.
Butt acknowledged that Nadeem’s throw outperformed even Neeraj Chopra’s best efforts, underscoring Nadeem’s exceptional performance. "Based on my experience, achieving such a target was incredibly challenging. Arshad's technique and preparation were outstanding," he noted. He revealed that he had talked to Arshad about run-up and his arms.
Looking ahead, Butt expressed optimism about the future of Javelin in Pakistan, stating, "With the growing interest in javelin, we expect improvements in performance and increased attraction to the sport."
