Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem has won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Asian Athletics Championship with a remarkable throw of 86.40 meters.

India’s Sachin Yadav claimed the silver medal with a throw of 85.16 meters, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama secured bronze with a mark of 83.75 meters.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who led the early rounds, was edged out of the medal positions, finishing fourth with a throw of 83.27 meters.

Nadeem, making his first international appearance since the Paris Olympics last year, delivered throws of 75.64m and 76.80m in his opening attempts before unleashing his gold-winning effort.

Yasir, the other Pakistani contender, recorded distances of 70.53m and 75.39m in his initial rounds.

In a dramatic moment during the final, Nadeem throwing last in the order was greeted by loud cheers and the anthem ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ as the crowd awaited his performance. The javelin star did not disappoint, rising to the occasion with a commanding throw.

During the heats held a day earlier, Nadeem had effortlessly qualified for the final with an 86.34m throw on his first and only attempt. Yasir had posted a 76.07m throw in the qualifying round.

After he punched his ticket to the final, Nadeem took to Instagram to say: “As always I would need your support and prayers.”

In August of last year, Nadeem made history by setting a new Olympic record and capturing gold in the men’s javelin final in Paris with a throw of 92.97 meters.

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