Arshad sees athletics revolution in Pakistan

PARIS: Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic record-holder in the javelin throw competition, said his gold medal-winning efforts should bring athletics revolution in the country.

“I don’t want the youngsters to go through the same hurdles and problems I faced throughout my career, reaching this stage. I have gone through the toughest times in my life. I don’t want youngsters to go through the same torrid time. I want to see athletics revolution in the country after winning this gold medal.”

Arshad and his coach Salman Butt were unhappy over the treatment they got in recent times. “There is not a single athletics ground/stadium in the country. The one meant for football in Lahore does not offer the facilities required for athletes’ grooming. We have to beg to get access to that stadium and when we start training there the football goal poles make it difficult for an athlete like Arshad to flex his muscles in the easiest of ways.”

Even Salman Butt pleaded to have a separate stadium for athletes where youngsters could get training in an environment suited to athletes.” Salman also proposed raising a state-of-the-art athletics stadium with the name of Arshad Nadeem Stadium.

“That is the best reward we can offer to Arshad Nadeem. He has become an icon and a role model for other athletes. The best way is to honour him with a new stadium to be built after his name and that would ultimately help young athletes to train for the big occasion.”

Arshad during his exclusive talk with ‘The News’ said he would never forget this day. “First time in my recent career and after coming out of injury I felt like I was fit and ready for a big occasion. As I ran to throw my first javelin, I was so excited that I forgot my run-up. Then I regrouped and measured my run up again. That helped me to throw the javelin to an Olympic record distance. It was a great feeling for me.”

When asked whether he was in a position to throw the javelin to even a longer distance, he said he was confident about that. “When I threw the last javelin, I knew it had the required flight but the direction was a little sideways. That throw ultimately finished at 91.79m which was yet another record throw.

The throw could have gone even longer had I succeeded in throwing the javelin a bit straight. My two throws of over 91m were enough to show that I was in the best of form and rhythm,” he said.