Self-made Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal, Olympic record inspire millions

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan has a new national hero in Arshad Nadeem, who has returned home after performing a miracle of sorts in the Olympic Games 2024 at Paris, France, which concluded on August 11. The 6'3" javelin-thrower, hailing from Mian Channu, fulfilled his dream of not only winning an Olympic gold but also created a new record by sending the spear to 92.97 meters in an incredible performance. 

It was not only his personal glory but it brought the whole country to life. His record performance cheered up millions of people back home besides causing happiness and joy among the expatriate Pakistanis residing in different corners of the planet. Pakistan, finally, bagged another Olympic gold after 40 years. 

There is a world of difference, however, in the circumstances in which the two Olympic golds, separated by four decades, have come Pakistan’s way. There was hardly any element of shock or even surprise when Pakistan’s star-studded hockey team had clinched the gold at Los Angeles in 1984. 

Those were the times when hockey, as national sport, got all the due attention and its leadership was in the able hands of Air Marshal Nur Khan and Brigadier Manzoor Hussain Atif. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had more than adequate resources at its disposal to build, prepare and train a squad for the Olympic Games. 

Fast forward to 2024 and look at the situation in which Arshad boarded the plane for Paris. There was negligible support to him from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and, apparently, none whatsoever from any other institution. Everyone is aware of the role of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) in sports affairs over the years and they don’t mind their non-performance. 

In fact, the 27-year-old Arshad and his coach Salman Fayyaz Butt, among seven athletes, were reportedly the only ones to have their air tickets financed by the PSB for the Paris Olympics. The PSB has had the funds but their utlization has always been debated. Who financed the joyrides of a full battalion of officials accompanying the handful of athletes will obviously remain hidden between the files and life will move on.

Coming back to Arshad, it has been a tale of quiet resolve for him. His family struggled to even buy food of their choice. He was the third of seven siblings with their father being a construction worker. As father was the sole breadwinner, the family got to eat meat only once a year, during Eid al-Adha, according a report quoting one of his siblings.

Arshad has had the talent and he kept on working quietly. Like any other individual, he also knocked many doors and sought support from the concerned authorities. He was not treated any differently as the existing system prevailing in Pakistan. To his credit, he didn’t get disheartened and continued his journey without looking back. 

It is nothing short of a miracle that he kept marching on and overcame obstacles of different magnitude all by his own. He had faith in his abilities and the fullest backing of his family which allowed him to stay afloat. He knew that he had an opportunity of lifetime at Paris where his fiercest rival was none other than the defending champion, Neeraj Chopra from across the border. 

Arshad, who didn't have the funds to even buy a javelin for himself, rose to the occasion at the biggest stage of the world and even Chopra, among the most well-looked-after athletes in the field, was not spared. History has been rewritten.