Arshad Nadeem honored with multiple cash prizes after his historic gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024
Ace Pakistan javelin thrower and Paris Olympics 2024 gold medalist Arshad Nadeem, has been honored with multiple cash prizes after achieving the country’s first individual Olympic gold medal in 40 years. Notably, Nadeem became the first athlete to win a yellow metal for Pakistan in athletics.
Nadeem made an incredible throw of 92.97m to create a new Olympic record after ending the men’s javelin throw final with another impressive throw surpassing 90m. He broke the Olympic Record set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway (90.57m) at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a cash prize of 100 million PKR while Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government announced 50 million PKR for Nadeem. Additionally, the Sukkur City Mayor announced a ‘gold crown’.
Furthermore, Nawaz also stated that a sports city named after Nadeem will be constructed in his hometown of Khanewal in Punjab province. Additionally, two sports facilities in Karachi and Sukkur cities of Sindh will be named after Nadeem.
Former Pakistan cricket team captain and ex-Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also congratulated Arshad Nadeem on X (formerly Twitter).
“Congratulations to Pakistan’s Olympic flag bearer Arshad Nadeem for an absolute brilliant javelin performance winning a gold medal for Pakistan. His persistence & perseverance has done him & the nation proud. It is the first time any Pakistani has won an individual gold for athletics in the Olympics. He is an inspiration for our younger generation,” Imran Khan wrote on X.
Arshad Nadeem faced financial issues ahead of Paris Olympics 2024
Notably, Arshad Nadeem suffered from financial issues, including poor facilities, in the country ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024. He requested a new javelin prior to the Games as his old one had worn out. As per reports, Neeraj Chopra helped Nadeem procure necessary equipments to prepare for the Games.
After his gold medal win in Paris, Nardeem’s first message to his parents was that he would be aiming to build a proper academy for athletes in or near his village to groom them. Here's what Nadeem's father Muhammad Ashraf revealed about the javelin thrower's struggle during his early days.
“People have no idea how Arshad got to this place today. How his fellow villagers and relatives used to donate money so that he could travel to other cities for his training and events in his early days." [H/t Economic Times]