Athletics Archives

Neeraj Chopra also fails to bag medal in World Athletics Championship

TOKYO: Defending champion Neeraj Chopra joined Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in crashing out of the World Athletics Championship at the Japan National Stadium on Wednesday, as both failed to reach the podium.

Chopra started brightly, throwing 83.65m on his first attempt and improving to 84.03m on his second.

However, his rhythm faltered thereafter as his third throw was ruled invalid, while his fourth landed at a modest 82.86m, and his fifth was another foul.

The Indian star ultimately finished eighth, missing out on a medal.

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Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, meanwhile, endured an equally tough outing. He managed 82.73m with his opening throw and slightly bettered it to 82.75m on his third attempt after a foul in between.

Another foul in his fourth sealed his exit, as the distance fell short of the qualifying mark for the latter stages.

The final podium saw Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott clinch gold, Grenada’s Anderson Peters secure silver, and the United States’ Curtis Thompson bag bronze.

Earlier in the qualifiers, Arshad Nadeem had kept Pakistan’s hopes alive with an 85.28m throw on his third attempt after struggling with 76.99m and 74.17m in his first two. However, he was unable to replicate that form in the decisive round.

READ: Arshad Nadeem crashes out of World Athletics Championship

Arshad Nadeem crashes out of World Athletics Championship

TOKYO: Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has crashed out of the World Athletics Championships at the Japan National Stadium here on Wednesday after failing to cross the qualification mark in the final round.

Arshad opened with a throw of 82.73m, followed by a foul on his second attempt, and managed only a slight improvement to 82.75m on his third.

In his fourth attempt, he made another foul, causing him to crash out of the competition, as the effort was insufficient to secure a place among the finalists.

Nadeem failed to qualify for the top eight, which was necessary for three additional attempts in the final, ultimately eliminating his chances for a medal.

Meanwhile, his arch-rival and defending champion Neeraj Chopra began strongly, landing 83.65m with his first throw and extending it to 84.03m on his second. Although his third attempt was ruled invalid, Chopra comfortably advanced to the next stage.

Group B was headlined by Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters, who sealed his place in the final with a massive 89.53m throw.

From Group A, Chopra, Julien Weber, and Dawid Wegener also booked their spots with consistent performances.

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Arshad Nadeem departs for Japan to compete in World Athletics Championships

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem departed for Japan on Tuesday to take part in the World Athletics Championships.

Nadeem flew out from Allama Iqbal International Airport alongside his coach, Salman Butt, after completing a final training session at Punjab Stadium earlier in the day.

Speaking ahead of his departure, the star athlete expressed confidence in his preparations and vowed to give his all on the global stage.

“Preparations have gone well, and I am determined to give my best,” Nadeem said. “After my surgery in England, I underwent intensive training in Lahore to get back in top shape.”

Arshad Nadeem underwent a crucial muscle surgery in Cambridge in July after sustaining a calf injury that had forced him to withdraw from an event in Switzerland.

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Doctors discovered partial muscle damage, which required immediate surgical intervention.

His rehabilitation was overseen in London by renowned specialist Dr. Ali Bajwa before he returned to Pakistan last month.

Since then, Nadeem has gradually built up from light rehabilitation drills to full-scale training, including throwing practice.

The javelin thrower will be in action in the qualifying round of the World Athletics Championships on September 17, with the final scheduled for the following day.

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Ugandan stars to miss World Athletics Championships

Uganda’s half-marathon world record holder, Jacob Kiplimo, and double Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, will miss this month’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo due to personal reasons, the country’s athletics federation said late on Tuesday.

Kiplimo, 24, became the first person to run the half-marathon in under 57 minutes when he set a stunning world record of 56 minutes, 42 seconds in Barcelona this year.

Cheptegei, 28, won gold in the 5,000 metres at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and in the 10,000 metres at last year’s Paris Games, but finished ninth in the Tokyo Marathon in March this year.

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Uganda’s Olympic Committee President Don Rukare said it was “unfortunate” that the two stars would miss the championship in the Japanese capital.

