Brilliant Arshad promises to continue
KARACHI: Arshad Nadeem, who single-handedly put Pakistan on the athletics map, said, “I did try my best but I feel winning gold was just not my fate.” In all truth, a silver medal was more significant to him than even a platinum one at the world athletics championships in Budapest last Sunday.
By throwing the javelin an astounding 87.82 meters in the first competition since August 22, the talented thrower created history by being the first Pakistani to take home a medal from the World Championships. The entire country rejoiced over Arshad’s award and was filled with pride at his amazing achievement. However, his critics attempted to dampen the excitement brought on by his success and were quick to point out that Arshad was not seen lugging.
Since both bronze medalist Jakub Vadlejch and Indian Neeraj Chopra were draped in their respective national flags, there was a small uproar about the missing flag at home There is no story to this or any unfortunate incidence, I guarantee, Arshad stated in an open-minded manner. The flag was in my bag because I had packed my things immediately after the ceremony.
I was unaware that the medal ceremony and photos would begin right after the contest. So, rather than walking all the way to my bag, which was positioned a little further away, I chose to move forward while those images were being shot. And Arshad was kept in good stead by the prayers. A right knee injury had plagued the friendly Mian Chunnu behemoth only a few months prior to the world championships.
Prior to the 2020 Olympics, he had undergone surgery for long-standing problems to his elbow and left knee, and then through a period of rehabilitation. To the delight of his millions of fans back home, Arshad nevertheless rose to the enormous occasion and won the silver.
Published in EDP BLOGS on September 3,2023.
