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Why Arshad Nadeem Switched From Cricket To Javelin: Insights From Olympic Gold Medalist’s Brother

Arshad continued his impressive performance, surpassing the 90-meter mark again on his final throw. He broke multiple records during the final and secured Pakistan’s first medal since 1992.

Why Arshad Nadeem Switched From Cricket To Javelin: Insights From Olympic Gold Medalist’s Brother

Arshad Nadeem ended Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal drought by winning gold in Paris. The javelin thrower entered the competition as a strong contender and met expectations, throwing the spear 92.97 meters on his second attempt to set an Olympic record.

Arshad continued his impressive performance, surpassing the 90-meter mark again on his final throw. He broke multiple records during the final and secured Pakistan’s first medal since 1992.

Must Read: Olympics Closing Ceremony 2024: Key Details, Viewing Information And Start Time

His Olympic success is expected to inspire a new generation, potentially boosting the popularity of javelin in Pakistan, where cricket currently dominates the sports landscape.

As a child, Arshad Nadeem also aspired to be a cricketer but eventually had to abandon the sport. In an interview with Revsportz, Arshad’s brother, Shahid, explained why Arshad gave up cricket.

“We are a family of nine – five brothers, two sisters and our parents. Our father is a construction worker and he was the sole breadwinner of the family. Cricket is an expensive sport and we couldn’t afford it,” Shahid told Revsportz.
“I used to do it in school and that attracted him to the sport. Initially, he used to participate in everything – 200m, 400m, long jump, javelin… Then, a teacher in our school told Nadeem to concentrate on one particular discipline. He chose javelin.”

Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal victory in Paris ended his losing streak against Neeraj Chopra in their head-to-head matchups. Before the final, Neeraj had a 9-1 advantage over Arshad.

Neeraj, who led in the qualification round, achieved a best throw of 89.45 meters in the final to secure the silver medal. He had previously won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The rivalry between Neeraj and Arshad is expected to continue in future competitions.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Where Does India Stand After Medal Tally ?

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