Arshad Nadeem: Pakistani Olympic record with 92.97m journey to Olympic gold 2024
Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan has achieved a historic milestone by securing the nation’s first-ever Olympic track and field medal.
On Thursday at the Stade de France in Paris, the 27-year-old secured gold in the men’s javelin final, setting a new Olympic record. He also defeated the reigning champion, Neeraj Chopra of India.
After setting a new Olympic record with a remarkable throw of 92.97 meters on his second attempt, Arshad Nadeem celebrated triumphantly. This throw is the longest in the world this year.
Neeraj Chopra, who led in the qualifiers and was widely expected to win, did not perform at his best. His best throw of 89.45 meters was his only valid attempt, as he fouled on the other five throws.
Anderson Peters of Grenada earned the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54 meters. This was a significant comeback for Peters, a two-time world champion who did not make it to the final at the Tokyo Games three years prior.
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Olympics
Despite facing challenges, including recovering from a knee injury earlier this year and competing with limited facilities in a country where cricket is predominant, Nadeem from Mian Channu, a small town in Punjab, made history for Pakistan.
This victory is notable as it is Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in eight Games. The most recent medal was a bronze in men’s hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Prior to this, Pakistan had won six Olympic medals in men’s hockey and one each in men’s wrestling and boxing.
Proud of Arshad Nadeem
Two months prior to the Olympics, Al Jazeera’s Abid Hussain spent a day with Arshad Nadeem as he prepared for the Games. In June, Nadeem expressed confidence in his physical condition, stating he felt “strong and fit” and was optimistic about his performance in Paris.
While the world record still belongs to Jan Zelezny of Czechia with a throw of 98.48 meters, Nadeem’s new Olympic record and the end of a long wait for his country sparked widespread celebration among his compatriots.
Pakistan’s Cricketer Fakhar Zaman
Pakistan’s cricketer Fakhar Zaman expressed national pride on X, while Nadeem’s mentor and former coach, Rasheed Ahmad Saqi, was deeply moved by the achievement. Saqi described Nadeem’s victory as a “miracle” and a “gift” for the nation, especially as the country approaches its Independence Day.
Saqi had been confident in Nadeem’s potential, predicting that he would win gold and set a new record. “I believed he would break some record, either his own or the Olympic record, and that’s exactly what he did,” Saqi said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised Nadeem, acknowledging his historic accomplishment with a message on X: “You’ve made the whole nation proud.”
Arshad Nadeem Home City
In Mian Channu, Pakistan, family members marked the occasion by presenting sweets to Razya Parveen (left), the mother of Arshad Nadeem, after his triumph in the men’s javelin throw final.
