Pakistani singer Ali Zafar has offered a cash prize of one million rupees to Arshad Nadeem, the javelin thrower who clinched the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This gesture highlights the financial challenges Nadeem faced throughout his journey to becoming an Olympic champion.
Nadeem’s father, Muhammad Ashraf, shared the struggles his son endured, revealing how villagers and relatives would pool their resources to help Nadeem travel for training and competitions. “People have no idea how Arshad got to this place today,” he said. The family, hailing from Khanewal in Pakistan’s Punjab province, faced significant hardships, with Nadeem even lacking the funds to buy a javelin at one point.
On Thursday, Nadeem made history with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters at the Paris Olympics, turning the tables on India’s Neeraj Chopra, who had won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite his immense talent, Nadeem’s path to Olympic glory was filled with obstacles, including injuries, inadequate training facilities, and limited financial support.
Nadeem comes from a humble background as the son of a construction worker. His family often struggled to meet basic needs, yet his community’s unwavering support helped him pursue his dreams. The villagers’ contributions covered essential expenses like travel, accommodation, equipment, and coaching fees, allowing Nadeem to compete in various cities.
His father attributes Nadeem’s success to the faith and generosity of the villagers, who supported his ambitions in a country where cricket dominates the sports scene. Many on the internet have noted that Nadeem’s achievement at the Paris Olympics came despite the lack of support from Pakistan, rather than because of it.
Nadeem’s talent was evident from a young age, but his journey to the top was far from easy. After winning gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Pakistani athlete to do so in 60 years, Nadeem’s career gained momentum. Last year, he also won a silver medal at the World Championship.
Interestingly, Nadeem received help from his rival, Neeraj Chopra, who supported his request for a javelin replacement earlier this year. Before the javelin throw event at the Olympics, Ashraf had expressed hope, saying, “If he wins a medal, it will be a triumph for everyone in our village and our country.”
When Nadeem achieved his historic feat, his village of Khanewal erupted in celebration. Nadeem has now become the only Asian javelin thrower to surpass the 90-meter mark three times, solidifying his place in history.