On Sunday, Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem created history when he became the first Pakistani athlete to claim a medal in the World Athletics Championships.
He achieved the milestone when he lifted silver medal with a super throw of 87.82 metre in the men’s javelin throw final of the global event in Budapest, Hungary. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India became the greatest athlete in the Indian sports history as after snaring gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he also clinched a gold at the biggest stage in Budapest with a throw of 88.17 metre. Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic with a throw of 86.67metre claimed bronze in the most enthralling event.
Arshad, who had returned into international circuit after one year due to fitness issues, showed top form in front of the jam-packed stadium. After finishing at the summit in their respective groups by Arshad and Neeraj Chopra in the qualification phase the other day, it was truly a battle between them that ended until the last. After making a foul in the first round, Chopra set the target with a splendid throw of 88.17m. Arshad, after a couple of attempts of 74.80 and 82.81, landed superbly and managed a throw of 87.82m in his third attempt, eventually earning him the silver, the first medal of Pakistan in the World Championship history. Arshad’s attempts in top eight included throws of 87.15, X and 81.86.
