Javelin star Arshad Nadeem eyes Olympic glory

The 2023 World Athletics Championship silver medallist promises to give his best in Paris

“As I prepare for the Olympics, I will do my utmost to honour the love and support I have received from my country and my fans.”

This was stated by Pakistan’s brilliant javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem who is the country’s main medal hope at the Paris Olympics.

The Pakistani athletes often struggle despite having grit and determination to compete at the top level due to financial constraints and lack of recognition of their efforts and talent.

Arshad is finally receiving his due and he expressed his optimism and gratitude as his journey was celebrated by Pakistan’s largest telecom and ICT services provider.

On Thursday it was announced that Arshad has signed up as a brand ambassador for the PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G) which is his second endorsement announcement in less than two months.

Although the sponsorships that are coming his way now should have been there before the Tokyo Olympics when he qualified for the Games for the first time and became the first Pakistani to directly qualify for Olympics track and field event.

The change in then attitudes and the latest trend of making hardworking and worthy athletes the brand ambassadors is a welcome change that would ensure sponsorship for international events but also help them gain traction much like the athletes from other countries do.

Arshad’s friend off the field and foe on the field Neeraj Chopra has been having much more success commercially too, till last year he had at least 10 brand deals.

This campaign around Arshad, ahead of the Paris Olympics, has been planned to be inspiring like Arshad’s life and professional journey galvanizing nationwide support for him in the upcoming 2024 Summer Games.

Arshad achieved extraordinary feats in javelin throw at both national and international levels. In 2021, Arshad became the first Pakistani track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics and finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympics.

He won a gold for Pakistan at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the country’s first athletic gold medal since 1962, and grabbed another gold at the 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games. He also secured a silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he also qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Commenting on the initiative, Arshad Nadeem said, “I am grateful for their unwavering support and encouragement. Their belief in my journey underscores the importance of perseverance and collective ambition in sports.

It is heartening to see the PTCL Group actively championing young talent. With such robust support, Pakistan can undoubtedly make a significant mark on the global sports landscape.

As I prepare for the Olympics, I will do my utmost to honour the love and support I have received from the nation and my sponsors.”