At the Paris Olympics, the javelin throw event fell in Pakistan's favor. Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem ended his country's 32-year Olympic medal drought with a spectacular performance. He set a new Olympic record in the javelin throw at the Paris Olympics.
Nadeem threw the javelin 92.97 meters in his second attempt. In the final round, he threw it 91.7 meters. Although he fouled in the first round, and managed 88.72 meters in the third round. India's Neeraj Chopra had high hopes for Gold but had to be content with Silver.
'The Golden Boy is Also Our Hero...'
After the final match, Neeraj Chopra's mother said, "We are very happy, our Silver is like Gold for us, and Arshad Nadeem, who won Gold, is also our boy, hard-working and dedicated."
Nadeem's Javelin Earned a Medal for Pakistan After Three Decades
Arshad Nadeem's javelin throw not only set a new Olympic record but also brought Pakistan back into the medal race. Looking back at Pakistan's Olympic medal history, the country last won a medal in 1992. The Pakistani men's hockey team won a bronze medal in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Since then, Pakistan had not won any medal.
First Medal for Pakistan at the Paris Olympics
Before this, Pakistan had not won any medals at the Paris Olympics 2024. They had sent seven athletes to these games. Among them, only Arshad Nadeem lived up to Pakistan's hopes. Pakistan has won a total of 10 medals in the Olympic Games, including three golds.
Hockey is Also Popular in Pakistan
Hockey has been the national sport for India, but Pakistan has also made significant achievements in it. The neighboring country has won eight medals in hockey, including three golds. Pakistan's name is also associated with three silvers and two bronze medals in hockey. The remaining two medals are bronze, won in boxing and wrestling. Pakistan won its first Olympic medal in 1956 in Melbourne, bringing home silver in hockey.
Also read: Neeraj Chopra, Paris Olympics: Gold in Tokyo, Silver in Paris... Neeraj Chopra Shines, No Other Indian Could Match Him
When and How Pakistan Won Medals
Subsequent to the 1956 Olympics, the Pakistani hockey team won gold in 1960, silver in 1964, gold in 1968, silver in 1972, bronze in 1976, gold in 1984, and bronze again in 1992. From 1956 to 1976, Pakistan maintained a dominating presence in the Olympics. Out of six Olympics, they reached the finals five times. They didn't participate in 1980, but won gold again in 1984.
Pakistan Failed to Qualify for the Last Three Olympics in Hockey
Since 1992, Pakistan's hockey team hasn't won an Olympic medal. Although they had a chance in 2000, they lost the bronze medal match. After that, their performance declined. They ranked fifth in 2004, eighth in 2008, and seventh in 2012. Since then, they haven't qualified for the Olympics in hockey.
Pakistan's Two Individual Medals
In Olympic history, Pakistan has won only two individual medals. The first came in 1960 when Mohammad Bashir won a bronze medal in men's wrestling in the 73 kg welterweight category. He remains the only Pakistani wrestler with an Olympic medal. In 1988, Hussain Shah won a bronze medal for Pakistan in men's boxing in the middleweight category.
List of Medals Won by Pakistan
Javelin Throw Records at a Glance
Javelin Throw World Record: 98.48 Meters
The world record in the javelin throw is held by Jan Železný from the Czech Republic. A three-time world champion and Olympic champion, Železný set the men's javelin throw world record with a throw of 98.48 meters during an athletics competition in Germany in 1996, a record that still stands.
Olympic Record in Javelin Throw: 90.57 Meters
The Olympic record in javelin throw is held by Andreas Thorkildsen, who set it with a throw of 90.57 meters during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Also read: 'Sarpanch Sahab! Congratulations to You and Your Team...', PM Modi's Call to Hockey Bronze Medalists
Neeraj Won Gold for India on 7th August
India will always remember August 7, 2021, as the day when star athlete Neeraj Chopra seized gold at the Tokyo Olympics. With a throw of 87.58 meters, Neeraj Chopra claimed the Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020, a feat that was 2.36 meters short of his personal best.
