Vinay Kochhar.Paris.
Pakistan will honour Paris Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, it was announced on Saturday. The government also directed the release of a commemorative postage stamp titled Azm-e-Istehkam (Commitment to Sustainability) on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day next week. Nadeem won the gold medal in men’s javelin throw in Paris on Thursday with a record throw of 92.97m.
The 27-year-old set a new Olympic record with his career-best effort. This is Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years. Nadeem is the first Pakistani to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. According to state media, on the instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari, his office sent a letter to the Cabinet for the formal honour.
Recognizing his outstanding contribution in the field of sports, the President will confer a civil award on Nadeem at a special ceremony. Apart from this, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed to issue a commemorative postage stamp called Azm-e-Istehkam on the occasion of Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day on August 14. Its design also has an image of Nadeem and Minar-e-Pakistan, a symbol of national unity.
Punjab province had announced a reward of Rs 10 crore
Pakistan’s Punjab province Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had announced a cash prize of Rs 10 crore (Pakistani) for Arshad Nadeem. Maryam had also said that a sports city would be built in the name of this player in his hometown Khanewal. It is known that even after winning a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games (2022) and a silver medal in the World Championships (2023), Nadeem had to plead for a new spear before the Paris Olympics. His old spear had deteriorated after years of use. Perhaps that is why Nadeem’s first message to his parents from Paris on Thursday was that he is now determined to build a proper academy for athletes in or around his village.