New Delhi: Paris Olympics gold medallist in men’s javelin throw, Arshad Nadeem, revealed about carrying an inury ahead of the final competition on August 8. The 27-year-old from Mian Channu in Punjab district of Pakistan clinched the gold with an Olympic record-breaking throw of 92.92m at the Stade de France.
However, Nadeem was in pain before his event just when all the javelin finalists were about to enter the call room – an area where all track and field athletes are present before their names are called out to come on the track. It was the words of encouragement from his coach and doctor that kept the Pakistani athlete going on the field and create history for his country.
Speaking at the Prime Minister House on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day, Arshad said:
“I had actually picked up an injury while throwing on 21st July when we were training at Punjab Stadium. We were supposed to fly on 24th July. We (coach, doctor and myself) didn’t tell anyone.”
“Just five minutes before I had to go to the call room , I felt a pain. I told my coach. And he said, ‘kuch nahi hota, tu sher hai (there will be no issues, you are a lion).”
“During the first throw, I felt some pain and the doctor applied some medicine. I told him I didn’t know if that would have any effect. The doctor also told me ‘tum sher ho’ (You are a lion). Both the doctor and coach told me the same words,” the Olympic champion added.
Arshad Nadeem receives lucrative cash prize
Arshad Nadeem received a total of 250 million rupees ($897,000) on Tuesday as Pakistan continued to celebrate his record-breaking throw at the Paris Games.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced 150 million rupees ($538,000) for Nadeem at a special ceremony to honor the star athlete in Islamabad. Sharif’s announcement came hours after Punjab’s chief minister Mariam Nawaz visited Nadeem’s house in a village in the Mian Channu district and presented him with a check for 100 million rupees ($359,000).
Nawaz also handed him the keys to a new car which has a special registration number of “PAK 92.97” to commemorate Nadeem’s throw of 92.97 meters at Paris, which was an Olympic record. Nadeem’s coach Salman Iqbal Butt was also given 5 million rupees ($18,000).
“You have doubled the delight of 250 million Pakistanis because we’ll also celebrate our Independence Day tomorrow,” Sharif said while announcing the money for Nadeem.
(With inputs from Associated Press/Press Trust of India)
Paris Olympics gold medallist in men’s javelin throw, Arshad Nadeem, revealed about carrying an inury ahead of the final competition on August 8. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
