LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly unanimously approved a resolution on Sunday to honour javelin champion Arshad Nadeem for winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The resolution was presented by Hina Pervaiz Butt, a member of the Pakistan Muslim League (N). It said that the pride of Punjab, Arshad Nadeem had set a new record in the javelin throw at the Paris Olympics. It added the star had elevated the pride of Pakistan by winning the gold medal.
Earlier, the National Assembly had also adopted a resolution to honour Arshad. Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has announced to send Arshad Nadeem for performing Umrah. It said that the star javelin thrower will be sent to Umrah along with his family.
He was greeted by a massive crowd of ecstatic fans at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport in the early hours of Sunday.
His record-breaking performance not only earned him a gold medal but also ended a 118-year-old Olympic record, making him the first Pakistani to clinch an individual gold medal in the field and track category at the Olympics.
He received his gold medal at a ceremony held on Friday at the Paris Olympics 2024 in Champions Park near the Eiffel Tower. His record-setting throw of 92.97 meters in the second attempt clinched the gold, surpassing Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen’s previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters from the 2008 Beijing Games.
In recognition of his historic feat, President Asif Ali Zardari directed that Nadeem be awarded the civil honour of ‘Hilal e Imtiaz’. Additionally, the government issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring images of Minar-e-Pakistan and Arshad Nadeem to mark both the 77th Independence Day of Pakistan and his Olympic triumph.
The Punjab government has also announced a reward of Rs100 million, while the Sindh government has pledged Rs50 million to the star.
