File photo of Olympic javelin throw gold medallist Arshad Nadeem celebrating with the Pakistani flag | Photo Credit: Reuters
Arshad Nadeem, javelin throw gold medalist Pakistani women athletes, who won gold medals at the recently concluded Paris Games, should be provided with modern facilities so that they can perform at the highest level.
Nadeem has been showered with cash prizes, cars and other gifts worth about $280 million since returning home with Pakistan’s first gold medal at the Olympics since 1984.
In the latest case, the Governor of Punjab on Saturday rewarded him with Rs 20 lakh in cash and a car.
But beyond such personal gifts, Nadeem wanted the government to fulfill his requests for a modern track and field stadium and a university for women in his hometown of Mian Channu.
“We are in dire need of facilities for women and even men to pursue higher education in our area and the best facilities must be given to young athletes nowadays,” Nadeem said on ARY news channel.
Nadeem, who appeared on the show with his wife Rashida, was also asked about the buffalo gifted to him by his father-in-law when he won the Olympic gold medal.
The 27-year-old responded in a humorous manner. He said with a smile, “I was a bit shocked by this announcement and I wondered that since my father-in-law is a very rich man and has a lot of land… I wish he had given me 4-5 acres of agricultural land in exchange for the buffalo.”
Rashida said she was aware of Nadeem’s injury problem before the Olympics but kept it hidden from other family members.
“When he went for the Games, I could not sleep for three days and I just kept praying that he stays fit and returns with a gold medal,” she said.
Nadeem’s long-term coach Salman Butt said the top javelin thrower will return to training within a month as he faces the tough task of living up to people’s expectations.
“Arshad knows he has to work hard to maintain his position as there is tough competition in javelin throw at the international level,” he said.