In a sorry state of affairs, Pakistan”s ace Arshad Nadeem is struggling to find a new javelin. Nadeem, Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Neeraj Chopra”s friend and enemy, on Thursday said that he has been struggling to find a new javelin of international standards, adding that he has been using just one javelin for the last seven to eight years.

“It has now got to a stage where the javelin is damaged and I have asked the national federation and my coach to do something about it before the Paris Olympics. When I started off in 2015, competing in international events I got this javelin,” he said.

“For an international athlete aiming to win a medal in the Olympic Games, you need proper equipment and training facilities,” the athlete who recently underwent surgery for an elbow problem, added.

The 27-year-old had created a new javelin throw record, hitting a 90.18m mark, at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham to claim the title. It was a special achievement for Pakistan as it ended their 60-year-old wait for a medal in the CWG.

He has also developed a friendship with India”s Chopra. “I felt good that Arshad threw well. We spoke and discussed how both our countries are growing now. Earlier there were European athletes but now we have reached their level,” Chopra had said last August after the two had made track and field history by finishing one-two in the javelin throw at the World Championship