Folks have a good time Pakistani Arshad Nadeem’s javelin throw gold medal on the 2024 Summer time Olympics, in Khanewal District of Punjab province, Pakistan, on August 8, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz, has introduced a ten crore (PKR) money prize for javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who smashed the Olympic report en route an unprecedented gold in Paris, a outstanding turnaround for the athlete who needed to search crowd funding for a brand new javelin months earlier than the Video games.
Nawaz additionally stated a sports activities metropolis named after the athlete can be in-built his hometown of Khanewal.
Nadeem has confronted shortage of assets and services that every one non-cricket enjoying athletes face within the nation.
Even after successful a Commonwealth Video games gold and World Championship silver in 2022 and 2023, Arshad needed to plead for a brand new javelin earlier than the Paris Olympics as his outdated one had worn out after years of use.
Maybe this is the reason Arshad’s first message to his dad and mom from Paris on Thursday is that he’s now decided to construct a correct academy for athletes in or close to his village.
“He was grateful to Allah for giving him a lot glory and the one factor he stated was that he hoped his olympic gold medal will now assist in his endeavour to construct a sports activities academy for athletes in his rural space,” his father Muhammad Arshad informed PTI.
Nadeem has stated lately that he would like to see correct academies for monitor and area athletes in Punjab due to the difficulties he confronted as a javelin thrower and due to scarcity of correct coaching services, teaching, funds and tools for athletes within the nation.
“Since final night time we now have not been in a position to catch a wink as a result of there was an limitless stream of individuals and calls desirous to congratulate us and share our happiness and pleasure,” his father stated.
Nadeem’s elder brother, who first inspired him to grow to be a javelin thrower, informed PTI that there’s lot of untapped expertise within the rural areas of Punjab and Pakistan can discover many different Arshad Nadeems if solely there was give attention to offering a platform for kids to point out their expertise.
“Historically, in lots of areas of rural Punjab the youth are bodily very robust and effectively constructed and are prepared to work onerous for hours on finish. They only want steerage. Hopefully my brother’s efficiency will change all that now,” Muhammad Azeem stated.
His mom stated that her son had stored his promise to her of successful the gold medal.
“I simply pray he will get many extra laurels for Pakistan,” Raziah Parveen stated.
“I wish to see many extra Arshad Nadeems successful medals for Pakistan.” Normal (crimson) Muhammad Akram Sahi, who has headed the nationwide athletics physique for a number of years, hoped Arshad’s feat will assist increase the profile of athletics in Pakistan.
“When Neeraj Chopra emerged he made a big effect in India for non cricket athletes and hopefully this may even occur in Pakistan,” he stated.
Even because the nation awaits Nadeem’s return on Saturday from Paris, the congratulatory messages and tributes have poured in from all quarters with the Pakistan Cricket Board additionally releasing particular movies of their gamers hailing him.
Money awards are additionally being introduced with prime minister Shahbaz Sharif additionally posting a video of himself intently watching the javelin throw finals on Thursday night time.
His feat has been greatest described by his coach, Salman Butt: “His report breaking throw was unbelievable and out of the syllabus.”
Printed – August 09, 2024 06:59 pm IST
