Pakistan claim breakthrough gold in men’s javelin
Arshad Nadeem has won Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal for 40 years, setting a fresh men’s javelin record in the process.
The 27-year-old set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters in his second attempt, smashing the old mark of 90.57 set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway in 2008.
“When I threw the javelin, I got the feel of it leaving my hand, and sensed it could be an Olympic record, inshallah (God willing),” Nadeem said.
“God indeed made it an Olympic record.”
Not just Pakistan’s first gold in four decades, it is their first medal of any colour in 32 years, when its hockey team last won bronze.
Until Thursday night in Paris, men’s hockey was the only event which Pakistan had won Olympic gold, in 1960, 1968 and 1984.
Pakistan will be eyeing success in a new discipline at the Los Angeles 2028 Games: cricket.
The India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry is considered one of the biggest in world sport, but it played out in the javelin competition in Paris.
Behind Nadeem was silver medallist and defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India, and in the stands were thousands of subcontinental fans.
Chopra became a superstar in India when he won India’s first ever gold medal in track and field three years ago, but there were no fans in Tokyo because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Indian and Pakistani diasporas meant both men enjoyed plenty of support at these Games.
“There’s no doubt about the cricket rivalry. Now this javelin is also there,” Nadeem said.
“People back home in Pakistan and even in India, they were eager to see us both throwing the javelin and beating each other. I’m happy to see Chopra earning silver.”
Chopra took silver at 89.45 meters, a season best, and Anderson Peters of Grenada took bronze at 88.54.
Chopra fouled on all five of his other throws and said he’s been in a funk the last few years.
“I’m always injured,” said Chopra, who has been slowed by a groin injury.
“Nadeem threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country.”
Nadeem was Pakistan’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony in Paris.
He played age-group cricket at the state level until he took up throwing sports, starting with shot put and discus.
“Not becoming a cricketer was the best thing that happened to me … I wouldn’t be in the Olympics otherwise,” he said.
India is planning to bid for the 2036 Olympics.
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