Pakistan’s athlete Arshad Nadeem became the first javelin thrower from the sub-continent to break the 90-metre mark and win gold for his country at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The entire country praised Nadeem for his remarkable feat. This is the second gold Pakistan has bagged in the Commonwealth Games. Earlier, weightlifter Nooh Dastagir Butt won the first gold for Pakistan in the 2022 CWG with a record lift of 405kg.
In the first round of the javelin throw final, Nadeem set a maximum record of an 86.81-metre throw. However, in the fifth attempt, Arshad set a new CWG record of 90.18m throw and became the first Pakistani athlete to create that record.
It is a proud moment for Pakistanis and the entire Pakistani nation appreciated Arshad Nadeem for his outstanding performance in the 2022 Common Wealth Games.
"I didn't go for the surgery. I pushed through it so I can do something for my country,”-#ArshadNadeem fulfilled his word as he became the 1st South Asian to cross the 90m barrier in javelin throw. He made the #CWG record,& won #Pak's 1st t&f ????in 60 yrs.https://t.co/oa2JFJbbdT — natasha (@NatashaRaheel) August 7, 2022
Imran Khan on Arshad Nadeem
The former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan appreciated the Olympian for winning gold for the country despite carrying an elbow injury.
Congratulations to javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for overcoming injury & winning the Gold for Pakistan plus setting a new Games record with a throw of 90.18m. pic.twitter.com/QSRyp5tQmd — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 8, 2022
Sports personalities of Pakistan including Babar Azam also appreciated the olympian for his resolve and commitment to win gold for Pakistan.
Jism toota howa tha per himmat Himalaya se bhi buland thi.
Salute to you my brother #ArshadNadeem for bringing another gold for Pakistan in #CommonwealthGames2022.
You made the nation proud. ????????????#PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/sJ0jQGOqnY — Babar Azam (@babarazam258) August 7, 2022
Congratulations #ArshadNadeem & all Pakistan winning Gold in javelin throw by 90.18M ???????????????????????? in #CommonwealthGames2022 Proud of u. Pakistan ???????? Zindabad pic.twitter.com/3QOE3bLH4g — Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) August 7, 2022
Ek hi dil hai kitni baar jeeto gai Arshad. Pakistan ki shaan. May u win many more medals for Pakistan and may u get all the respect and facilities u deserve. InshAllah Olympics ka medal bhi aye ga. #ArshadNadeem #CommonwealthGames2022 pic.twitter.com/Z750eczDca — Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) August 7, 2022
With an eye to winning his maiden CWG medal, Pakistan’s star athlete Arshad Nadeem contested the men’s javelin throw final at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday. The event began at 07:40 pm (UK Time).
After the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and the recently-held World Championship silver medallist Neeraj Chopra of India decided to stay away from the quadrennial event due to a groin injury, Arshad has the perfect chance to finish at the podium in Birmingham.
Following a fifth-place finish in last year’s Tokyo Olympics, Arshad also ended fifth in the recently-held World Championship in the US with an 86.16-metre throw. This was also his third personal best throw, his best being 86.38m which had come in Iran and 86.29m which he pulled off in the 2019 Nepal South Asian Games.
The two-time world champion Anderson Peters was there in Birmingham and he was in great nick. He strongly defended his world title in the US recently with a monstrous throw of 90.54 metres.
The 2012 London Olympics gold medalist Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago also participated in the event. However, he lagged behind in the World Championship in the US previously. He failed to qualify for the finals as he just managed a throw of 78.87m. Nevertheless, he might be tricky, having a huge experience.
Kishorn has to his credit a bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. And it will be interesting to see how the trio deliver in Birmingham.
Arshad was confident to pull off his best in the quadrennial event.
“Yes, InshaAllah I will do my best,” Arshad said.
“I am in top shape. Yes, I carry an elbow injury and am playing with that. In the US, too, it troubled me as I felt pain during the World Championship but I am handling it nicely.”
Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra
Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem says he will miss competing against India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra at the Commonwealth Games here as they are part of ‘one’ family.
Neeraj won a historic silver at the World Championships last month with a throw of 88.13m as Arshad finished fifth after becoming the first Pakistani to qualify for the finals.
Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem’s picture shaking hands with Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra at the 2018 Asian Games
Arshad said Neeraj bhai is my brother. “I miss him here. May God give him the best of health and I get to compete with him soon”.
Neeraj won a historic silver at the World Championships last month with a throw of 88.13m as Arshad finished fifth after becoming the first Pakistani to qualify for the finals.
The Indian pulled out of the CWG due to a groin strain while Arshad who continued to nurse an elbow injury and won the gold medal for Pakistan.
Arshad Nadeem on Twitter
Nadeem posted a video tweet after winning gold for Pakistan in the CWG. He praised God for bestowing him with victory, he thanked his parents and the people of Pakistan for their support and prayers, and dedicated his win to Pakistan.