No one should criticise Arshad for not winning Olympics medal: Saadi Abbas

Prolific karate competitor Saadi Abbas agrees with Pakistan contingent’s chef-de-mission to the Tokyo Olympics Brig Zaheer Akhtar’s comments that javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem’s performance took a dip due to the excessive use of social media.

Brig Akhtar, while talking to The News, stated that use of social media by the 24-year-old and his coach in between the qualifying and final rounds turned out to be the main reason behind this failure.

Abbas, while talking to Bol News, stated that praise on the social media increased the pressure on Arshad. He added that the young athlete and his coach should have stayed away from the phone and social media.

“The way he performed in the qualifying round, people had high hopes from him and they were all praising the youngster,” he said. “That added extra pressure on him. He was a nobody a couple of days back and suddenly all the ministers, cricketers and celebrities were tweeting for him.”

Saadi further stated that the youngster should not be crticised for not winning a medal.

“He [Arshad] shouldn’t be criticised,” he said. “What have you given to that kid or his coach to blame them? No one should even ask the reason why he couldn’t win a medal. He should only be praised when he returns and chalk out a plan for his preparation for the next campaigns.”

According to the 33-year-old, it might be a blessing in disguise that Arshad didn’t win a medal.

“There must be something good in it [Arshad not winning a medal] for us,” he said. “May be a revolution of sports in Pakistan. Talha Talib and Arshad have put an outstanding show in the Olympics and it has awaken the nation the nation that it is something important.”