Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s Olympic gold medalist in javelin, believes his winning formula has always been simple: faith in God, hard work, and perseverance. Speaking in Tokyo ahead of the World Athletics Championships, the 28-year-old recalled how his historic throw of 92.97m in Paris 2024 gave Pakistan its first Olympic track and field gold medal.
Despite limited facilities back home in Lahore, Arshad has consistently made history for Pakistan. From becoming the first Pakistani to reach an Olympic track and field final in Tokyo 2021, to winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, silver at the World Athletics Championships in 2023, and finally securing an Olympic gold with a record throw in Paris 2024, his journey has inspired millions.
Arshad’s coach, Salman Butt, who doubles as his trainer, manager, and spiritual mentor, stressed the need for more professional support, like physiotherapists and modern training facilities. While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced plans for a new training centre in Islamabad, Arshad and his team are also exploring training opportunities abroad to avoid the harsh weather in Lahore and manage his recurring calf injuries.
Despite a modest season so far, with only one competition and a throw of 86.40m, Arshad remains confident. He revealed that even during his Olympic gold-winning performance in Paris, he competed with a calf injury but managed to deliver the throw of his life.
As he prepares for the qualifiers in Tokyo, much of the attention is on a possible face-off with India’s Neeraj Chopra. Their rivalry has become one of the most followed storylines in athletics, although Arshad prefers to focus on his own performance. “The qualifiers will show where I stand,” he said.
With the world watching, the Pakistan-India javelin rivalry promises high drama, but Arshad insists sportsmanship should prevail. For him, the goal remains the same: to throw further, break more records, and continue making Pakistan proud.
