August 14th 2024.
On Tuesday, amidst the ongoing celebrations in Pakistan, Olympic javelin gold medalist Arshad Nadeem was presented with a whopping sum of 250 million rupees. The country's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, made the announcement at a special ceremony in Islamabad, where Nadeem was being honored for his record-breaking throw at the Paris Games. This announcement came just hours after Punjab's chief minister, Mariam Nawaz, visited Nadeem's humble home in a village in the Mian Channu district and presented him with a check for 100 million rupees. She also handed him the keys to a brand new car with a special registration number, "PAK 92.97," to commemorate his incredible throw of 92.97 meters at the Olympics, which broke the previous record and secured him the gold medal. Nadeem's coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, was also rewarded with 5 million rupees for his contribution to Nadeem's success.
During the ceremony, Sharif expressed his joy and pride, stating that Nadeem's achievement had brought immense happiness to the hearts of 250 million Pakistanis, especially as the country was gearing up to celebrate Independence Day the next day. "Today, every Pakistani is elated and the morale of the entire nation is at an all-time high," he added, while announcing Nadeem's reward. Nadeem, whose father is a daily wage laborer, was overwhelmed by the support and recognition he received from his country. "The feeling is indescribable," he said on Tuesday, adding that he hopes to stay fit and break the world record one day.
Last Thursday, Nadeem's throw at the Olympics set off waves of celebrations across Pakistan as he easily surpassed the previous record set by Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008. It was also far ahead of India's Neeraj Chopra, who won the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics with a season-best of 89.45 meters. "Arshad Nadeem has brought unprecedented happiness to the nation," said Nawaz in a statement. This was Pakistan's first Olympic gold in 40 years since the men's field hockey team won in Los Angeles in 1984. The country's last Olympic medal of any color was a bronze in field hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
"The heights that a person can reach with the blessings of their parents' prayers," Nawaz wrote on her social media account, sharing a photo with Nadeem and his mother, Razia Parveen. Later that day, Nadeem and his family were flown to Islamabad on a special flight from Multan to attend a reception hosted by Sharif, who also paid tribute to the athlete during a cabinet meeting. "Nadeem has elevated the name of Pakistan worldwide because of his hard work, his parents' prayers, and his coach's training," the prime minister said.
Pakistan is primarily known for its cricket in the world of sports, with the country's victory at the 1992 World Cup being its crowning achievement. The current test captain of the Pakistani cricket team, Shan Masood, expressed his admiration for Nadeem's success, saying, "Seeing him on the podium, waving the flag and ringing the Olympic bell was truly incredible." He also mentioned that the team was looking forward to the upcoming test series against Bangladesh, starting on August 21 in Rawalpindi.
Nadeem's achievement has also caught the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board, with the red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, announcing that Nadeem will be invited to the team's dressing room during the first test match. "Having him visit and share his gold medal with the team would be a fantastic boost, especially with the Olympic spirit still in the air," Gillespie said. "It was a wonderful moment, and we extend an open invitation for him." Nadeem was also honored with a special postage stamp depicting his record-breaking throw, showcasing his immense contribution to the sporting world and bringing pride to his country.
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