Arshad Nadeem breaks Olympic record; honoured with Pakistan's Hilal-e-Imtiaz

ISLAMABAD: Arshad Nadeem claimed the gold medal in javelin at the Paris Olympics, setting a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters. Nadeem's victory came after years of rivalry with India's Neeraj Chopra, who had previously secured the gold medal in athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 87.58 meters.

Nadeem's exceptional performance broke the long-standing Olympic record of 88.54 meters, set by Denmark's Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The defining moment occurred during the second round, when Nadeem's throw put him firmly in the lead. In a dramatic turn of events, Chopra's remaining five attempts were all fouled, possibly due to the pressure of surpassing Nadeem's historic throw.

This victory marks the first time Nadeem has crossed the 90-meter mark in an Olympic event, solidifying his place as one of the sport's top competitors. In contrast, Chopra has yet to reach the 90-meter milestone in his career.

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Following his victory, Nadeem received a hero's welcome in his hometown. Pakistan is set to honor him with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the country's second-highest civilian award, in a special ceremony to be held by the President of Pakistan.

Neeraj Chopra, despite narrowly missing out on the gold, expressed pride in winning a silver medal for India. He graciously congratulated Nadeem, acknowledging his rival's excellent performance and remarking that the outcome was a result of divine will.

The reaction of Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, also garnered widespread attention. She emphasized the importance of hard work in achieving success and praised Nadeem, calling him "like a son." She reiterated that a silver medal is an outstanding achievement and celebrated both athletes for their dedication to their sport.