A year after making Olympic history by winning Pakistan’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Arshad Nadeem has alleged that several government promises—especially land allotments—remain unfulfilled.
Nadeem, 28, stunned the world when he threw 92.97 metres, breaking the Olympic record and beating reigning champion Neeraj Chopra of India, who had to settle for silver. Nadeem’s gold sparked jubilation across Pakistan, with various cash rewards, land allotments, and honors announced by central and provincial governments.
However, speaking to Geo TV before heading to the UK for surgery on a hamstring injury, Nadeem revealed that none of the promised plots have materialized.
“Out of all the prize announcements made to me, all the plot announcements were fake, which I did not receive. Apart from that, I have received all the cash prizes that were announced,” he said.
Despite the lack of official support prior to the Olympics, Nadeem emphasized that his focus remains on training—both for himself and young aspiring athletes under his coach Salman Butt.
There is growing anticipation for another showdown between Nadeem and Chopra, potentially at the Silesia Diamond League on August 16 in Poland—if Nadeem recovers in time.
This would mark their first face-off since the Paris final, reigniting one of the most compelling rivalries in global athletics.
Chopra, 27, has had a packed season. He broke the elusive 90-metre barrier with a throw in Doha on May 16 and recently won gold at the inaugural NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5.
Nadeem, in contrast, chose a more measured season. Prior to Paris, he appeared only once in 2024—at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where he won gold with a throw of 86.40m.
He had declined an earlier invite by Chopra to the NC Classic, citing a scheduling conflict. The event was later postponed due to the Pahalgam terror attack and rescheduled for July.
As both athletes prepare for their next chapter, fans around the world await the next epic duel in what has become a symbolic and sporting rivalry between two of javelin’s finest.
