On Thursday, the 27-year-old Nadeem, hailing from the village of Khanewal in Punjab, proved the choice to be a clever one.
He delivered a shocking efficiency, throwing the javelin an unbelievable distance of 92.97m, shattering the earlier Olympic document of 90.57m.
This exceptional feat not solely secured Pakistan’s first particular person gold medal on the Olympics but additionally established Nadeem as a dominant power within the discipline, which included his shut good friend and fierce competitor from India, Neeraj Chopra.
Chopra, the defending champion, needed to accept a silver medal regardless of his season’s finest throw of 89.45m.
The 26-year-old Indian athlete has but to surpass the 90m mark in his profession, a undeniable fact that appears to be weighing on his thoughts throughout competitions.
In distinction to Nadeem’s monetary struggles, Chopra is without doubt one of the most well-supported athletes within the discipline. Nadeem, standing tall at 6’3″, has come a good distance from the times when he could not even afford to purchase a javelin for himself.
“Folks don’t know how Arshad bought to this place as we speak. How his fellow villagers and relations used to donate cash in order that he may journey to different cities for his coaching and occasions in his early days,” his father Muhammad Ashraf informed PTI after his qualification to the Olympics finals on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s contingent on the Paris Olympics consisted of seven athletes, however sadly, six of them had been unable to advance to the finals of their respective disciplines.
Nonetheless, there was a second of pleasure and celebration at Nadeem’s residence instantly after he secured his spot within the finals, marking his second consecutive Olympic qualification.
“Pakistan Zindabad” chants echoed by way of the home as his dad and mom, siblings, spouse, two kids, and fellow villagers expressed their elation. To share the happiness, Nadeem’s dad and mom additionally distributed sweets amongst these current.
“If my son can convey house an Olympic medal for Pakistan it will be the proudest second for us and everybody on this village,” his father had mentioned.
