Arshad Nadeem, a javelin thrower, who made the nation proud by becoming the first Pakistani to have won Olympic gold medal in the sport just a couple of days ago, said on Sunday that he was thankful to the government as well as the people for giving him such a warm reception, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking to 24News after arriving in Mian Channu, his hometown, he said he was quite excited to see people showing their love for him. “I will make full preparation for the 2028 Olympics. And I will make sure that I win laurels for my country in the future as well,” he expressed the resolve.
Earlier, people in Mian Channu were over the moon as Arshad Nadeem, who won a gold medal in javelin throw at the Paris Olympics, 2024, reached his hometown on Sunday morning.
There were festivities all around in the city as people danced to drumbeats to celebrate the arrival of the ‘Pride of Pakistan’.
Arshad, who had reached Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport late Saturday night, accompanied by dozens of vehicles, including those of the Punjab Police, began his journey to Mian Channu in the early hours of Sunday morning.
But prior to that, he marched through the roads of Lahore in a double-decker along with a caravan of his fans who had received him at the airport only a few hours ago.
He waved to the crowd who kept raising slogans to pay their tributes to the athlete.
People, eager to catch a glimpse of Arshad, flocked to the double-decker and took his photographs.
On his way to his hometown, the champion made the first stopover at Raiwind’s Tableeghi Markaz where he also offered Fajar prayer.
Earlier, on arrival, he was given a warm reception by the elders of the markaz.
His next stopover was at Phoolnagar where he had a breakfast along with the people who were part of his caravan.
Renala Khurd was the next station on his route.
Arshad Nadeem received a warm welcome at the Lahore airport after creating history by winning the first-ever Olympic gold in athletics with a record of 92.97 meters in the javelin throw a couple of days ago at the Paris Olympics 2024.
The authorities made special arrangements at the airport where people from various walks of life thronged to welcome the national hero. Arshad Nadeem's family too landed Lahore from Mian Chanu.
Arshad Nadeem reached Lahore by a Turkish Airlines flight, TK 714. The aircraft was presented with a water cannon salute upon landing.
A large number of government representatives and citizens welcomed him with slogans of Pakistan Zindabad and Arshad Nadeem Zindabad
A 60-foot long and 20-foot wide national flag was also prepared to welcome the star athlete.
A Punjab Police band presented a salute to Arshad Nadeem. Commandos were also deployed to maintain law and order.
Among the government representatives, Saad Rafiq, Azma Bukhari, Faisal Ayub Khokhar, Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister's Adviser on Youth Affairs Rana Mashhood, People's Party Leader Hasan Murtaza, DG OF Pakistan Sports Board Yasir Pizada and other dignitaries welcomed Arshad Nadeem.
Provincial Information Minister Uzma Bukhari while talking to the media said that the national hero Arshad Nadeem along with his parents has been offered to be a guest of the government, now it is his choice whether he wants to stay or wants to go to his hometown Mian Chanun.
Talking to the media, Arshad Nadeem said the Almighty blessed him with honour. He expressed his gratitude to the nation, his parents and the coach.
When asked if he intends to join politics, Arshad Nadeem said, "I can't join politics. I am doing what I have to do, and I will continue to do so inshallah."
Despite practising with rickety equipment and with little access to the gyms and training grounds his international competitors have, Nadeem had given Pakistan its first Olympic gold medal in 40 years.
Postage stamp issued to honour Arshad Nadeem
Arshad Nadeem broke the Olympic record with a monstrous 92.97-metre throw, the sixth-longest all-time throw. The previous Olympic record was of Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway which he made during the 2008 Olympics with a throw of 90.57m. His two throws went ahead of the previous Olympic record.
PM to hold lunch for Javelin Star and family in Lahore
Defending champion India’s Neeraj Chopra came in second with 89.45m followed by Grenada’s Anderson Peters in third with an 88.54m throw. It was after 40 years that Pakistan won an Olympic gold. The last time Pakistan won a hockey gold medal was in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. August 8 also marked exactly 32 years since Pakistan won an Olympic medal after the hockey team clinched a bronze with a 4-3 win over the Netherlands in Barcelona in 1992
President to confer Hilal-i-Imtiaz on Arshad
It is also Pakistan’s first-ever medal in Athletics and first-ever individual Olympics gold medal. Before Arshad, Muhammad Bashir won a bronze medal in wrestling in the 1960 Olympics while Hussain Shah won a bronze medal in wrestling in the 1988 Olympics.
Reporters: Husnain Aulakh, Ghulam Haider and Rana Amjad