What’s our sports policy?

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday hosted a lavish dinner at the PM House for javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a record-breaking 92.97 metres throw, setting a new Olympic record. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited Arshad Nadeem’s home village in Mian Channu to congratulate him. It’s heartening to see a champion like Arshad celebrated for his achievements. He has certainly earned this recognition and respect, but one must ask our policymakers: should winning on the global stage really demand so much personal effort from an athlete? Now that Arshad has won a gold at the Olympics, we are seeing departments, individuals and the government taking credit for how they helped him over the years. There’s no denying that some provided support over the years, albeit sporadically. However, the real story is of Arshad’s perseverance. His journey underscores how Pakistani athletes often have to go above and beyond to achieve their dreams. Will this gold medal finally wake up our policymakers and the ruling class? Or will they, as history suggests, forget everything after the well-deserved accolades and awards are handed out?

It is time to develop a proper sports policy which should then remain consistent for any and all governments to come. A sports overhaul is needed. The government should first get rid of incompetent elements in sports bodies. The infighting within sports bodies should be resolved on merit. The government should encourage youngsters to take part in all sports. We have so much talent and we see youngsters playing football in every nook and corner of this country but what happened to the football federation? Meanwhile, our national sport, hockey, has all but vanished from the national consciousness, while squash, a game we once dominated, has also faded into obscurity.

There are so many other sports – racing, tennis, table tennis, shot put, javelin, and more – that could thrive with the right support. The government must allocate resources to hardworking athletes and invest in grooming raw talent. Cricket is the only sport that continues to thrive, largely due to the financial independence it enjoys and the money that fuels it. But no athlete should have to struggle as much as Arshad Nadeem did to achieve glory. Too many stories abound of athletes who won medals for Pakistan only to be forgotten and left to live in misery. We have a troubling tendency to forget our heroes and squander our talent. A country that forgets its national sport cannot be forgiven. Let’s use Arshad Nadeem’s triumph as a catalyst for real change. The government must commit to investing in athletes and sports, honouring the many Arshad Nadeems across Pakistan who have yet to be discovered. Pakistan’s youth bulge is one of the highest in the world. If we don’t nurture their potential -- especially in sports -- we risk losing them to extremism and other destructive paths. By investing in our youth and their athletic potential, we honour not just individuals but the nation itself.