Arshad Nadeem is a 27-year-old Pakistani javelin thrower who has made history in sports by becoming the first Pakistani athlete to win a gold medal in the javelin throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This 6-foot-4-inch athlete has been training for over a decade, overcoming numerous obstacles and challenges to achieve this remarkable feat. His dedication, hard work, and passion for the sport have inspired many young athletes in Pakistan to pursue their dreams in track and field events.
Who is Arshad Nadeem?
Arshad Nadeem was born on January 2, 1997, in the small district of Mian Channu, Pakistan. He was a versatile sports enthusiast who dabbled in all the sports at his school, from badminton to football, but his heart settled on cricket, which he played until district-level tape-ball tournaments.
The man who introduced Arshad to the javelin was Rasheed Ahmad Saqi, who trained him for hours on how to use his elbows to throw the javelin with maximum force and precision.
Before setting the Olympic record of 92.97 metres, his first throw was less than 60 metres. In his WAPDA trials, he threw a distance of 65 metres, catching the eye of national coaches who saw his potential.
Nadeem was a typical village guy from Pakistan who had a passion for sports, particularly cricket and javelin. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, he persevered and eventually became an Olympic record holder in the javelin.
Arshad Nadeem mentioned that he used to give a bamboo stick to the village craftsman and instruct him to shape it into a javelin and practice on the ground on the Roha Nadeem-hosted YouTube show Beyond the Throw.
Overcoming Adversity: Arshad Nadeem's Journey
Nadeem was not a man with pockets full of Pakistani rupees or all the luxuries and facilities that many of his peers enjoyed. He was a simple guy from Punjab, Pakistan, who belonged to a low-income family. His father was a mason who also part-time worked as Neza Bazi (tent pegging) to make ends meet.
Arshad never dreamed of becoming a professional sportsman until his brothers persuaded him to take athletics seriously. With their encouragement, he took part in various events like the discus throw and the javelin, apart from races at the school.
He didn't have much money to purchase proper sports equipment. Despite the financial challenges, Arshad's determination and hard work paid off when he eventually earned a spot on the national athletic team and represented Pakistan at international competitions.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| 2016 | South Asian Games | Guwahati, India | 3rd place, bronze medal | Javelin throw | 78.33 m |
| 2016 | Asian Junior Athletics Championships | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | 3rd place, bronze medal | Javelin throw | 73.40 m |
| 2016 | World U20 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 30th (q) | Javelin throw | 67.17 m |
| 2017 | Islamic Solidarity Games | Baku, Azerbaijan | 3rd place, bronze medal | Javelin throw | 76.33 m |
| 2017 | Asian Championships | Bhubaneswar, India | 7th | Javelin throw | 78.00 m |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 8th | Javelin throw | 76.02 m |
| 2018 | Asian Games | Jakarta, Indonesia | 3rd place, bronze medal | Javelin throw | 80.75 m |
| 2019 | Asian Championships | Doha, Qatar | 6th | Javelin throw | 78.55 m |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 16th (q) | Javelin throw | 81.52 m (NR) |
| 2019 | South Asian Games | Kathmandu, Nepal | 1st place, gold medal | Javelin throw | 86.29 m GR (NR) |
| 2021 | Imam Reza Cup | Mashhad, Iran | 1st place, gold medal | Javelin throw | 86.38 m (NR) |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 5th | Javelin throw | 84.62 m |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, Oregon, United States | 5th | Javelin throw | 86.16 m |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, England | 1st place, gold medal | Javelin throw | 90.18 m (GR) (NR) |
| 2022 | Islamic Solidarity Games | Konya, Turkey | 1st place, gold medal | Javelin throw | 88.55 m (GR) |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 2nd place, silver medal | Javelin throw | 87.82 m (SB) |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 1st place, gold medal | Javelin throw | 92.97 m (OR) |
Paris Olympics 2024: Mother of Neeraj Chopra praises Arshad Nadeem
On August 9, in a javelin match, Arshad Nadeem set an Olympic record by throwing the javelin a distance of 92.97 metres, securing a gold medal for Pakistan. Additionally, Neeraj Chopra, who had secured gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, won a silver medal in the same event with a throw of 89.45 metres.
On this heartfelt day, Neeraj Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, congratulated Arshad on his remarkable achievement and expressed her pride in seeing both athletes excel in their respective performances. She also mentioned that "Arshad Nadeem is also our child."
This display of sportsmanship and camaraderie between the two competitors highlighted the true spirit of the Olympic Games. It was a moment that will be remembered for years to come in the history of athletics.
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