Arshad Nadeem thanks nation after javelin win, says he is arriving at Lahore airport tonight

Javelin star Arshad Nadeem on Sunday dedicated his latest gold medal victory at the Asian Athletics Championship to the people of Pakistan and thanked the nation for its support and prayers.

Arshad claimed the top spot in the men’s javelin final with an impressive throw of 86.40 metres in Gumi, South Korea.

India’s Sachin Yadav took the silver medal with a throw of 85.16 metres, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama earned bronze with a personal best of 83.75 metres.

In a video message posted on Instagram today, Arshad thanked his supporters and attributed his success to their prayers.

“It is because of your prayers that Allah made me successful in the finals, and earned Pakistan respect as I won gold at the Asian Athletics Championship,” he said.

“This is a result of your prayers and my hard work as well as that of my coach Salman Iqbal Butt.”

The 28-year-old added that he would be landing at Lahore airport at 10:20pm tonight.

“It gives me great pleasure that this was my first competition after the Paris Olympics, and Allah gave victory to Pakistan,” he said.

Arshad Nadeem, the current Olympic record holder with a remarkable 92.97-metre throw at Paris 2024, came close to surpassing the Asian Athletics Championship record of 86.72 metres but fell just short.

His victory is a historic milestone, ending a 50-year gold medal drought for Pakistan at the Asian Athletics Championship.

Looking ahead, Nadeem is set to travel to England to begin preparations for the World Athletics Championships in September— the only major event where a gold medal still eludes him.