ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has announced that javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem will be honored with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian award, in recognition of his historic performance at the Paris Olympics 2024.
The award will be presented to Nadeem in a special ceremony, acknowledging his exceptional contributions to sports, as stated in a release from Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday.
Following the president’s directive, Aiwan-e-Sadr has formally requested the Cabinet Division to confer the award upon Nadeem. The request highlights Nadeem’s extraordinary achievements, which have significantly elevated Pakistan’s status in athletics and brought immense pride to the nation.
The Hilal-e-Imtiaz will be awarded to Nadeem under Article 259(2) of the Constitution, which empowers the President to recognize citizens for their exceptional contributions across various fields.
Nadeem’s achievements include:
- Winning Pakistan’s first-ever individual gold medal at the Olympics.
- Securing the first Olympic medal in athletics for Pakistan.
- Achieving Pakistan’s first gold medal in any Olympic discipline in the last 40 years.
- Setting a new Olympic record with a javelin throw of 92.97 meters.
On Thursday, Nadeem won the men’s javelin title at the Paris Olympics, defeating the defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India. His record-breaking throw not only earned him gold but also set a new Olympic record, surpassing the previous mark by over 2.50 meters. The performance received a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd.
Before Nadeem’s victory, Pakistan had not won an individual Olympic gold medal. The country’s previous gold medals were all in field hockey, secured in 1960, 1968, and 1984. Apart from these, Pakistan had won only two individual Olympic medals — a wrestling bronze in 1960 and a boxing bronze in 1988 — and had not medaled in any Olympics since 1992.
In an exclusive interview with Geo News, Nadeem expressed his satisfaction with his performance, noting he felt capable of achieving an even greater distance.
Nadeem, who will return to Lahore via Istanbul early Sunday morning, is set to receive a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Khanewal, which is eagerly preparing to celebrate his remarkable triumph.
