Pakistan’s Arshad wins gold at Paris Olympics, ending 40-year wait

PARIS: Arshad Nadeem set Stadia de France ablaze by setting a new Olympic record on his way to winning the javelin throw gold medal—Pakistan’s first ever in an individual sport—as his second throw covered a distance of 92.97 metres.

The six-feet-three-inch-tall Arshad made the country proud by hurling the javelin to 92.97 metres, improving the Olympic record by over 2.50 metres. His sensational second throw got a standing ovation from the packed-to-capacity crowd.

Following his no-throw at the start of the competition, Arshad came back strongly to make history, sending the entire stadium into a state of utter surprise with a new Olympic record throw. He improved on Norwegian Thorkildsen Andreas’s 16-year-old record of 90.57s, set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Earlier, Pakistan had won gold medals only in hockey, the last being in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Other individual medals have been bronze—Abdul Majeed in wrestling (1964, Tokyo Olympics) and Hussain Shah in boxing (1988, Seoul Olympics).

After finishing fifth in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Arshad rose to the occasion three years later in Paris. His last attempt also crossed 90 metres but his second throw was enough to make him an Olympic record-holder and a gold medalist.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem on winning the gold medal in the Olympics and said Arshad Nadeem is the pride of the nation. “Arshad Nadeem, you are the pride of the entire nation,” President Zardari said in his message to Nadeem on winning the Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on his X timeline: “Bravo Arshad! History made! Pakistan’s first Olympic men’s javelin champion Arshad Nadeem brings home a historic gold medal at Paris 2024! You’ve made the whole nation proud young man.”

He greeted the whole nation on this great achievement of Arshad Nadeem for not only winning the gold medal but also setting the world record in Olympics.

The Armed Forces of Pakistan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and the services chiefs also extended their warmest felicitations to the nation on this momentous occasion, as Arshad Nadeem etched his name in history by becoming the first Pakistani athlete to secure an individual gold medal for Pakistan at the World Olympics.

They said this remarkable achievement is a testament to Nadeem’s unwavering dedication, unrelenting perseverance, and exemplary hard work, serving as a beacon of inspiration for the entire nation. His triumph is a resounding affirmation of Pakistani talent and determination, showcasing the country’s potential to excel on the global stage. They added by clinching the first-ever individual gold medal in the Javelin throw at the World Olympics, Nadeem has brought immense pride and joy to the people of Pakistan, cementing his status as a national hero and an iconic symbol of sporting excellence.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced Rs100 million for Nadeem, saying by winning the gold medal, Nadeem has given the nation a present on the occasion of the Independence Day.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced a cash award of Rs50 million for Nadeem in recognition of his outstanding achievement at the 2024 Olympics. The chief minister lauded Nadeem’s dedication and exceptional performance, calling it a moment of pride for the entire nation.