ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday highlighted Pakistan’s javelin ace Arshad Nadeem’s “inspirational journey” from a small settlement in the eastern Punjab province to winning an Olympic gold medal, saying it reflected the importance of hard work and determination.
Nadeem stunned the world with his Olympic record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters on August 8 at the Paris Games, putting rival athletes under pressure by setting a high benchmark that none of them could achieve. Pakistan had last won a gold medal at the Olympics in 1984 when its men’s field hockey team triumphed in Los Angeles.
The Pakistani army chief hosted a ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, which was also attended by sports teams, legendary Olympians and high-profile players like Jehangir Khan, Islah Ud Din and Aisam-ul-Haq.
The event was also attended by Nadeem’s close relatives, associates and coaches.
“COAS appreciated Arshad Nadeem’s remarkable achievement of winning Pakistan’s first-ever gold medal in a singles event and setting a new Olympic record, attributing it to his commitment, perseverance, and passion for excellence,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“He highlighted Arshad’s inspirational journey from humble beginnings to achieving greatness, emphasizing the importance of hard work and determination,” it added.
The army chief described Nadeem’s achievement as the nation’s pride while promising to do everything to support Pakistani sportsmen and empower the youth of the country to achieve excellence.
Nadeem, who used a bamboo stick in 2012 to make the first javelin himself, became visible to world as an athlete when he won bronze at the 2016 South Asia Federation sports event in India.
He threw his first 90-meter throw at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which earned him a gold medal.
Addressing the ceremony at the GHQ, he expressed gratitude and emphasized the immense potential of Pakistani youth, stressing the importance of hard work, positivity and perseverance in overcoming challenges and achieving success.
