Olympian Arshad Nadeem, who brought glory to Pakistan by winning a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was awarded the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz by President Asif Ali Zardari in a ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad on August 29, 2024.
Arshad Nadeem ended Pakistan’s 40-year gold medal drought by setting an Olympic record with a javelin throw of 92.97 meters in the men’s competition.
Despite facing significant challenges, including limited access to facilities, equipment, and training, Nadeem’s remarkable achievement has been celebrated across the country.
In recognition of his success, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had previously announced that Nadeem would receive the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and also hosted a grand dinner in his honor, where he pledged a prize of Rs150 million.
Additionally, the Prime Minister revealed plans to establish the “Arshad Nadeem High Performance Academy” within Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, to prepare athletes for future competitions, including the 2028 Olympics.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also awarded Nadeem a cheque for Rs100 million and presented him with the keys to a Honda Civic with a custom license plate reading “PAK 92.97” in recognition of his Olympic record.
The Sindh government contributed Rs50 million to the Olympian, and various other private and public organizations have showered him with additional rewards, further celebrating his outstanding contributions to Pakistan’s sporting legacy.