Amazing Nadeem

ARSHAD Nadeem threw his arms up in celebration after his second throw of the javelin.

It was a stunning 92.97m that broke the Olympic record, put him sixth on the all-time list and won him the gold in the Olympic men’s javelin event on Thursday, with four throws to go.

It was also Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in athletics, relegating defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India to silver.

“When I threw the javelin, I got the feel of it leaving my hand, and sensed it could be an Olympic record,” Nadeem said.

He knelt down and kissed the ground after Chopra’s failed last attempt sealed his victory. The Pakistani finished fifth in Tokyo, but improved to take silver at last year’s world championships.

Chopra, the strongest by far in qualifying and favourite to retain his title, struggled. His throw of 89.45, which won him the silver medal, was his only valid effort as he fouled on his five other attempts.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters took bronze with 88.54, a moment of redemption for the twice world champion who failed to make the final at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

It takes a village: Mian Channu villagers gather to celebrate in front of Arshad Nadeem’s house. — AFP

Meanwhile, in Mian Channu, Pakistan, dozens of villagers gathered in front of the modest home of Nadeem to watch him take part in the Games final late Thursday.

The event was broadcast live by a digital projector onto a screen hanging on the back of a truck in his farming village.

As the javelin soared through the sky in Paris to a new Olympic record and a gold medal for Nadeem, thousands of kilometres (miles) away the cheers of the villagers rang into the night.

“He did a great throw and created history.

“We are proud of him,” said Nadeem’s 35-year-old brother, Muhammad Azeem.

Despite practising with rickety equipment and with little access to the gyms and training grounds his international competitors have, Nadeem had given Pakistan its first Olympic gold medal in 32 years.

Retired local sports official Parvaiz Ahmed Dogar said of the difficulties they faced to get professional training for Nadeem.

“The athletes used to use wooden sticks with a rope tied around it as a javelin. Those wouldn’t even land on the tip,” Dogar recalled.

Pakistan doesn’t have a proper ground dedicated to track and field, so athletes have to train on cricket field.

In March Nadeem revealed that he owned just one javelin, which he had been using for the last seven years and it was damaged.

Speaking to media after his win, Nadeem said the struggle was all worthwhile.

“When I threw the javelin, I got the feel of it leaving my hand and sensed it could be an Olympic record,” he said.

Back in Mian Channu, the locals cheered in agreement. — Agencies