"My son, the pride of Pakistan”: Arshad Nadeem’s historic gold win sparks celebrations

Dubai: As Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem hurled his javelin 86.40 meters to claim gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea, scenes of pure jubilation unfolded in his hometown of Mian Channu in Pakistan.

At the heart of the celebration was a proud mother, whose words captured a nation’s sentiment.

“My son will continue to make Pakistan proud,” said Arshad’s mother, speaking to Geo News amidst the joyous sound of drums and sweet distribution in their neighborhood. “He worked very hard for this competition, even with limited resources.”

Her statement reflected not just a mother’s pride, but the quiet struggle and relentless spirit that have defined Arshad Nadeem’s journey to the top of world athletics.

Arshad’s father also expressed gratitude: “We thank the entire nation for their prayers and support. This is a proud day for all of us.”

50-year drought

The 28-year-old athlete secured Pakistan’s first gold in the Asian Athletics Championship in 50 years, with his final throw of 86.40m, just shy of the 86.72m championship record. His victory ended a five-decade drought since Pakistan last won gold in javelin and 800m at the 1973 edition in the Philippines.

Arshad’s win was hard-fought. After a sluggish start with throws of 75.64m and 76.80m, he bounced back with an 85.57m third attempt, followed by consistent throws of 83.99m and 83.44m. On his sixth and final attempt, he unleashed a blistering 86.40m throw to seal the gold, outperforming India’s Sachin Yadav (85.16m) and Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama (83.75m).

In an emotional Instagram post, Arshad wrote, “This victory belongs to the Almighty first. Without His grace, none of this would be possible. To my coaches, my team, my family, and every Pakistani who prayed for me, this medal is yours.”

Head coach

Head coach Salman Butt praised the performance: “It is a strong start to the season. If there had been a day of rest between the heats and the final, Arshad could’ve thrown even farther.”

Arshad, who holds the Olympic record with a jaw-dropping 92.97m throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is also Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medalist and the country’s only medalist in athletics at the Summer Games.

Arashad Nadeem has so far won 4 golds, 1 silver, 4 bronze at the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, South Asian Games, and Asian U20 Championships.

His latest gold was also Pakistan’s only medal at the championship in South Korea.

The government and sports community were quick to congratulate him. President Asif Ali Zardari hailed the victory, saying: “He has once again brought glory to Pakistan.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called Nadeem “an inspiration for young athletes,” noting how his dedication has raised the crescent flag high.

Even cricket stars chimed in. Shadab Khan said:  “What a throw, what a champ! Arshad Nadeem, you beauty!” while Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi joined the chorus on social media.

Nadeem’s next target is to win medal at the World Athletics Championships in September.