Arshad Nadeem won Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medal and ended a 36 year wait for silverware.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem celebrates after his Olympic record second attempt saw him win gold at the Paris Olympics. PTI
Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan has received praise for winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics. He vaulted to the top of the rankings and stood atop the podium, ahead of Neeraj Chopra, for Pakistan’s first individual gold medal at the Summer Games with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters.
Nadeem won Pakistan’s fourth gold medal at the Olympics. Field hockey produced the previous three gold medals, which were won in 1960, 1968, and 1984.
Pakistan has only won two individual medals at an Olympics before the javelin throw final: a bronze in boxing in 1988 and a bronze in wrestling in 1960.
Since 1992 in Barcelona, Pakistan has failed to secure an Olympic medal. All that changed when Nadeem made a spectacular 92.97-meter throw, winning him numerous awards and financial compensation in the process.
Rewards and recognitions bestowed on Arshad Nadeem:
PKR 10,00,00,000 (₹3.01 crore) announced by Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab
PKR 5,00,00,000 (₹1.5 crore) announced by Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Governor of Punjab
PKR 5,00,00,000 (₹1.5 crore) announced by the Chief Minister of Sindh
PKR 1,00,00,000 (₹30.16 lakhs) announced by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab
PKR 1,00,00,000 each (₹30.16 lakhs) from Pakistani singer Ali Zafar and cricketer Ahmad Shahzad through their foundations.
Highest Civil Award: The National Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution recommending that Nadeem be honoured with the highest civil award in Pakistan.
Gold Crown: Sindh Government spokesperson, Barrister Islam Shaikh, announced that Nadeem will be awarded a gold crown upon his return to Pakistan.
New Sports Stadium: A new sports stadium in Sukkur will be named after Nadeem.
Athletics Academy: Karachi will soon have the ‘Arshad Nadeem Athletics Academy,’ as announced by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
Solar Energy System: Beacon Energy, a leading solar energy company, will gift Nadeem a solar energy system.
