LAHORE: With his Olympic record still fresh in the mind, Arshad Nadeem is already looking to his next challenge: A gold medal at the World Athletics Championship.

From a small village of Pakistan to the podium of Paris, Arshad’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance — and, hopefully, he’s just getting started.

“The way the entire nation celebrated my achievement in the Paris Olympics is quite encouraging for me and now I am setting my sights on a gold medal at the World Athletics Championship,” Arshad, who set an Olympic record of 92.97 metres, said during a prize distribution ceremony here at the Wapda’s Auditorium on Wednesday.

Arshad’s fairy-tale success is an inspiration for all the sports persons in the country and the 27-year-old urges all the aspirants to set big targets as sky is the limit.

Arshad, who received a cash prize of Rs5 million by his department Wapda, thanked the private and government sectors which helped him prepare for the global showpiece.

Arshad, who previously won a gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2022, particularly mentioned his coach Salman Iqbal Butt, Rashid Saqi, Fayyaz Bukhari and his school’s P.T Master Ramzan.

Arshad also shed light on the struggles he went through during his preparation for the Olympics.

“It was not an easy journey,” Arshad said “I battled numerous injuries and had my knees and elbow operated. But I kept believing and finally God blessed me with the great achievement, which lifted Pakistan’s flag at the global level.”

Arshad also highlighted his doctors’ work who gave him timely medical treatment which helped him prepare for the event.

“I am also thankful to the Athletics Federation of Pakistan, Pakistan Sports Board and the Punjab Sports Board and my two doctors Dr. Asad Abbas (at Tokyo Olympics) and Dr Ali Sher Bajwa (Paris Olympics) for my timely medical treatment I needed at the crucial stages,” he said.

Wapda chairman retired Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani praised Arshad’s success and also announced a job for Arshad’s younger brother, who is also a javelin thrower.

“The Nation and their sports rise and fall together,” Sajjad said during the ceremony. “Wapda sportspersons have been bringing laurels to the county. They had won 44 gold medals, 15 silver medals and 22 bronze medals in individual and team events at various international championships during the last two years,” he added.

There were also cash prizes for Wapda’s weightlifters Nooh Dastagir and three sisters Sybil, Veronica and Twinkle Sohail.

Nooh triumphed in the Strongman Games held this year in Uzbekistan while Sybil, Veronica and Twinkle gave exceptional performances in Classical Powerlifting Championship held in South Africa, clinching 15 gold medals, altogether.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2024