Arshad Nadeem thanks nation for support, prayers

After winning gold in the javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championship, Arshad Nadeem on Sunday thanked the nation for its support and prayers.

In a video message posted on his Instagram account, Nadeem said: “It is because of all your prayers that Allah made me successful in the finals, and gave respect to Pakistan, when I won gold at the Asian Athletics Championship.”

He attributed his significant victory at the Asian Athletics Championships to Pakistan.

The javelin star made the nation proud by winning the gold medal at the Asian competition final, finishing with a powerful throw of 86.40 metres in his final attempt.

Nadeem, who holds the Olympic record after a monstrous 92.97-metre throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivered a performance just short of the Asian Championship record, which stands at 86.72 metres.

In his message today, the star javelin thrower said that it was the results of the nation’s prayers and the hard work of his and his coach, Salman Iqbal Butt.

“This was my first competition since the Paris Olympics, and Allah gave victory to Pakistan,” he stated.

Gold medalist Nadeem returned home land via an international airline. Upon his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, he received a rousing welcome.

It is pertinent to mention here that Nadeem became the first Pakistani in over 50 years to win a gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships, marking Pakistan's first gold since 1973 when the country last claimed top honours in javelin throw and 800 meters — won by Allah Dada and Muhammad Younis, respectively, during the event in the Philippines.

He is also Pakistan's first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist and the nation's first medalist in athletics at the Summer Games.

So far, he has won four golds, one silver, and four bronze medals in various events, including the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, South Asian Games, and Asian U20 Championships.