Paris (Web Desk/Agencies): Pakistan’s star thrower Arshad Nadeem, who smashed men’s javelin Olympic record on Thursday with a massive throw in his second attempt, received his gold in a medal ceremony on Friday.
The 27-year-old thrower saw his javelin sailing past the “OR” boxes in the infield and landing at 92.97m to set a new Olympic record.
India’s Neeraj Chopra, who won silver with a throw of 89.45m and Grenada’s Anderson Peters, who earned bronze with a throw of 88.54m also stepped on to the podium along with Arshad to officially receive their medals.
The ceremony was held nearly 23 hours after Arshad secured his historic victory. The delay, which sometimes may happen at the Olympics, had been communicated to the athletes in advance, allowing them to prepare for the momentous occasion.
Arshad, who became the first Pakistani to win an Olympic gold in track and field, stood proudly on the podium during the ceremony.
The delay did not diminish the significance of the event, as he received his medal with the same enthusiasm and emotion as if it had taken place immediately after his win.
While receiving the medal, Arshad was all smiles as the Pakistani flag was hoisted and the national anthem played in the background. The ceremony, although delayed, was a fitting tribute to his hard work and dedication, which had culminated in this remarkable achievement.
Arshad’s gold medal win and the ceremony that followed will be remembered as a defining moment in Pakistan’s Olympic history, marking the beginning of what many hope will be a new era of success for the nation’s athletes on the world stage.