ISLAMABAD: Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw final at the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Nadeem’s extraordinary performance, marked by a throw of 92.97 meters, not only secured him the first-ever individual gold medal for Pakistan but also set a new Olympic record, surpassing the previous mark of 90.57 meters set by Andreas Thorkildsen of the Netherlands at the Beijing Olympics 2008.
The Stade de France erupted in applause as Nadeem clinched the top spot, leaving defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India in his wake. The historic achievement has reverberated far beyond the stadium, earning accolades and celebrations from around the globe, including a surge of admiration from Chinese netizens.
In China, the reaction to Nadeem’s victory has been nothing short of enthusiastic. Social media platforms, particularly Weibo, have been abuzz with praise and excitement. Chinese viewers were captivated by Nadeem’s powerful throw, and the commentator from China Central Television (CCTV) expressed sheer exhilaration, exclaiming, “He has given wings to the javelin!”
The phrase “Pakistani Iron Brother” (Ba Tie) has become a popular term of endearment among Chinese sports fans, who have flooded social media with congratulatory messages and memes celebrating Nadeem’s feat.
A trending tag on Weibo, “Nadeem surprises his coach’s sunglasses off,” has amassed tens of millions of views, with users sharing humorous and heartwarming comments about the coach’s astonished reaction to the record-breaking throw.
Nadeem’s gold medal is a historic milestone for Pakistan, breaking a 40-year dry spell since the country last won an Olympic gold medal in the men’s field hockey event at the Los Angeles Olympics 1984. Pakistan’s overall Olympic medal count now stands at 11, with this latest victory marking a significant and joyous moment in the nation’s sporting history.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed national pride through social media, congratulating Nadeem with a heartfelt message: “You’ve made the whole nation proud, young man.” The Prime Minister’s words echoed the sentiments of a country elated by the javelin star’s triumph.
