Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem: Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem, who created history by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event of Paris Olympics, has made a big revelation. Actually, in the initial days, Nadeem did not focus on javelin throw, he was trying his best to become a cricketer. But javelin throw changed his fate.
27-year-old Nadeem won the gold medal on Thursday night by throwing the javelin 92.97 meters, setting a new Olympic record. Neeraj Chopra also gave his best performance this season by measuring a distance of 89.45 meters and won the silver medal. This is the first time in 11 competitions that Nadeem has left Chopra behind.
Left cricket and started javelin throwing
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Nadeem said that earlier he wanted to become a cricketer and he had also tried his hand at table tennis. But Nadeem’s coach advised him to try his hand at javelin.
He said, ‘I was a cricketer earlier and I have also played table tennis and I used to participate in other athletics competitions as well. But my coach said that with the kind of physique I have, I can become a good javelin thrower. After this, from 2016 onwards, I focused my entire attention on javelin throw.’
Arshad Nadeem talks about his journey. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ydaoZ64DbR
— alooparatha⁵⁶⁵⁷ | arshad gold medalist! | FREE 🍉 (@itssash10) August 9, 2024
Nadeem-Neeraj rivalry in the headlines
Nadeem is happy that his rivalry with Indian star Neeraj Chopra remains a topic of discussion as he believes it inspires the youth of both countries.
After becoming the first Pakistani player to win an individual gold medal, Nadeem told reporters, “When it comes to cricket matches or any other sport, rivalry is definitely involved in it. But it is a good thing for both the countries who want to join sports and bring glory to their country by following us and their ideal sports players.”
He is also Pakistan’s first individual medal winner since boxer Hussain Shah won a bronze medal in middle-weight at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Both are good friends off the field
Nadeem and Chopra are good friends off the field despite being fierce competitors on the field. A few months ago, when Nadeem appealed to raise funds on social media to buy a good javelin, Chopra also supported him.
Nadeem said, ‘I am grateful to my country. Everyone prayed for me and I was fully hopeful of performing well. I was suffering from a knee injury for some time, but after recovering from it, I worked on my fitness. I was fully hopeful of throwing the javelin beyond 92.97 meters but in the end that effort proved enough to win the gold medal.’
‘My goal is to throw the javelin even farther than this’
Six feet three inches tall Nadeem said, ‘I will continue to work hard and give my best in future. My target is to throw the javelin even farther than this.’
Nadeem, a resident of Khanewal village in Punjab region, said, ‘I come from a farmer family and whenever I win a medal, I remember my past, which inspires me to perform even better. This is why I am still humble and want to be more successful.’
Neeraj Chopra has not been able to throw the javelin 90 meters in his career yet, whereas Nadeem has done this feat earlier also.
Never had money to buy a spear
While Neeraj has all kinds of facilities available to him, Nadeem had seen a time when he did not even have the money to buy a javelin for himself.
Nadeem’s father Mohammad Ashraf told PTI, “People do not know how Arshad reached this position. His friends, villagers and relatives used to raise funds for him so that he could travel to other cities to practice and participate in competitions.”
Pakistan sent a total of 7 players to Paris and 6 of them failed to qualify for the finals of their respective events.
Why are Arshad Nadeem and his coach lucky?
When Pakistan’s National Sports Board was deciding which of the 7 players going to Paris Olympics should bear the expenses, it found only Arshad Nadeem and his coach worthy of doing so.
Nadeem and his coach Salman Fayyaz Butt were lucky as their air tickets were borne by the PSB (Pakistan Sports Board).
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)