ISG 2025: Arshad, Yasir lead Pakistan to javelin gold, silver

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s javelin ace Arshad Nadeem on Wednesday won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw in the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 in Riyadh. 

Reigning Olympic champion Nadeem logged a best throw of 83.05 meters out of his six attempts, with the second-highest throw being 82.48, successfully defending his title in a seven-man field.

Nadeem was not the only one to bag a medal for the country as Muhammad Yasir got the silver for his best of 76.04 meters, defeating Nigeria’s Samuel Adams Kure, who finished his six with the best of 76.01 meters.

Kure looked threatening from the beginning as he set par with Pakistan’s number two Yasir before the Nigerian achieved his best in the second last attempt. However, Yasir eked out a margin of 0.03 meters in his previous effort, helping Pakistan finish with silver and gold at the games. 

Arshad was well clear of the competition as the Olympian’s throw led the event comfortably from his second attempt. Baring his fifth attempt, a foul sequence, Arshad set the bar in all of his throws, finishing above everyone in each effort. 

Arshad had also bagged the top spot at the last edition in Turkiye, setting a new record of 88.55 meters for the Games. 

Before that, he had also won bronze at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku.

However, it has not been all smooth sailing for the javelin ace as he bowed out of medal contention at the World Athletics Championships in September. Nadeem, who entered the competition recovering from a calf injury, finished outside the top eight in the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 82.75 meters.