Arshad Nadeem was not at his peak fitness before travelling to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, according to his former coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari, who believes the lack of full preparation contributed to the javelin star’s disappointing campaign.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, Bukhari said he noticed concerns during Arshad’s training sessions and did not see the level of sharpness required to compete for medals at a major international event.

“I saw him during his throwing sessions and did not observe the spark needed to win medals at a top competition,” Bukhari said from Lahore.

He stressed that physical fitness remains the foundation of success in athletics and argued that athletes should avoid competing if they are not fully prepared.

“Fitness is the most important thing for an athlete. If you are not fit, you should not go for an event,” he said.

Bukhari coached Arshad for eight years and guided him to qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. He said fitness had always been his top priority while working with the Olympic champion.

Recalling the period before the Tokyo Olympics, Bukhari said Arshad had contracted COVID-19 and was also struggling with an elbow injury. Despite those setbacks, he said extensive preparation helped the athlete regain form before the Games.

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“Arshad had COVID and was suffering from elbow pain before Tokyo. I worked hard with him to improve his fitness, and his performance at the Olympics showed the results,” he said.

Bukhari also called for mandatory fitness assessments before athletes are cleared to participate in international competitions, arguing that proper evaluation standards have weakened over time.

Arshad suffered a surprise exit at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after finishing ninth in the 12-man final standings following his opening three throws, missing out on a place among the top eight.

The result marked a stark contrast to his historic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he won gold with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 metres, becoming Pakistan’s first Olympic athletics champion.

Although Arshad secured several medals after his Olympic triumph, his performances have not matched the level he achieved in Paris, raising concerns about consistency and form.

Bukhari said he still believes Arshad has the ability to return to the top.

“He does not need another massive throw to prove himself. He has already done that. He now needs to correct his mindset and attitude if he wants to achieve even more,” he said.

The former coach also criticised current mentor Salman Butt, alleging that Arshad had become disconnected from the Athletics Federation of Pakistan and his former support system.

Despite his criticism, Bukhari said he remains ready to assist the athlete in regaining his best form and urged greater cooperation among Pakistan’s sports authorities to help talented athletes succeed internationally.