LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 9th Aug, 2024) Arshad Nadeem won gold medal in the men’s javelin on Thursday, beating defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India to clinch Pakistan’s first Olympic Athletic medal in Paris Olympics 2024, besides breaking the previous Olympic record with a 92.97-metre massive throw.
Arshad launched a throw of 92.97-meter in his second attempt which was enough for him to secure gold medal.
Nadeem threw his arms up in celebration after breaking the Olympic record on his second throw with a stunning 92.97 metres – the best in the world this year.
Chopra, comfortably ahead in qualifiers and seemed to be the favourite to win, looked off his best form. His best of 89.45 was also his only valid attempt as he fouled on his five other attempts.
Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal ending the 32-year wait for the country with Olympics 118-year history-best 92.97 meters throw.
It may be mentioned here that Grenada’s Anderson Peters won bronze with 88.54, a redemptive moment for the two-time world champion after he failed to make it to the final at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
As Arshad Nadeem gears up to clinch gold at the ongoing Paris Olympics today, former Olympians who won Olympic medals for Pakistan 32 years ago lauded Arshad for clinching gold medal in Paris Olympics 2024.
Former celebrated hockey players, Qamar Ibrahim and Tahir Zaman, both of whom participated and won bronze in their mega sporting event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, extended their utmost love and happiness for the national hero, bagging first ever gold medal in Athletics in the event of Javelin Through, by breaking a 118 years old world record.
Meanwhile it is worth mentioning here that despite lacking top facilities and equipment available to athletes in other countries, Nadeem has managed to shift some focus from cricket to athletics in Pakistan.
Hailing from Mian Channu, a small town in Punjab, Arshad’s journey to Olympic glory has been marked by sheer determination, and relentless hard work. Despite limited resources and training facilities, he has risen to become one of the world’s elite javelin throwers.
“Winning gold medal is a dream come true, not just for me, but for every Pakistani,” said emotional Arshad in a post-event interview on Thursday.
“I hope this victory inspires the youth of our country to aim high and believe in their potential,” Arshad said.
