Javelin Olympics 2024: Arshad Nadeem, who crowd-funded to purchase javelin for Olympics, to get 10 crore prize cash

Individuals have a good time Pakistani Arshad Nadeem’s javelin throw gold medal on the 2024 Summer time Olympics, in Khanewal District of Punjab province, Pakistan, on August 8, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP

Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz, has introduced a ten crore (PKR) money prize for javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who smashed the Olympic document en route an unprecedented gold in Paris, a exceptional turnaround for the athlete who needed to search crowd funding for a brand new javelin months earlier than the Video games.

Nawaz additionally mentioned a sports activities metropolis named after the athlete can be in-built his hometown of Khanewal.

Nadeem has confronted shortage of sources and services that every one non-cricket enjoying athletes face within the nation.

Even after profitable a Commonwealth Video games gold and World Championship silver in 2022 and 2023, Arshad needed to plead for a brand new javelin earlier than the Paris Olympics as his previous one had worn out after years of use.

Maybe because of this Arshad’s first message to his dad and mom from Paris on Thursday is that he’s now decided to construct a correct academy for athletes in or close to his village.

“He was grateful to Allah for giving him a lot glory and the one factor he mentioned was that he hoped his olympic gold medal will now assist in his endeavour to construct a sports activities academy for athletes in his rural space,” his father Muhammad Arshad informed PTI.

Nadeem has mentioned just lately that he would like to see correct academies for observe and subject athletes in Punjab due to the difficulties he confronted as a javelin thrower and due to scarcity of correct coaching services, teaching, funds and tools for athletes within the nation.

“Since final evening we have now not been capable of catch a wink as a result of there was an limitless stream of individuals and calls eager to congratulate us and share our happiness and pleasure,” his father mentioned.

Nadeem’s elder brother, who first inspired him to turn into a javelin thrower, informed PTI that there’s lot of untapped expertise within the rural areas of Punjab and Pakistan can discover many different Arshad Nadeems if solely there was concentrate on offering a platform for kids to indicate their expertise.

“Historically, in lots of areas of rural Punjab the youth are bodily very sturdy and nicely constructed and are prepared to work exhausting for hours on finish. They only want steerage. Hopefully my brother’s efficiency will change all that now,” Muhammad Azeem mentioned.

His mom mentioned that her son had saved his promise to her of profitable the gold medal.

“I simply pray he will get many extra laurels for Pakistan,” Raziah Parveen mentioned.

“I wish to see many extra Arshad Nadeems profitable medals for Pakistan.” Common (crimson) Muhammad Akram Sahi, who has headed the nationwide athletics physique for a number of years, hoped Arshad’s feat will assist increase the profile of athletics in Pakistan.

“When Neeraj Chopra emerged he made a huge impact in India for non cricket athletes and hopefully this can even occur in Pakistan,” he mentioned.

Even because the nation awaits Nadeem’s return on Saturday from Paris, the congratulatory messages and tributes have poured in from all quarters with the Pakistan Cricket Board additionally releasing particular movies of their gamers hailing him.

Money awards are additionally being introduced with prime minister Shahbaz Sharif additionally posting a video of himself intently watching the javelin throw finals on Thursday evening.

His feat has been finest described by his coach, Salman Butt: “His document breaking throw was unbelievable and out of the syllabus.”