How Pakistan celebrated Arshad Nadeem’s Paris Olympics 2024 gold medal win?

New Delhi: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem became the country’s first-ever athletics Olympic champion after clinching a gold medal in the Paris Games 2024 in the men’s javelin throw event on Thursday. He registered a new Olympic record with his monstrous throw of 92.97 metres which got him Pakistan’s first-ever individual gold medal in the Olympics. It was a moment of joy and celebration for his people back home.

Hailing from Mianwal Channu in Khanewal district of Punjab province of Pakistan, the scenes were indeed heartwarming as Nadeem’s parents along with all the villagers celebrated their son’s triumph. They exchanged sweets, danced their heart out, and chanted his name on the top of their lungs for bringing laurels to the nation.

HISTORY MADE!
After 40 long years, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem wins GOLD at the Olympics!
His village erupts in joy as the community gathers to celebrate this monumental achievement!
#ArshadNadeem #GoldMedal #Olympics #PakistanPride #Athletics #Sports #Celebrations pic.twitter.com/w8u1YTCeij

— Farhan Khan (@TheFarhanAKhan) August 8, 2024

His success celebration wasn’t just limited to his village; the residents of Karachi came out on the roads in large numbers as well. The streets looked similar to when the Pakistan cricket team had won the World Cup and the Champions Trophy. The localites blew their car horns on the streets and waved placards of Nadeem and the Pakistan flag to celebrate the 27-year-old’s giant feat.

Just as the final results of the event were out, he soon claimed all the spotlight and was flooded with congratulatory messages and tributes, notably for trumping India’s Neeraj Chopra (89.45m), pushing him to a silver medal.

Cash prize announced

What Nadeem achieved on Thursday, its enormity could be imagined after certain cash prizes were announced for his giant milestone. The Mayor of Karachi Murtaza Wahab immediately announced a cash prize of PKR 5 crore for the athlete from the Sindh government. “We will organise a befitting reception for Arshad in Karachi when he returns home,” Mayor Wahab said.

In a momentous celebration of national pride, the mayor karachi has announced a generous reward of PKR 5 crores for Arshad Nadeem following his historic gold medal victory at the Olympics. #OlympicGold #SindhGovernment #NationalPride #PakistanSuccess #Mayor #SportsAchievement pic.twitter.com/Yb8tDuwNvx

— Startup Pakistan (@PakStartup) August 8, 2024

Congratulations Arshad. Fortunate to have witnessed this historic moment with public. Gold medal for Pakistan in Olympics after 40 years. PPP’s Sindh Govt will give Rs 5 Crore to Arshad & PPP led KMC will establish Arshad Nadeem Athletics Academy in Karachi#ArshadNadeem👏 🇵🇰🥇 pic.twitter.com/0SKWrYuLBC

— karamullah waqasi (@karamullahwaq) August 8, 2024

Congratulations Arshad. Fortunate to have witnessed this historic moment with public. Gold medal for Pakistan in Olympics after 40 years. PPP’s Sindh Govt will give Rs 5 Crore to Arshad & PPP led KMC will establish Arshad Nadeem Athletics Academy in Karachi https://t.co/iqLoK0a3xx pic.twitter.com/9yU6WQvZ6I

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) August 8, 2024

Not just the Mayor but Pakistan actor and singer Ali Zafar also announced a cash reward for the athlete for making the nation proud. Taking to his social media handle, Zafar said that he will be honouring Nadeem with a reward of one million. He also urged the Pakistan government to welcome him like a hero once he is back from Paris and to establish a sports academy in his name.

@ArshadOlympian1 breaks record with 92.97 and wins gold for Pakistan!

I shall be honouring him with a one million reward through @AliZFoundation.

Let’s show our heroes the celebration they deserve. I urge @GovtofPakistan @CMShehbaz to welcome him like a hero and establish a… pic.twitter.com/qFpInZqu9i

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) August 8, 2024

At his village, his mother told media persons that when he returns home there would be big celebrations. He has not only made us proud but he has made Pakistan proud in the world and I can only say prayers,” she said.

“People have no idea how Arshad got to this place today. How his fellow villagers and relatives used to donate money so that he could travel to other cities for his training and events in his early days,” Nadeem’s father said.

Nadeem’s journey to Paris wasn’t easy as he fought an elbow and knee injury and also had very limited training facilities available to him. There was a time when he had to appeal to the government to provide him with a new javelin as his old one had worn out.

Ex-Pakistan sportspersons on Nadeem’s triumph

“I think what Arshad has achieved today will be a big role model for all the youth now to follow him and emulate his achievements in track and field. You will see youngsters now also taking interest in other sports, not just cricket,” former Pakistan Test captain Rashid Latif said.

Ayaz Mahmood, a member of Pakistan’s gold medal-winning hockey team in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, said, “At a time when our hockey team has failed to even qualify for the Olympics, Arshad stepped up to keep Pakistan’s flag flying high in these games,” he said.

Nadeem’s effort ended Pakistan’s four-year-long wait for a gold medal in the Olympics. It is noteworthy that Pakistan’s last gold medal came from the hockey team in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Nadeem’s medal tally now includes an Olympic gold, a gold in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and a silver medal in last year’s World Championships.

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 Arshad Nadeem clinched a historic gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024 which led to wild celebrations back in his hometown and other Pakistan cities as well.  Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today