40-year wait turns to gold

Arshad breaks Olympic javelin record, hometown Mian Channu erupts in celebration, congratulatory messages pour

KARACHI:

Few Pakistanis will forget where they were, what they were doing and who they were watching with when their countryman Arshad Nadeem clinched the javelin throw gold medal for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Nadeem won a historic first track and field gold medal for his country, ending a 32-year drought for Pakistan in terms of Olympic medals, and even longer 40-year wait for gold. This is also the first ever individual gold for Pakistan whose previous top medals came for winning the field hockey team event.

His soaring throw of 92.97 metres bettered the next best effort from his Indian rival Neeraj Chopra who managed to hurl his javelin across a distance of 89.45 metres, while Grenada's Anderson Peters claimed the bronze with 88.54m.

All of Pakistan's previous three gold medals came in field hockey, with their team winning gold in 1960, 1968 and 1984. Prior to Thursday, only two Pakistan athletes had won individual medals of any colour - with a wrestling bronze in 1960 and a boxing bronze in 1988. Since the 1992 Barcelona Games, Pakistan has not won a medal of any kind.

The last time Pakistan won an Olympic gold medal was in 1984 for the field hockey tournament, taking the medal for the third time by defeating West Germany 2–1 in the final.

Nadeem's triumph is a monumental achievement for the nation, marking a significant milestone in the country's sporting history.

Celebrations erupted in his home village of Mian Channu the moment he crossed the 90-metre mark with his second throw after recording a foul in his first attempt. As the "Olympic record" graphic started flashing on viewers' screens, they started believing in the unthinkable.

Indeed his Indian rival Neeraj Chopra also started feeling the pressure and was only able to record one legitimate throw in six attempts. Chopra was the favourite to take gold, with many believing it to be a foregone conclusion. The Indian javelin ace had been in formidable form, and was comfortably ahead in the qualifiers.

After the final was over last on Thursday night, though, it was Arshad who emerged triumphant. When it mattered the most, Arshad pulled out a performance from the top drawer when he sent his javelin hurling towards Olympic glory. Even his second-best effort of 91.79 metres would have been good enough to secure gold for himself and his country.

As stated earlier, India's Neeraj Chopra took silver and Grenada's Anderson Petersthe bronze medal. The rest of the standings followed with Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia in fourth with a commendable effort of 88.50 metres, Julius Yego of Kenya was fifth with 87.72 metres, while (SB) Julian Weber from Germany was sixth with 87.40 metres.

The bottom half the table included Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago in seventh with a throw of 86.16 metres, Lassi Etelatalo of eighth with 84.58 metres, Oliver Helander in ninth with 82.68 metres, and just narrowly ahead of his compatriot Toni Keranen who threw his javelin to a distance of 80.92 metres.

Brazil's Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil) and Moldova's Andrian Mardare completed the table with throws of 80.67 metres and 80.10 metres, respectively.

The Armed Forces of Pakistan, the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, and the services chiefs ex-tend their warmest felicitations to the nation on this momentous occasion.

A statement from the military said Arshad Nadeem had etched his name in history by becoming the first Pakistani athlete to secure an individual gold medal at the World Olympics.

"This remarkable achievement is a testament to Arshad Nadeem's unwavering dedication, unrelenting perseverance, and exemplary hard work, serving as a beacon of inspiration for the entire nation. His triumph is a resounding affirmation of Pakistani talent and determination, showcasing the country's potential to excel on the global stage," the statement read.

The statement concluded that by clinching the first ever individual gold medal in Javelin throw at the World Olympics, Arshad Nadeem has brought immense pride and joy to the people of Pakistan, cementing his status as a national hero and an iconic symbol of sporting excellence.