In a ultimate that was fiercely contested between the world’s 12 prime throwers, Nadeem’s effort of 92.97 metres stood on the prime as the brand new Olympic document, adopted by Neeraj’s season-best throw of 89.45 meteres.
Whereas Neeraj mentioned “it was Nadeem’s day” and congratulated the brand new males’s javelin champion, Pakistan was overjoyed as a nation to win its first Olympic medal since 1992, when their hockey group secured a bronze. Nonetheless, it is the primary ever particular person Olympic gold medal for Pakistan and their solely medal in observe and discipline.
Anderson Peters of Grenada received the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54m.
Former Pakistan quick bowler Shoaib Akhtar could not maintain again his pleasure and shared it by posting a video message on social media.
“Out of nowhere, this son of a lion has received Pakistan a gold medal. What a participant, Arshad! You may have achieved this by yourself, with your individual hardwork and calibre. Many congratulations to you, to Pakistan. Temper of your complete nation has modified with one gold medal…One man is trending throughout the entire world, that’s Arshad Nadeem,” Akhtar mentioned in his video.
In one other video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board on its Instagram account, the nation’s cricketers, together with Umar Gul and Sarfaraz Ahmad, may be seen leaping in pleasure watching Arshad’s second throw within the ultimate crossing the 90m mark.
Shoaib additionally shared a backstory to spotlight Nadeem’s restoration from harm, mentioning the identify ‘Rizwan’ who helped the star javelin thrower get his treament finished. Nevertheless it’s unclear if the person Shoaib refers to is the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan.
“Arshad Nadeem’s success has a narrative behind it, which is about Rizwan and the Nationwide Hospital…Rizwan received Arshad handled, not solely in Pakistan but additionally despatched him to England, received surgical procedures finished. And immediately lastly (Arshad received the gold medal)…So so happy with you Arshad….This isn’t one gold. Pakistan despatched seven athletes (to Paris Olympics) and out of nowwhere, one out of the seven has received gold medal…You may have finished one thing that nobody anticipated. You thrashed the Olympic document and throwing 90m (plus) throws (a number of instances),” Akhtar added.
Apparently, each Neeraj and Arshad completed on the rostrum on the Budapest World Championships as effectively. However Neeraj received the gold there and Arshad the silver. In Paris, the highest two positions received swapped.
