LAHORE: After winning two gold medals in a span of six days, Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem wants the country’s government to build a new stadium specifically for track and field sports.

Arshad Nadeem arrived here in the early hours of Tuesday bagging gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and Islamic Solidarity Games.

The 25-year-old set a new Commonwealth Games record with his throw of 90.18 metres in Birmingham, England to finish on the top of the podium. He also became the first South Asian to pass the 90-metre mark.

At the Islamic Solidarity Games, in Konya, Arshad, bagged a second gold medal in a span of six days, recording a 88.64-metre throw.

Before the Commonwealth Games, Arshad had finished fifth in the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene in the United States.

While Arshad became the first Pakistani track and field athlete to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in 60 years, sprinter Shajar Abbas’ qualification to the Games’ 200 metre final spoke volumes of his potential as a medal-winning prospect in international competitions.

Arshad said Pakistan needed to provide athletes with the maximum facilities in order for them to be able to compete with their top international counterparts.

“Pakistani athletes require better training from experts and a lot of work needs to be done by all stakeholders to see the country’s flag fly high,” said Arshad.

Arshad expressed satisfaction over his recent achievements adding that he wanted to bring more laurels to Pakistan.

“My achievements are the result of the hard-work and the prayers of elders and the nation,” said the athlete.

Arshad later reached his hometown Mian Chunnu where he received a warm welcome by his family and fans. He will travel to London next month to undergo a rehabilitation program to nurse the elbow and knee injuries he has been carrying since before the World Championships.

The Olympian will be looked after by Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa at the Cambridge University in the English capital. Arshad plans to return to the field in May next year.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2022