Pakistan’s 50-year gold medal wait at Asian Athletics ends with Arshad Nadeem feat

Staff Report

LAHORE: Arshad Nadeem achieved a historic milestone for Pakistan by winning gold medal in the javelin throw event of the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships on Saturday in Gumi, South Korea. India’s Sachin Yadav took silver with an 85.16m and Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama took home bronze with an 83.75m throw. Both athletes threw a personal best. After leading the field in the first few throws, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage was bumped off the podium to finish fourth with an 83.27m throw. India’s Yash Vir Singh finished fifth with an 82.57m personal best throw. China’s Hu Haoran threw a season best 80.93m to finish sixth, while Sri Lanka’s Sumedha Jagath Ranasinghe Ranasinghe Mudiyanselage finsihed seventh with a 79.81m throw. Pakistan’s Muhammad Yasir finished eighth with a 75.39m throw. This victory marks Pakistan’s first gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in over five decades (50 years). In a post on Instagram, Nadeem wrote: “This victory belongs to the Almighty first — His blessings, His will. Without His grace, none of this would be possible. “To my coaches, my team, my family, and every Pakistani who prayed for me — this medal is yours. Your support fuels my journey,” he added.

Nadeem, who holds the Olympic record after throwing a monstrous 92.97m at Paris 2024, narrowly missed breaking the Asian Championship record of 86.72m. Nadeem had a slow start in the competition, throwing 75.64m and 76.80m on his first and second attempts before bagging top spot with an 85.57m throw on his third attempt. He then threw 83.99m and 83.44m before flexing his muscles and throwing a commanding 86.40m to win gold in his sixth and final attempt in true Nadeem fashion. Nadeem was in a state of prostation after winning gold, as his become characteristic of the 28-year-old who added another feather to his cap. Ahead of the Asian Championship, Nadeem was awarded Best Male Athlete of the Year by Asian Athletics. He bagged gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, followed by a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Nadeem will soon be going to England to prepare for September’s World Athletics Championships, the only major tournament where he has yet to win gold. His consistent performances have not only brought pride to the nation but have also elevated Pakistan’s status in the field of athletics on the international stage. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the athlete as he continues to make the nation proud.