Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem secured his country's first-ever individual gold at the Paris Olympics with a record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 meters, surpassing the previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters.
The 27-year-old from Khanewal village in Punjab outperformed a competitive field, including his Indian rival and defending champion, Neeraj Chopra, who secured silver with a season's best of 89.45 meters. Despite Chopra's strong performance, the 26-year-old Indian athlete has yet to break the 90-meter barrier, a milestone now appearing to weigh heavily on him.
Neeraj Chopra, originally from Panipat, his silver and Nadeem's gold medal reflects the legacy of the undivided Punjab, showcasing this historical connection at the Paris Olympics.
Nadeem's victory is even more remarkable given the financial hardships he faced throughout his career. While Pakistan sent seven athletes to the Paris Olympics, only Nadeem and his coach, Salman Fayyaz Butt, received financial support from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). The other six athletes failed to qualify for the finals in their respective events.
Nadeem's journey to Olympic gold has been challenging. His father, Muhammad Ashraf, recounted how villagers and relatives pooled money to support Nadeem's early training and travels. Despite suffering from elbow, knee, and back injuries and lacking access to top-tier facilities and equipment, Nadeem has achieved significant milestones, including a silver medal at the World Championships last year and a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a 90.18-meter throw.
The camaraderie and rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra have been well-documented, with Chopra even supporting Nadeem on social media when he appealed for a new javelin earlier this year. Nadeem's success has captured the attention of Pakistanis, shifting their focus from cricket to track and field.
Following Nadeem's qualification for the Olympic finals, celebrations erupted in his village, with his family and fellow villagers chanting "Pakistan Zindabad" and distributing sweets. His father expressed pride in his son's achievement, calling it the proudest moment for their family and village.
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