“We are respecting the personal reasons the two have earlier advanced,” Rukare told AFP.

“We are having consultations on the way forward, but there should not be any reason for Ugandans and sports enthusiasts to be alarmed,” he added.

Uganda is yet to release the list of athletes set to compete at the World Championships, which will be held from September 13–21.

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Olympic marathon champion Hassan opts for Sydney ahead of worlds

Reigning Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan plans to skip the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, instead preferring to be part of history in Sydney.

The Dutch multi-distance superstar is one of the marquee drawcards at Sunday’s Sydney Marathon, which will be run for the first time as one of the elite World Marathon Majors, joining the likes of London, New York, and Boston.

Hassan, who was born in Ethiopia, said the turnaround for the world championships barely two weeks later was too tight.

“In two weeks or three weeks, I don’t even know if I’m going to recover,” Hassan, 32, told reporters. “Like the first couple of days, I barely walk after a marathon.

“It was a hard decision for me because… I have never skipped any world championships (since her debut in 2015).

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“But I really want to be part of the Sydney Marathon because it’s the first major marathon (in Australia). Who doesn’t want to be part of the first major marathon?”

The world championships are on September 13-21.

Sifan Hassan won the 5,000m and 10,000m titles at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and came third over 1500m, so she has fond memories of the Japanese capital.

“I really thought about it. I really thought about what to do, but my heart really wanted to be (in Sydney),” she said.

Pre-race favourite Hassan will be joined on the starting line by defending Sydney champion Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa and Kenya’s five-time major winner Brigid Kosgei.

Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge is the headline attraction in the men’s field.

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Eliud Kipchoge feeling the pressure ahead of Sydney Marathon

Eliud Kipchoge says the desire to inspire others drove him to enter this week’s Sydney Marathon, with the Kenyan legend admitting there was “huge pressure” on him to win.

The 40-year-old, arguably the greatest men’s marathon runner of all time, headlines the field on Sunday in a race being run for the first time as one of the elite World Marathon Majors.

It puts it on a par with London, New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, and Boston, and two-time Olympic champion and 11-time major winner Kipchoge was eager to be involved.

“It’s a huge pressure for me to win the race, but there’s more pressure for me to inspire more people to take up running,” Kipchoge, who is aiming for a major success in his fifth different city, told Olympics.com.

“For me, there’s more pressure to show the people in Australia and beyond what’s needed to enjoy running and showcase my longevity as far as marathon running is concerned.”

Eliud Kipchoge failed to finish a marathon for the first time at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sparking speculation that his career may be nearing an end.

However, he ran the London Marathon in April, finishing sixth, and said he was unfazed by talk of retirement.

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“I have nothing more to prove to the world,” he said, adding that he wants to keep building on his legacy.

“I tell young people that the more you stay in any profession, the more you gain knowledge, get more expertise, and I believe that’s what I am showing.

“What I learned from London is that consistency and patience still rule the day.”

Joining Kipchoge on the start line and looming as a serious contender will be fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, who has never finished lower than fourth in a World Marathon Major.

The depth of the field is bolstered by Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, a two-time Tokyo Marathon winner, while the women are led by reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and five-time major winner Brigid Kosgei.

Kenya’s Brimin Misoi (2:06.17) and Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa (2:21.41) both smashed the course record to secure victory in the men’s and women’s races in Sydney last year, before it was elevated to major status.

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Arshad Nadeem ruled out of Diamond League due to fitness concerns

Pakistan’s star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, has been ruled out of the upcoming Diamond League due to his fitness issues.

According to details, Arshad’s medical team has advised him against participating in the elite event as he continues his recovery from a serious leg injury.

The Olympic medalist is currently undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program in England, where he has gradually started to put weight on his injured leg after surgery, an encouraging step forward in his recovery journey.

However, according to Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa, who performed Arshad’s surgery in Cambridge last month, Arshad has not yet completed his rehabilitation, and the nature of his injury is serious, which means recovery will take time.

