The PSB Coaching Centre Lahore has every facility and Arshad is benefiting from them. However, he was found wanting a gym, a swimming pool and weightlifting facilities which should be provided to him at the earliest. He also needs supplements which are normally required during rigorous preparations for such a major competition.

Arshad is the first athlete in Pakistan’s history to have directly qualified for the Olympics with a stunning 86.29 metre throw during the 13thSouth Asian Games in Nepal in 2019. Because of the Covid situation he remained at home for most of the last year. However, eventually the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) owned him and gave him the camp at Lahore which is a good thing. The PSB has also promised to sponsor his foreign training if it is possible in coming months. The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has already managed a foreign training for him in Kazakhstan but that seems difficult due to border restrictions because of Covid-19. And what I believe is that Arshad will have to train on his home soil until the Olympics as the coronavirus situation does not seem to be getting normal. Yes, because of vaccination good news may come for public in general and athletes in particular in future. Arshad also needs some high standard shoes and javelins which I think should be imported so that he could train with them for the world’s biggest competition. His coach Fayyaz Hussain Bukhari told me during a discussion that Arshad is in the best part of his preparation which he has been doing for the last five to six years.

“Yes, he is in the best phase of his preparations and will fight for gold,” Fayyaz told ‘The News on Sunday’ (TNS) in an interview.

“We are slowly and gradually achieving our best and I believe he will get gold in Tokyo,” said Fayyaz, who has been working with Arshad for several years.

He said that Arshad is a complete package and can serve the country for the next few years. “He is young. He is not only training for the Olympics but for other major events as well. He will bring so many laurels for the country in the next few years,” said Fayyaz, who helped Arshad during last year’s lockdown when the athlete was staying at his hometown in Khanewal. Fayyaz even used to go to his village to meet him and inquire about his health and give him confidence in those tough days when a training camp was not possible.

I have rarely seen such coaches during my 20 years of journalistic career. He looks very dedicated and keeps a close look on the body language and every moment and action of Arshad. He takes care of Arshad’s diet, sleep and wants him unperturbed during his preparations for the national cause. Although there is a policy of rewards for winning Olympics medal but the state should also announce some package for Arshad’s coach so that his morale and confidence could further be boosted. He is doing a great job. It’s not easy for anyone to live in the wilderness for months and prepare a top seed for the top event. I hope the ministry of IPC understands my point. Even Punjab government should also announce rewards for both Arshad and his coach ahead of the Olympics. This would increase their confidence and they would definitely return victorious from Japan. Such steps are done for motivation. Arshad is such a big asset but it is surprising that not a single sponsor has owned him so far. The sponsors don’t realise that he is not a cricketer whose achievements would be known to a few states of the world but he is an athlete and if he clicks in Tokyo the whole world will acknowledge his achievement which will also benefit the sponsors.

By winning bronze in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, Arshad has already shown some glimpses of a top-class player. He remained world No3 a few years ago on the World Athletics Under-20 rankings.

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