Pakistan’s top javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem will not take part in the upcoming athletic events in Finland due to injury, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Pakistan’s Athletics Federation (PAF) confirmed the development on Tuesday, saying the decision was taken soon after Arshad Nadeem suffered a leg injury during a training session in Lahore.

The PAF further stated that the athlete’s withdrawal was not based on fitness but on a lack of time to get used to the Finnish weather.

Earlier, Nadeem received a visa for the Schengen region, which would enable him to compete in the Diamond League events in Finland and France.

Shah Jahan, the federation’s secretary, explained that they want Nadeem to rest before the big events. He said that it was very important for him to stay fit before the Olympics in Paris. "To keep Arshad Nadeem safe from injuries before the Olympics, we have devised a plan," Jahan stated.

"Nadeem will compete in the Diamond League in Paris in July, which will give him the opportunity to acclimatise before the Paris Olympics. Training in the hot weather in Lahore led to some fitness issues for Nadeem. However, this wasn’t the only issue; instead, the schedule made it difficult for him to adjust to the weather in Finland,” he added.

Reporter Hafiz Shahbaz