World Courant
Islamabad, Pakistan – When Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medalist in 40 years, arrived at Lahore airport within the early morning of August 10, he was greeted by a boisterous crowd of hundreds of individuals chanting his identify and waving the Pakistani flag.
The 27-year-old athlete was accompanied by a big convoy of individuals taking part in drums and dancing as he drove house to his village close to the city of Mian Channu in Punjab province, the place locals welcomed him by throwing rose petals and his father wreathed him in flowers.
Almost two weeks after his record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 metres (305 toes) on the Stade de France throughout the Summer time Olympics in Paris, Nadeem has emerged as Pakistan’s newest nationwide hero.
He acquired almost $900,000 in prize cash from the federal government, together with a automotive with the registration quantity PAK 92.97. He was additionally honored at an official reception with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and invited to lift the nationwide flag throughout Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations on August 14.
In a rustic like Pakistan, the place cricket reigns supreme, Nadeem’s success has led to unprecedented curiosity in javelin throwing and athletics.
Some observers are calling his achievement – Pakistan’s first particular person Olympic gold medal – the best sporting second within the nation’s 77-year historical past.
After his historic throw on August 8, Pakistani social media was flooded with movies of girls and boys imitating Nadeem’s javelin throw with do-it-yourself spears.
In line with sports activities journalist Faizan Lakhani, this renewed enthusiasm reveals how Nadeem’s victory has gripped your entire nation.
“Individuals are exhibiting curiosity in javelin and different athletic sports activities. They observe the data, learn in regards to the video games and it’s encouraging to see folks being attentive to sports activities apart from cricket,” Lakhani, deputy sports activities editor at Pakistani channel Geo Information, instructed Al Jazeera.
Lakhani mentioned Nadeem’s efficiency may result in extra consideration for different sports activities, however the media and public’s consideration typically goes to cricket.
“We’re a one-sport nation, with cricket taking all our consideration. And with the cricket matches beginning, … it’s doubtless that we are going to return our focus to cricket and transfer on from Nadeem’s victory. It’s our collective accountability to recollect what Nadeem achieved, the importance of his victory, and to proceed to advertise curiosity in different sports activities,” he added.
Nadeem was showered with honours upon his return to Pakistan, with the federal government awarding him almost $900,000 in prize cash following his Olympic gold medal win (Bilawal Arbab/EPA)
Sporting successes from the previous
After gaining independence from British rule in August 1947, Pakistan initially achieved success in a number of sports activities, most notably area hockey, the nation’s nationwide sport.
The hockey staff gained its first medal – silver – on the 1956 Olympics, adopted by its first gold in 1960. That 12 months, Pakistan additionally gained its first particular person Olympic medal – bronze for wrestler Muhammed Bashir.
The Fifties and Nineteen Sixties additionally noticed Pakistan produce a few of its most interesting sprinters, together with Abdul Khaliq who was given the title of “Flying Fowl of Asia” by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, after profitable the primary of two gold medals on the 1954 Manila Asian Video games.
However aside from squash and hockey, Pakistani athletes’ efficiency in different sports activities steadily declined. As political unrest gripped the nation within the late Fifties, adopted by wars with India in 1965 and 1971 and many years of navy rule, sports activities struggled, shedding funding and grassroots scouting applications. These adjustments have been mirrored in declining outcomes.
The hockey staff, for instance, which gained three Olympic gold medals – the final in 1984 in Los Angeles – and Pakistan’s final Olympic medal earlier than Nadeem, a bronze medal on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, has did not qualify within the final three competitions.
Squash was additionally as soon as dominated by Pakistan. Led by Hashim Khan after which by different members of the legendary Khan sporting dynasty from 1951 to 1997, Pakistani gamers reached 41 of the 47 finals of the British Open, squash’s most prestigious event, profitable 30 of them. Nevertheless, the nation has not seen a British Open victory or world championship since 1997.
An outsider
Nadeem rose by means of the ranks with the assistance of a non-public sponsor and his expertise. He was first recognized by his mentor and coach, Rasheed Ahmed Saqi, a sports activities scout, as a thin 14-year-old competing in an area event.
However Nadeem is an outlier in a rustic of 241 million folks. With the general public and media give attention to cricket, which has the richest governing physique, the Pakistan Cricket Board, different sports activities and their affiliated our bodies have been suffering from allegations of political appointments and embezzlement, infighting and lack of funding.
Athletes have relied on private and non-private organizations, resembling banks, to arrange athletic departments that would supply them with a income stream and profession alternatives. However the financial downturn of current years has induced many to shut their athletic departments.
Athletes typically report that they don’t have sufficient monetary assets or assist to journey and take part in worldwide tournaments.
Mohammed Shahnawaz, a UK-based Pakistani sports activities marketing consultant who advises native and diaspora athletes, believes Nadeem’s victory ought to immediate state authorities to consider how one can higher assist promising athletes.
“We want a transparent imaginative and prescient from the state. Our sports activities coverage is difficult and outdated. … Our sports activities coverage and infrastructure are nonetheless caught within the Nineteen Sixties, whereas the world has moved on to the twenty first century,” he mentioned.
Nadeem made historical past in Paris when he threw his javelin a distance of 92.97 meters, setting a brand new Olympic document (Christian Bruna/EPA)
Investing in athletes
Squash participant Noorena Shams, who’s aiming to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Video games in Los Angeles, the place the game will probably be performed for the primary time, says Nadeem’s success underlines the potential of particular person expertise regardless of restricted assist from the state.
“This win has raised consciousness among the many public, sponsors and athletes in regards to the significance of sports activities. Think about what Arshad may obtain if he had… world-class assist. And extra importantly, what number of extra Arshads may come out of the system with the mandatory assist?” the 27-year-old instructed Al Jazeera.
Lakhani cited for example Yasir Sultan, Pakistan’s second-best javelin thrower, who gained a bronze medal on the Asian Athletics Championships in June 2023.
“The federal government promised him 5 million rupees ($18,000) in prize cash after he gained the medal, however he has not acquired it but. The federal government must be continually reminded to satisfy its obligations. In addition they want to know that creating high athletes requires funding,” he mentioned.
Shahnawaz believes that for the long run, Pakistan ought to prioritize sports activities the place the nation can excel.
“We have now a number of expertise in taking pictures and weightlifting the place athletes have proven that they’ll carry out properly. It’s as much as the federal government to determine how one can use Arshad’s success to encourage the subsequent technology. There ought to be a profession path, determine gamers at a younger age and supply sports activities scholarships the place attainable. That approach we will guarantee sustainable growth of our athletes,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, Shahnawaz was not precisely hopeful of a constructive final result after Nadeem’s victory.
“I am unsure if we will actually obtain something with this win. We have now (the identical) individuals who have been working our varied sports activities organizations for 10 to fifteen years. (The) identical faces are repeatedly taking cost and (the) cycle of disappointment continues,” Shahnawaz mentioned. “Most officers haven’t got (the) imaginative and prescient to develop their sport or generate income or create one thing new to maneuver ahead. They’re simply pleased with the best way issues are.”
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