Jailed Imran Khan congratulates Arshad Nadeem for an "absolute brilliant javelin performance"

Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Friday congratulated the star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for winning the country's first-ever gold medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.

In a message posted by his team on the microblogging site X, the former prime minister extended his warmest felicitations to the nation on this momentous occasion.

"Congratulations to Pakistan's Olympic flag bearer Arshad Nadeem for an absolute brilliant javelin performance winning a gold medal for Pakistan," he said in a post.

Congratulations to Pakistan's Olympic flag bearer Arshad Nadeem for an absolute brilliant javelin performance winning a gold medal for Pakistan.

His persistence & perseverance has done him & the nation proud. It is the first time any Pakistani has won an individual gold for… pic.twitter.com/pHEQx3zJ0C

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 8, 2024

"His persistence and perseverance have done him and the nation proud. It is the first time any Pakistani has won an individual gold for athletics in the Olympics," the veteran politician added. 

"He is an inspiration for our younger generation."

On August 9, Pakistan's star javelin thrower made history by setting a new Olympic record with a 92.97-metre massive throw in the Summer Games.

Nadeem rewrote the Olympic record books in his second attempt during the game. The throw made him able to secure the gold medal for Pakistan after a hiatus of 40 years.

The 27-year-old athlete expressed his wish to mark the country's 77th Independence Day on August 14 with a gold medal.

"It was my day, I could have thrown it [javelin] at a greater distance," he said in an interview with Geo News.

"I was in rhythm and was hopeful of winning the gold medal," he added.

"We [the entire nation] will celebrate 14th August with the gold medal."

This is the first-ever individual gold medal in the Olympics for Pakistan in 40 years. Earlier in 1984, Pakistan had won gold medals in hockey at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Pakistan also clinched an Olympic medal after a gap of 32 years. The last time Pakistan won a medal was in 1992 after beating the Netherlands in the hockey event (4-3) at the Barcelona Olympics.