Arshad Nadeem to Receive 10 Crore Prize from Government Ahead of Paris Olympics

Arshad Nadeem, the javelin thrower from Pakistan, has made history by winning gold at the Paris Olympics. This victory also includes setting a new Olympic record. In recognition, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a cash prize of 10 Crore PKR. Additionally, a sports city named after Nadeem will be built in his hometown, Khanewal. This gesture honors his success and acknowledges the challenges he faced due to limited resources and facilities.

Nadeem’s journey to this gold medal has been marked by significant challenges. Despite winning a Commonwealth Games gold and a World Championship silver in 2022 and 2023, he struggled to afford new equipment. He had to seek crowd funding for a new javelin before the Paris Olympics, as his old one was worn out. Upon winning, Nadeem called his parents from Paris, expressing gratitude and sharing his future aspirations.

“He was thankful to Allah for granting him such glory. Moreover, he expressed hope that his Olympic gold will help him build a sports academy for athletes in his rural area,” his father, Muhammad Arshad, told PTI.

Nadeem has consistently pushed for better facilities for track and field athletes in Punjab. He has highlighted the difficulties he faced, including inadequate training resources, coaching, funding, and equipment. As a result, he has advocated for improvements in these areas.

“We haven’t slept since last night due to the flood of congratulations and calls,” his father added.

Nadeem’s elder brother, Muhammad Azeem, highlighted the untapped potential in rural Punjab. He noted that local youth are physically strong and willing to work hard but lack proper guidance and opportunities. “Many rural areas have youth with great physical strength. They just need guidance. Hopefully, my brother’s success will bring about positive changes,” Muhammad Azeem said.

Nadeem’s mother expressed pride and hope for his continued success. “He kept his promise of winning the gold medal. I pray he earns many more accolades for Pakistan,” Raziah Parveen said. “I hope we see many more Arshad Nadeems bringing medals to our country.”

General (retired) Muhammad Akram Sahi, former head of the national athletics body, hopes Nadeem’s achievement will elevate the profile of athletics in Pakistan. “Neeraj Chopra’s success in India had a big impact on non-cricket sports there. Similarly, we hope Arshad’s victory will inspire change in Pakistan,” he said.

As the nation eagerly awaits Nadeem’s return from Paris on Saturday, congratulations and tributes continue to pour in. The Pakistan Cricket Board has released special videos celebrating his victory. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif even shared a video of himself watching the javelin throw finals.

Nadeem’s coach, Salman Butt, summed up his performance perfectly: “His record-breaking throw was truly unbelievable and exceeded expectations.”

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