Pakistan’s star athlete Arshad Nadeem created history on Thursday night as he clinched the gold medal to stun the world at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Nadeem defeated his biggest rival and defending champion Neeraj Chopra from India by shattering the Olympic record with a monstrous throw of 92.97 meters with his second attempt in the men’s javelin final at the Stade de France.
Nadeem has now become the first ever Pakistani gold winner at the Games and the first medal winner after 40 years.
Neeraj gave him a tough fight but could only manage to finish second with a best throw of 89.45 meters, which is his season-best this year. But he was far from his best in the final, committing 4 foul throws out of 6 attempts.
Anderson Peters from Grenada grabbed the bronze medal with a best throw of 88.54m.
Neeraj joins elite list
Chopra became the first-ever Indian athlete to clinch two Olympic medals in track & field after his Tokyo 2020 gold and this silver. Overall, he is the second male Indian to win consecutive Olympic medals after wrestler Sushil Kumar (bronze & silver in 2008 & 2012 Games).
PV Sindhu is the only Indian female to achieve the feat with her successive silver medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
ARSHAD NADEEM REWRITES OLYMPIC HISTORY WITH 9️⃣2️⃣.9️⃣7️⃣
Catch him in the Javelin final LIVE NOW on #Sports18 and stream for FREE on #JioCinema https://t.co/4IZVAsktjp#OlympicsOnJioCinema #OlympicsOnSports18 #Olympics #JavelinThrow #Athletics pic.twitter.com/5gP5iRHgph
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) August 8, 2024
‘Free Visa For Indians If Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold at Paris Olympics’: Atlys CEO Makes Bold Promise
Neeraj Chopra gives it his all to make a 89.45 throw in the Javelin final at #Paris2024!
Keep watching the Olympics action LIVE on #Sports18 & stream for FREE on #JioCinema https://t.co/4IZVAsl18X#OlympicsonJioCinema #OlympicsonSports18 #Olympics #Athletics pic.twitter.com/ubFpo64TkH
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) August 8, 2024
Men’s javelin has a new star
Nadeem’s monster effort was the sixth longest throw in men’s javelin history at the Games. The earlier Olympic record stood at 90.57m from Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway, set during the 2008 Beijing Games.
Nadeem also signed off in style with his last throw of 91.79m when no other thrower could touch the 90m-mark.
Pakistan also overtook India on the medals tally thanks to Arshad. They are now placed 53rd with their only medal, 10 spots ahead of India in 63rd.
India added 2 medals to their tally on Day 13 – a bronze and silver – thanks to the men’s hockey team and Neeraj Chopra, respectively. Team India now has 5 medals in total – 3 from shooting and one each from hockey and track & field.