Dr. Bajwa revealed that the injury involved partial muscle damage and required immediate medical intervention.

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“Arshad’s latest injury is entirely new and extremely serious,” Dr. Bajwa confirmed.

Post-surgery, Arshad Nadeem has been based in the UK, where his rehab continues under the supervision of British specialists. While the early signs of progress are encouraging, the timeline for his full recovery remains uncertain.

Importantly, Arshad Nadeem’s participation in the upcoming World Athletics Championship will also depend entirely on the outcome of his rehabilitation programme.

A final decision regarding his involvement in the prestigious event will only be taken once his rehab is successfully completed.

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Arshad Nadeem begins rehab after successful surgery in UK

Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has officially begun his rehabilitation programme after undergoing successful muscle surgery in the United Kingdom (UK) earlier this week.

The surgery was conducted by renowned sports surgeon Dr Ali Sher Bajwa in Cambridge, who diagnosed partial damage to Arshad’s calf muscle, an injury that had been bothering the Olympic champion for some time.

The decision to skip the recent international meet in Switzerland turned out to be a wise one, allowing early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Arshad Nadeem has now started light walking as part of the initial rehab phase.

Dr Bajwa is closely monitoring the recovery process and is expected to conduct a follow-up check-up next week to determine the timeline for resuming full training.

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For now, Arshad’s rehab will consist of controlled walking and basic exercises. His return to training will be phased and gradual, depending on how his body responds in the coming weeks.

Coach Salman Iqbal Butt and the medical team remain optimistic about a smooth and complete recovery, keeping a close eye on progress.

Arshad Nadeem has been in top form over the past year, having made history at the Paris Olympics with a record-breaking 92.97-metre throw to win Pakistan’s first-ever athletics gold.

He followed it up with another golden performance at the Asian Athletics Championship, throwing 86.40 metres.

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Arshad Nadeem undergoes successful muscle surgery in UK

Pakistan’s star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, has successfully undergone muscle surgery in the United Kingdom (UK), marking a crucial step in his recovery from a lingering calf injury that recently forced him to miss competition.

The surgery was carried out under the supervision of renowned UK-based specialist Dr Ali Bajwa in Cambridge, where medical experts identified partial damage to the 28-year-old’s calf muscle that required immediate surgical intervention.

With the procedure now complete, Nadeem has entered the rehabilitation and physiotherapy phase, with his medical team and coach Salman Iqbal Butt hopeful of a smooth and timely recovery.

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The reigning Olympic champion had pulled out of a recent international event in Switzerland as a precaution, following recurring discomfort in his leg.

The decision to rest and properly assess the injury proved timely, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment.

Arshad Nadeem has been in sensational form over the past year. He made history at the Paris Olympics by smashing the javelin record with a monstrous 92.97-metre throw to secure Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold in athletics.

He followed it up with another gold at the Asian Athletics Championship last month with a throw of 86.40 metres.

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‘World’s oldest marathon runner’ dies aged 114 in road accident

India’s Fauja Singh, believed to be the world’s oldest marathon runner, has died in a road accident aged 114, his biographer said Tuesday.

Singh, an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado”, died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state’s Jalandhar district on Monday.

“My Turbaned Tornado is no more,” Fauja’s biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X.

“He was struck by an unidentified vehicle… in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja.”

Singh did not have a birth certificate, but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911.

He ran full marathons (42 kilometre) till the age of 100. His last race was a 10-kilometre (six-mile) event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon when 101, where he finished in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

He became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on television.

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Although widely regarded as the world’s oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records as he could not prove his age, saying that birth certificates did not exist when he was born under British colonial rule in 2011.

Singh was a torchbearer for the Olympics at Athens 2004 and London 2012, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

His strength and vitality were credited to a routine of farm walks and a diet including Indian sweet “laddu” packed with dry fruits and home-churned curd.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media.

“Fauja Singh was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness,” said Modi on X

“He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”

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