Pakistan PM Honors Arshad Nadeem with Grand Rewards for Historic Olympic Victory
Pakistan’s javelin star, Arshad Nadeem, continues to be celebrated nationwide for his remarkable achievement at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where he secured the country’s first-ever gold medal in individual sports. Since his return, Nadeem has been showered with rewards and accolades. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a cash prize of PKR 150 million (approximately INR 4.5 crore) and a prestigious civil award for the Olympic champion.
Arshad Nadeem made headlines last week when he set a new Olympic record with a javelin throw of 92.97 meters, surpassing the previous record of 90.57 meters set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008. Nadeem’s incredible performance earned him the gold medal, ahead of Tokyo Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who secured silver with a throw of 89.45 meters.
In a special dinner ceremony held in Islamabad to honor Nadeem, Prime Minister Sharif lauded the athlete’s extraordinary accomplishment, which has brought immense pride to Pakistan. The Prime Minister also announced a significant cash reward of PKR 100 million for Nadeem’s coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, acknowledging the pivotal role he played in Nadeem’s success.
Prime Minister #ShehbazSharif hosted a banquet in honour of Olympic Gold Medalist & the new Olympic record holder #ArshadNadeem at the PM House.
He presented a cheque of Rs.150 million to Arshad Nadeem for winning a gold medal in javelin throw at the #ParisOlympics2024.
A road… pic.twitter.com/CGyOy37bNo
— Shafek Koreshe (@shafeKoreshe) August 13, 2024
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that Arshad’s achievement demonstrates that challenges and limited resources are not barriers to success. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to sports, Nadeem will also receive the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian award.
Moreover, the government announced plans to establish the Arshad Nadeem High-Performance Academy at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, along with the creation of a sports endowment fund worth PKR 1 billion. This fund aims to support the development of future athletes in the country.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also revealed that Arshad Nadeem will be the chief guest at the Independence Day ceremony in Islamabad, further highlighting the national celebrations following his historic victory.
Minister Tarar praised the warm reception given to Nadeem upon his return, including a water cannon salute at the airport. He also encouraged filmmakers to document Nadeem’s inspiring journey from Mian Channu to the Olympic podium in Paris, suggesting that it would make for a compelling biographical film.
With these honors, Arshad Nadeem’s legacy as a national hero continues to grow, inspiring future generations of Pakistani athletes.
