Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem achieved a historic milestone by winning Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medal in 40 years at the Paris Olympics.
In an emotional statement after his win, Arshad expressed his confidence and said, “Today was my day. I was in a rhythm and I knew I could throw further.”
He acknowledged the immense pressure of being Pakistan’s only hope of a medal after 32 years, but he did it with a throw of 92.97 metres. The last time Pakistan won an Olympic medal was in 1992 when the national hockey team won bronze in Barcelona.
In a dramatic final that enthralled audiences around the world, Arshad Nadeem produced an extraordinary performance to end Pakistan’s 32-year wait for an Olympic gold medal. The win not only marks Pakistan’s first individual gold medal and first medal in athletics, but also highlights a rare podium finish for South Asia in the discipline.
First throw aroundArshad Nadeem’s first attempt in the javelin final was foiled without a throw and India’s reigning champion Neeraj Chopra also faced a setback with an errant throw due to a leg fault. Grenada’s Anderson Peters led the round with a throw of 87.87 meters and set a strong early pace.
Second throw aroundHis impressive performance left the competition in a tailspin, with Neeraj Chopra securing the second position for the round with a throw of 89.45 metres.
Nadeem’s remarkable feat cemented his lead as the final approached.
Third throw aroundIn the third round, Anderson Peters failed to improve on his initial mark, while Arshad Nadeem threw 88.72 metres, the longest in the round. Neeraj Chopra’s third attempt also failed. With this performance, Nadeem maintained his top position and demonstrated consistent excellence throughout the race.
Final Throws and VictoryIn the fifth and final round, Arshad Nadeem produced another impressive throw of 91.79 meters to further consolidate his lead and secure the gold medal. Neeraj Chopra, who struggled with his subsequent throws, settled for the silver medal with a throw of 89.45 metres.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters won the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54 meters, marking his first Olympic medal.
