EVERYONE seems to want a piece of Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medallist. Since returning from Paris, where he ended Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal wait by winning the men’s javelin throw final, Arshad Nadeem has been traversing the length and breadth of the country. From the government to private institutions, there has been high demand for his time. For a man, who had little support in the lead-up to the Games, Arshad has now accumulated almost $1m in prize money and gifts. He has also been awarded the country’s second-highest civilian award. At this point, the 27-year-old has arguably become Pakistan’s biggest sporting icon, and to his credit, is also championing social causes, demanding, most notably, a women’s university in his hometown of Mian Channu. The government has also announced that it will establish a high-performance academy named after him at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium, while a sports endowment fund of Rs1 billion will be created. It would tremendously benefit sports in the country if the promises are met.

But while the accolades keep flowing in, it is imperative to ensure that the Olympic gold isn’t a one-off. Arshad has already voiced his desire of striking gold at the World Athletics Championships next year. For that, it is essential that he return to the competitive circuit soon. Several Olympic champions — including athletes Letsile Tebogo and Emmanuel Wanyonyi from Botswana and Kenya respectively — took part in the Lausanne Diamond League meeting this week, 12 days after the last track and field events were held in Paris. The men’s javelin event in the Swiss city saw India’s Neeraj Chopra and Grenada’s Anderson Peters, who finished second and third respectively in Paris, fight it out for gold. Peters prevailed. Arshad wasn’t there. The authorities must ensure his regular participation at upcoming Diamond League meetings to keep him on track for achieving his aim at the World Championships.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024