LAHORE, Aug 10 :The 21st century stands witness to achievements of some of the most influential heroes in the world. Arshad Nadeem stands among the men who took the history into their bare hands and bent it according to their will.
\nPakistan\u2019s son Arshad Nadeem rewrote history by wining gold medal in the men\u2019s javelin on Thursday, beating defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India to clinch Pakistan\u2019s first Olympic Athletic medal in Paris Olympics 2024, besides breaking the previous Olympic record with a 92.97-metre massive throw.
\nArshad launched a throw of 92.97-meter in his second attempt which was enough for him to secure gold medal.
\nNadeem threw his arms up in celebration after breaking the Olympic record on his second throw with a stunning 92.97 metres \u2013 the best in the world this year.
\nChopra, comfortably ahead in qualifiers and seemed to be the favourite to win, looked off his best form. His best of 89.45 was also his only valid attempt as he fouled on his five other attempts.
\nArshad Nadeem won the gold medal ending the 32-year wait for the country with Olympics 118-year history-best 92.97 meters throw. Grenada\u2019s Anderson Peters won bronze with 88.54, a redemptive moment for the two-time world champion after he failed to make it to the final at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
\nFormer celebrated hockey players, Qamar Ibrahim and Tahir Zaman, both of whom participated and won bronze in their mega sporting event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, extended their utmost love and happiness for the national hero, bagging first-ever gold medal in Athletics in the event of Javelin throw, by breaking a 118 years old world record.
\nDespite lacking top facilities and equipment available to athletes in other countries, Nadeem managed to shift some focus from cricket to athletics in Pakistan. Hailing from Mian Channu, a small town in Punjab, Arshad\u2019s journey to Olympic glory has been marked by sheer determination, and relentless hard work. Despite limited resources and training facilities, he has risen to become one of the world\u2019s elite javelin throwers.
\n\u201cWinning gold medal is a dream come true, not just for me, but for every Pakistani,\u201d said emotional Arshad in a post-event interview on Thursday. \u201cI hope this victory inspires the youth of our country to aim high and believe in their potential,\u201d Arshad said.
\nMeanwhile, Pakistani celebrities have started congratulating the ace javelin thrower for his historic win in the Paris Olympics 2024. Celebrity couple Hira and Mani, showing excitement over Arshad\u2019s win, said they believed that the athlete would cross the 90-metre mark.
\nPakistanis should start respecting sports and sportsmen, said Mani while giving salute to Arshad for his amazing victory in the Olympic tournament. Noted host and actor Fahad Mustafa in a statement, congratulated Pakistan for winning the first-ever individual gold medal. \u201cArshad Nadeem, God bless you. Pakistan Zindabad!\u201d he exclaimed.
\nSinger Fakhir Mehmood said Arshad has made his heart happy. \u201cWe are so proud of you. Pakistan Zindabad,\u201d he said. Actor Mahira Khan, taking to Instagram, wrote: \u201cWhat a throw! Breaking records, yes sir.\u201d
\nFollowing Arshad\u2019s win, Ushna Shah took to Instagram, saying: \u201cTeary eyed, big smile and now [got to] replace this MJ [Michael Jordan] with an AN [Arshad Nadeem] one.\u201d
\n\u201cGold medal in Olympics after 32 years in Pakistan. History made,\u201d write Sajal Aly on her Instagram story.
\nComedian Ahmad Ali Butt demanded that Arshad should be given a \u201cbrand new house, brand deals, sports academy and more because he\u2019s proved he\u2019s best\u201d.
\nHe also gave a hint of a movie, saying \u201cbiopic on the way\u201d and tagged movie actor Humayun Saeed.
\nMeanwhile, in a goodwill gesture, India\u2019s javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra\u2019s performance struck an emotional chord with his mother Saroj Devi, who didn\u2019t shy away from heaping on praises for Arshad Nadeem, said various live media televised reports from Paris Olympics. Soon after Nadeem\u2019s record-breaking achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024 Thursday night, the silver medallist\u2019s mother praised the gold medal winner by saying: \u201cArshad bhi mera beta hai (Arshad is like a son to me).\u201d
\n\u201cWe are very happy. For us, silver is also equal to gold. The one who got the gold is also like our son. He was injured, so we are happy with his performance. I will cook his favourite food,\u201d she said.
\nThe 27-year-old Pakistani ace javelin thrower, in an exclusive conversation with a local channel said that \u201cIt was my day. I could have thrown it at a greater distance.\u201d The incredible athlete, revealing the reason behind his win, said he was \u201cin the rhythm\u201d and \u201chopeful\u201d to win the gold medal with how far he had launched it.
\nEarlier, in a thrilling final, Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 metres and earned a gold medal after 40 years. The last time Pakistan won a medal that was in 1992 when the national hockey team clinched bronze by defeating the Netherlands 4-3 at the Barcelona Olympics.
\nPunjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a reward of Rs 10 crores for the javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem while congratulating him on winning a gold medal for Pakistan in the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE, Aug 10 :The 21st century stands witness to achievements of some of the most influential heroes in the world. Arshad Nadeem stands among the men who took the history into their bare hands and bent it according to their will. Pakistan\u2019s son Arshad Nadeem […]<\/p>\n
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