Will Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic gold change the course of sports in Pakistan? | Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Islamabad, Pakistan – When Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medalist in 40 years, arrived at Lahore airport early on August 10, he was greeted by a jubilant crowd of thousands chanting his name and waving the Pakistani flag.

The 27-year-old athlete was accompanied by a large convoy of people playing drums and dancing as he drove home to his village near the town of Mian Channu in Punjab province, where locals welcomed him by throwing rose petals and his father wreathed him in flowers.

Nearly two weeks after his record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 metres (305 feet) at the Stade de France during the Summer Olympics in Paris, Nadeem has emerged as Pakistan’s latest national hero.

He received nearly $900,000 in prize money from the government, along with a car with the registration number PAK 92.97. He was also honored at an official reception with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and invited to raise the national flag during Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations on August 14.

In a country like Pakistan, where cricket reigns supreme, Nadeem’s success has led to unprecedented interest in javelin throwing and athletics.

Some observers are calling his achievement – ​​Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medal – the greatest sporting moment in the country’s 77-year history.

After his historic throw on August 8, Pakistani social media was flooded with videos of boys and girls imitating Nadeem’s javelin throw with homemade spears.

According to sports journalist Faizan Lakhani, this renewed enthusiasm shows how Nadeem’s victory has gripped the entire country.

“People are showing interest in javelin and other athletic sports. They follow the records, read about the games and it is encouraging to see people paying attention to sports other than cricket,” Lakhani, deputy sports editor at Pakistani channel Geo News, told Al Jazeera.

Lakhani said Nadeem’s performance could lead to more attention for other sports, but the media and public’s attention often goes to cricket.

“We are a one-sport nation, with cricket taking all our attention. And with the cricket matches starting, … it is likely that we will return our focus to cricket and move on from Nadeem’s victory. It is our collective responsibility to remember what Nadeem achieved, the significance of his victory, and to continue to promote interest in other sports,” he added.

Sporting successes from the past

After gaining independence from British rule in August 1947, Pakistan initially achieved success in several sports, most notably field hockey, the country’s national sport.

The hockey team won its first medal – silver – at the 1956 Olympics, followed by its first gold in 1960. That year, Pakistan also won its first individual Olympic medal – bronze for wrestler Muhammed Bashir.

The 1950s and 1960s also saw Pakistan produce some of its finest sprinters, including Abdul Khaliq who was given the title of “Flying Bird of Asia” by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, after winning the first of two gold medals at the 1954 Manila Asian Games.

But apart from squash and hockey, Pakistani athletes’ performance in other sports steadily declined. As political unrest gripped the country in the late 1950s, followed by wars with India in 1965 and 1971 and decades of military rule, sports struggled, losing funding and grassroots scouting programs. These changes were reflected in declining results.

The hockey team, for example, which won three Olympic gold medals – the last in 1984 in Los Angeles – and Pakistan’s last Olympic medal before Nadeem, a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, has failed to qualify in the last three competitions.

Squash was also once dominated by Pakistan. Led by Hashim Khan and then by other members of the legendary Khan sporting dynasty from 1951 to 1997, Pakistani players reached 41 of the 47 finals of the British Open, squash’s most prestigious tournament, winning 30 of them. However, the country has not seen a British Open victory or world championship since 1997.

An outsider

Nadeem rose through the ranks with the help of a private sponsor and his talent. He was first identified by his mentor and coach, Rasheed Ahmed Saqi, a sports scout, as a skinny 14-year-old competing in a local tournament.

But Nadeem is an outlier in a country of 241 million people. With the public and media focus on cricket, which has the richest governing body, the Pakistan Cricket Board, other sports and their affiliated bodies have been plagued by allegations of political appointments and embezzlement, infighting and lack of funding.

Athletes have relied on public and private organizations, such as banks, to set up athletic departments that would provide them with a revenue stream and career opportunities. But the economic downturn of recent years has caused many to close their athletic departments.

Athletes often report that they do not have enough financial resources or support to travel and participate in international tournaments.

Mohammed Shahnawaz, a UK-based Pakistani sports consultant who advises local and diaspora athletes, believes Nadeem’s victory should prompt state authorities to think about how to better support promising athletes.

“We need a clear vision from the state. Our sports policy is complicated and outdated. … Our sports policy and infrastructure are still stuck in the 1960s, while the world has moved on to the 21st century,” he said.

Investing in athletes

Squash player Noorena Shams, who is aiming to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the sport will make its debut, says Nadeem’s success highlights the potential of individual talent, despite limited state support.

“This win has raised awareness among the public, sponsors and athletes about the importance of sports. Imagine what Arshad could achieve if he had… world-class support. And more importantly, how many more Arshads could come out of the system with the necessary support?” the 27-year-old told Al Jazeera.

Lakhani cited as an example Yasir Sultan, Pakistan’s second-best javelin thrower, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in June 2023.

“The government promised him 5 million rupees ($18,000) in prize money after he won the medal, but he has not received it yet. The government needs to be constantly reminded to fulfill its obligations. They also need to understand that creating top athletes requires investment,” he said.

Shahnawaz believes that for the future, Pakistan should prioritize sports where the country can excel.

“We have a lot of talent in shooting and weightlifting where athletes have shown that they can perform well. It is up to the government to figure out how to use Arshad’s success to inspire the next generation. There should be a career path, identify players at a young age and provide sports scholarships where possible. That way we can ensure sustainable development of our athletes,” he said.

However, Shahnawaz was not exactly hopeful of a positive outcome after Nadeem’s victory.

“I’m not sure if we can really achieve anything with this win. We have (the same) people who have been running our various sports organizations for 10 to 15 years. (The) same faces are repeatedly taking charge and (the) cycle of disappointment continues,” Shahnawaz said. “Most officials don’t have (the) vision to grow their sport or generate revenue or create something new to move forward. They are just happy with the way things are.”