Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has expressed hope that he will make a world record after shattering the Olympic record in javelin throw category in Paris Games.
“I will train fully for all upcoming competitions and my next goal is … I will make the world record,” he said while addressing a state banquet held in his honour for securing the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years.
He thanked PM Shehbaz and the public for the welcome afforded to him upon his return, saying it was perhaps “even more so than my medal”.
Nadeem credited PM Shehbaz’s Punjab Sports and Youth Festival initiative during his time as the Punjab chief minister in the 2013 PML-N tenure for “sowing the seed”. He said: “That plant has still not fully grown and is still starting, but we will take it further and make it bigger and make Pakistan proud in the world.”
In his address, the premier reiterated Nadeem’s accomplishment of not only bringing an Olympic gold medal to the country after 40 years but also breaking the Olympic javelin world record.
“Today, the whole nation’s morale is soaring to the heavens,” he said and added that Nadeem’s success had made it clear that difficulties should not be worried about but confronted with strength and confidence.
The prime minister also lauded the Olympian’s mother for her upbringing and expressed gratitude to her. “This plant of success you’ve sown will not only become a big shadeful tree but I think it will lead to many more plants in our society whose roots will be strengthened and they will become trees too,” he added.
Earlier, he has called for job opportunities for national athletes that according to him would be a launch pad for their careers in professional sports.
“So I think if all departments in our country will give jobs to our players will be an encouragement for them. It will be a place from where they will start their game,” he told reporters after meeting cabinet members in Islamabad on Tuesday.
His coach Salman Iqbal Butt and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accompanied him at the media talk.
He met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and ministers after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz called on him in his village and rewarded him with Rs100 million for his Olympic win.
Nadeem made history at the 2024 Paris Games, shattering the javelin throw Olympic record with a stunning throw of 92.97 metres. This momentous achievement has filled the hearts of all Pakistanis with immense pride.
It is a major feat not just for Nadeem, but for the South Asian nation which won their last Olympic medal 32 years ago.
Before Nadeem’s remarkable victory, Pakistan had never won an individual gold medal at the Olympics.
All of Pakistan’s previous three gold medals came in field hockey, with their team winning gold in 1960, 1968 and 1984.
The 27-year-old athlete from a village near Mian Channu arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to a rousing welcome from the fans. His supporters greeted him with a shower of petals, drumbeats, and patriotic chants at the Lahore airport.
In the federal capital, Nadeem thanked God, his parents, and the media for their support. But he added that there was a long struggle of himself and his coach behind the historic feat.
The Olympic gold medal was Pakistan’s first-ever in the individual category.
The javelin thrower stated that his journey started in 2012 when he participated in the youth festival. Despite making history, he said that he would work hard to earn more laurels for the country.
Nadeem thanked the Water and Power Development Authority and the Lahore Electric Supply Company for giving him the government job.
He praised his coach Salman Iqbal Butt for taking care of him and working round the clock for winning medals. The athlete also thanked Dr Ali Sher Bajwa for working with him on his injury.
While sharing his Olympic story, Nadeem said that his first throw in the final round was fouled due to a bad run-up. But his second throw of 92.97 metres shattered all records and his coach was hopeful that it would get them the gold medal.
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Despite not breaking the world record, the javelin thrower said that he was thankful to God for honoured him with the Olympic gold medal and a new record.
He thanked the nation for giving him a hero’s welcome and Punjab CM Maryam for visiting his village earlier in the day. Nadeem also thanked the premier, sports boards, federation, and LESCO for their support.
“Hopefully in coming competitions, I will put in more hard work and win medals for Pakistan. This is the month of August month. Tomorrow on August 14, we will celebrate Independence Day with this [Olympic gold] medal,” he said.
