Arshad Nadeem: Independence month gift – gold at Paris Olympics

PARIS: Pakistani javelin-thrower Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, beating India’s Neeraj Chopra and becoming the first Pakistani to win an individual gold medal at the Paris Games after 40 years

The Pakistan athlete broke a 118-year old Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 metres. Despite a missed first throw, Arshad Nadeem progressively improved. He flung the javelin 88.72m, 79.40m, 84.87m and 91.79m.

Read more: Live updates: Arshad Nadeem competing for medal at Paris Olympics javelin final

The javelin-thrower’s victory at the Paris Olympics will mark the first time in nearly four decades that Pakistan’s national anthem will be played in the Olympic stadium. The green crescent and star flag was raised once again at the Paris Games.

A true independence month gift to the nation of 240 million people!

The Pakistan athlete broke a 118-year old Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 metres. Despite a missed first throw, Arshad Nadeem progressively improved. He flung the javelin 88.72m, 79.40m, 84.87m and 91.79m.

His record-breaking throw not only secured him the gold but created history, both for his nation and in the sport itself.

The Pakistan athlete faced off against Germany’s Julian Weber, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, Trinbagonian Keshorn Walcott, and fan-favourite, defending champion India’s Neeraj Chopra.

Nadeem’s closest competitor Neeraj Chopra was unable to defend his Olympic title. The Indian javelin-thrower finished behind his Pakistani rival with the best throw at 89.45m.

Read more: Arshad Nadeem – the beacon for Pakistan’s athletics

Neeraj Chopra ended up with plenty of penalties as he kept crossing over the line, ultimately costing him the gold. He clinched silver medal for India.

Meanwhile, Grenada’s Aderson Peters took home bronze. Peters put up a consistent performance with a best throw of 88.54m.

Arshad Nadeem was born in 1997 in Mian Channu, Punjab. Two-time Olympian, he made history as the first Pakistani to reach the finals in both – the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships.

Nadeem also set a national and Commonwealth Games record with a throw of 90.18 meters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He earned a silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

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