Paris, France, August 9, 2024: Pakistan’s new sports hero, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, has thanked the country for praying for him to win gold at Paris 2024.
Nadeem set an Olympic record of 92.97 metres in beating India’s Tokyo 2020 champion Neeraj Chopra into second place in the men’s javelin at the Stade de France on Thursday night.
The new Olympic champion said: "I am thankful to the nation. Everyone prayed for me, and I was hopeful of doing well.
“Over the years, I got a knee injury and recovered, and worked hard on my fitness. I was even confident of throwing beyond 92.97m, but that throw was enough for me to get the gold.
"I will continue to work hard and give my best in the days and months to come. I am planning to throw beyond this mark as well."
When Chopra won gold in Tokyo, Nadeem finished fifth, and when Chopra won the world championship in 2023, Nadeem was second.
Commenting on the rivalry between the two nations, Nadeem said: "The rivalry is there when it comes to cricket matches and other sports, definitely.
“But, at the same time, it is a good thing for youngsters in both countries who are pursuing a sport to follow us and follow their sports icons and bring laurels to their countries."
The Pakistani’s journey to the top of the podium at the age of 27 has been a long one, and not only in the javelin.
"I was a cricketer, I played table tennis, and I also participated in athletics events. But my coach told me I have got a very good physique for the javelin throw and I concentrated on javelin only from 2016,” he said.
"People think my technique is more like a fast bowler than a javelin thrower, but I am happy with this action and the run-up I use. That is because of my early strength as a cricket bowler.
"I came from a farming village, and every time I win a medal I think about my origins and that motivates me to do better. That's the reason I have remained humble and that's why I want to become more successful. I had to go through very tough times to make it to this stage."
Chopra also discussed the sports situation in India and Pakistan.
"It’s a really good thing for our countries. Javelin was not that popular in India and Pakistan, and also Grenada,” he said, referring to the bronze medal winner, Anderson Peters.
“Me and Arshad have been competing since 2016. The gold was always with me, I always win, but today, on a great stage, Arshad won. It’s great for him and his country.
“I appreciate him, because he’s done really hard work. If someone does hard work and he threw really well, we know how much work he did.
"It’s good for Pakistan and also in India, more athletes will come and they will pick up the javelin. Already, javelin is famous in both countries."
The Pakistani claimed not only his country’s first Olympic medal and first Olympic gold medal in athletics, but also its first medal in any sport for 32 years.