Whereas Nadeem’s struggles and sacrifices paved his approach to success, again in Pakistan, officers from the Pakistan Sports activities Board, Inter Provincial Coordination Ministry (sports activities) and the federal government are busy claiming credit score for his achievement.
Months earlier than the Paris Olympics, Nadeem needed to request a brand new javelin as his outdated one had change into worn out.
Not like different finalists within the javelin throw, together with India’s Neeraj Chopra, Nadeem lacked entry to top-tier teaching and constant worldwide competitors on account of insufficient funding.
After present process knee surgical procedure, he had no alternative however to coach in harsh situations on the Punjab Sports activities Complicated alongside novice athletes.
Regardless of this, the federal government and related our bodies, together with the Prime Minister’s Workplace, Pakistan Sports activities Board (PSB), and Pakistan Olympic Affiliation (POA), are asserting their contributions to his victory.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the primary to congratulate Nadeem however what has left Pakistanis shocked is the declare that it was his imaginative and prescient which allowed him to be groomed for the last word medal.
A video, launched instantly after the javelin throw finals by the PMO, reveals the premier leaping up and clapping after Nadeem’s success with the minister for sports activities in Punjab telling him, “Sir yeh aap ka imaginative and prescient tha, aapne isko likelihood diya” (Sir this was your imaginative and prescient, you gave him an opportunity).”
The PSB adopted go well with, claiming complete assist for Nadeem, together with a 10 million rupee expenditure on his surgical procedure and money awards.
The board highlighted a 70 million rupees annual grant to the Pakistan Novice Athletics Federation as a part of its efforts.
“The PSB and the Pakistan Olympics Affiliation really want to take a tough have a look at themselves for what they’re actually doing to assist and encourage non-cricket athletes within the nation as an alternative of constructing massive claims,” mentioned a disgruntled member of the POA.
Pakistan’s squash legend Jahangir Khan mentioned that as a sportsman he is aware of how a lot laborious work, sacrifices, sweat, blood and tears go into profitable particular person medals.
“In particular person sports activities you’re preventing with your self to achieve success,” he mentioned.
“If our sports activities system was functioning correctly we’d be producing extra world class athletes given the uncooked expertise we’ve got,” he famous.
Regardless of daring claims, Pakistan’s sports activities equipment stays with out an efficient authorities coverage.
Coverage adjustments with every new sports activities minister have hampered long-term growth. A multi-sports metropolis undertaking launched in 2009 in Narowal, initiated by former federal minister Ahsan Iqbal, nonetheless stays incomplete regardless of substantial authorities expenditure.
Furthermore, latest federal budgets have diminished the allocation for sports activities, dropping from 3.four billion to 1.9 billion rupees yearly.
Present sports activities complexes require important upkeep and upgrades.
The panorama is additional sophisticated by political turmoil, resulting in parallel nationwide Olympic committees and federations for numerous sports activities. The scenario has made it more and more tough for athletes to navigate and obtain wanted assist.
Essa Khan, a former soccer star, expressed skepticism relating to any potential optimistic change for non-cricketing athletes.
“Look if Arshad’s olympic gold medal can’t flip issues round for non-cricketing athletes within the nation now, then nothing goes to vary in Pakistan sports activities,” Essa mentioned.
