Lahore: Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s olympic champion who won the gold medal in men’s javelin at the Paris Olympics with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters, has revealed that he rejected multiple offers from several countries to represent them in international competitions, choosing instead to stay loyal to Pakistan.
Nadeem made history last week by becoming the first Pakistani to win an individual Olympic gold medal, ending a 32-year medal for the country. Although he had a rough start in the final—his first attempt was marked as a “No Throw”—Nadeem bounced back with an amazing throw, breaking the previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In a recent interview with a local news channel, Nadeem said that he was approached by the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan, who all offered him the chance to represent them. However, he firmly declined, expressing his loyalty and commitment to his own motherland, Pakistan. “I was given the opportunity to represent countries like the UAE, UK, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, but I chose to stay loyal to Pakistan. My heart belongs to my country, and I want to compete for Pakistan, no matter what other offers I receive,” Nadeem said.
Though Nadeem is currently a brand ambassador in Uzbekistan, he refused their offer to compete under their flag. His achievements at the Paris Olympics has made him a national hero, and he received a grand welcome at the airport when he returned to Pakistan early Sunday morning.
Arshad Nadeem received multiple monetary prizes and awards from the government of Pakistan. Nadeem received a PKR 100 million cash prize from the Chief Minister of Pakistan Punjab, Maryam Nawaz. In addition, Karachi’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, announced a PKR 50 million reward, and Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan offered PKR 2 million.
In short, Arshad pledges loyalty and love to his motherland by turning down international sports offers. It is an inspiring news and proud moment for Pakistanis.
Click here for recent updates and latest news.
Stay tuned with Rabt Marketing.