New hero unlocked: Arshad Nadeem is golden and celebrities want him to be treated like royalty

On Thursday, Pakistan’s javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem proved his mettle (read, gold) at the Paris Olympics by setting a new Olympic record with a spectacular throw of 92.97 meters on his second attempt.

The move allowed him to secure Pakistan’s first gold medal in 40 years, the country’s first individual gold and inaugural track and field medal. Nadeem’s fiercest rival, India’s Neeraj Chopra, managed a silver with a throw of 89.45 meters.

As news of Nadeem’s victory spread, social media erupted in celebration, with fans and celebrities from Pakistan and beyond expressing their admiration for the star athlete. From heartfelt congratulations to impassioned pleas for better support for athletes, the outpouring of tributes has highlighted the significance of Nadeem’s victory for the country.

Pride, joy, and calls for change

Singer Asim Azhar was among the first to express his joy, writing, “Gold medal for Pakistan. History is made. New Olympic record. Arshad Nadeem you beauty. Hero of the nation!” His excitement was mirrored by actor Samar Jafri, who marvelled at Nadeem’s extraordinary performance, writing, “Above 90 metres twice? Surely a proud moment for Pakistan. Legend Arshad Nadeem.”

Actor Ahsan Khan expressed his pride, stating, “Arshad Nadeem, so proud of you brother! Congratulations. What a beautiful pay-off for all that hard work!”Kubra Khan shared her overwhelming joy, writing, “This makes my heart so bloody happy. So proud of you Arshad Nadeem! Thank you for putting Pakistan’s name on the Podium!”

Fellow actor Osman Khalid Butt hailed Nadeem as the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest Of All Time), adding, “A MASSIVE congratulations to Arshad Nadeem! A thirty-two-year Olympic drought for Pakistan ended! My God, what a champion! His triumph against all odds is one for the history books.”

Host Ahmed Ali Butt demanded, “Give this man a brand new house, brand deals, sports academy, and more because he proved he’s best!”

Singer Meesha Shafi declared Nadeem a “Champ!” while actor Yumna Zaidi praised his record-breaking performance, saying, “Proud moment for Pakistan! Congratulations on setting up a new record in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. What a great achievement.”

Actor Mawra Hocane expressed her gratitude, exclaiming, “GOLD GOLD GOLD for Pakistan! Congratulations and thank you!” Mansha Pasha also joined in, writing, “Mubarak Arshad Nadeem. Mubarak Pakistan. Bringing home the gold.”

Actor Ahad Raza Mir kept it short and sweet with an enthusiastic “YES!!!!!” while Mariyam Nafees called it the “BEST AZADI (Independence Day) GIFT,” and expressed her gratitude to Nadeem for his dedication and hard work.

Ali Rehman Khan praised Nadeem as a “Record-breaking machine,” while Ahmed Ali Akbar shared his emotional response, writing, “Arshad Nadeem 🥇 Tears of Joy and Pride! 🇵🇰 92.97 m.”

Actor Iqra Aziz penned a heartfelt message in Urdu, emphasising the pride Nadeem brought to his mother and the entire nation: “Congratulations Arshad Nadeem, you have not only made your mother proud, you’ve made the whole nation proud!”

Finally, superstar Mahira Khan captured the collective joy of the nation, stating, “Just the collective joy, it’s such a beautiful feeling. United in joy and pride - all of Pakistan. Thank you for this feeling Arshad Nadeem.”

Calls for more support for athletes

While many celebrated Nadeem’s victory, actor Mashal Khan took the opportunity to address the glaring lack of support for athletes in Pakistan.

After the Sindh Government announced plans to launch a Javelin throw academy following Nadeem’s win, Khan criticised the move, questioning why the athlete was not supported when he needed it the most.

Taking to Instagram, Khan expressed her frustration: “Where was this support when he didn’t even have enough money to buy a javelin? Manipulative and opportunistic. Not impressed.” In a subsequent Story, she called for the government to learn a valuable lesson, emphasising the need to “carve out the potential in your country.”

Actor and director Yasir Hussain also took to his Instagram Stories to point out that Arshad Nadeem’s victory proves that if someone can win gold at the Olympics without monetary support, all the money being pumped into cricket should allow cricketers to do better. “Tarjeehaat ko badalna hoga (We need to shift our priorities),” he said.

As Pakistan basks in the glory of Nadeem’s historic achievement, the calls for better support and infrastructure for athletes in the country grow louder. Nadeem’s victory is not just a moment of pride; it’s a reminder of the untapped potential that lies waiting to be recognised and nurtured.