ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s star athlete Arshad Nadeem arrived in the eastern city of Lahore late Saturday night to a hero’s welcome, with senior government officials among hundreds showing up to the airport to pay tribute to the javelin thrower after he won a historic Olympic gold medal for the country earlier this week in Paris.
Nadeem won gold at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the men’s javelin throw competition on Thursday when he threw the light spear at an impressive distance of 92.97 meters, a new Olympic record. It was the first time Pakistan won gold at the Olympics since 1984 and the first time since 1992 when the South Asian country won any medal at the international competition.
Hundreds thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of Nadeem as he arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Saturday night. The Turkish Airlines flight carrying Nadeem was welcomed with a water cannon salute upon its arrival. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister Youth Program Chairman Rana Mashhood and Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima welcomed Nadeem at the airport.
Speaking to reporters, Nadeem thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting his achievements, recalling how he had first made a mark as a javelin thrower in a sports festival organized by Sharif when he was Punjab’s chief minister years ago.
Security officials escort Pakistan's javelin gold medallist at the Paris Olympics 2024 Arshad Nadeem (C) upon his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on August 11, 2024. (AFP)
“From there I started playing this game and I thank Allah that I have reached this stage now,” Nadeem said.
When asked whether he would ever become a politician, Nadeem responded:
“I don’t think it is my cup of tea. If I continue to do what is my job, I think that’s better.”
The javelin superstar left the airport for his hometown of Mian Channu in Khanewal district via a double-decker bus escorted by Punjab Police.
The federal government on Saturday issued a special postage stamp themed ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ or Resolve for Stability in connection with Pakistan’s Independence Day, which will be celebrated on August 14.
The postage stamp features an image of Nadeem with a javelin in his hand, paying tribute to his Olympic heroics.
Separately, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday issued instructions to award one of the country’s highest civilian honors, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, to Nadeem.
As per a statement from the president, he would award the Pakistani athlete in a special ceremony to recognize his Olympic feat.
Nadeem, who comes from humble beginnings, is one of nine children of a daily wage laborer who showed great versatility as an athlete from a young age while dabbling in all kinds of sports at school.
Though the family lacked the financial means to encourage Nadeem’s enthusiasm for sports, his spirit earned him the support he needed, with his elder brothers working to help him build a career in sports, the family told Arab News in an interview in 2021.
