Another gold for Nadeem

While Pakistan's cricket scene struggles on the international stage, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem — hailing from the small village of Mian Channu in Punjab — continues to offer victorious morsels of hope for the nation's sporting future. Nadeem has just won gold in the men's javelin final at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championship, with a mighty 86.4 metre throw.

This historic win marks only the third time Pakistan has claimed gold at the championship, ending a 55-year drought since Muhammad Younis' victory in the 800-metre race in 1973.

Nadeem's triumphs not only cement his place as a national hero but also continually highlight much-needed dialogue about the potential of Pakistani athletes that has long been neglected. Nadeem's Olympic win itself was nothing short of a miraculous testament to the power of community support.

His journey into javelin throwing started off with humble beginnings and makeshift equipment. Weight-training equipment was improvised and crowdfunded, with the help of a journalist who initiated the campaign.

While these stories make for an inspiring and heartwarming tale of an underdog rising to international stadiums, there are thousands of children across the country dreaming to be athletes who are instead forced to give up.

Pakistan not only lacks professional training centres for athletes but also falls significantly short in supporting its national talent through adequate sponsorships and funding. This systemic neglect has left many promising athletes to rely on personal grit, or often sheer luck.

Yet, Arshad Nadeem's recurrent success proves that Pakistan possesses the sporting talent needed to excel on international stages. He stands as a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and passion for a dream. The recent win is, again, a landmark achievement that inspires a new generation to believe in greatness despite all odds.