\u201cI always strive to win more medals and bring more honour to my country,\u201d says Arshad Nadeem
\n LAHORE
\nPakistan\u2019s Olympic gold medalist and javelin star Arshad Nadeem on Wednesday said his focus is now firmly on the upcoming World Athletics Championship, vowing to make the nation proud once again following his recent triumph at the Asian Athletics Championship.
\nSpeaking to Geo News during a training session at Lahore\u2019s Punjab Stadium, Arshad expressed joy over his recent achievements and his inclusion in Forbes\u2019 prestigious Asia 30 Under 30 list.
\n\u201cWhenever Pakistan\u2019s name shines because of me, it fills me with joy. I always strive to win more medals and bring more honour to my country,\u201d said Arshad.
\n\u201cI am happy to be included in Forbes 30 Under 30 \u2014 it\u2019s a moment of pride for the whole nation. Please keep me in your prayers so I can keep winning for Pakistan.\u201d
\nArshad said preparations are in full swing for the upcoming competitions before the World Championship, which will be held in September.
\n\u201cI have started training again and will participate in two to three events before the World Championship. We are also planning training sessions in England. I am working on overcoming the mistakes made during the Asian Athletics Championship to improve further,\u201d he said.
\nArshad\u2019s recent gold medal in the Asian Athletics Championship marked a historic moment for Pakistan, ending a 50-year wait for the country to claim gold at the continental event.
\nHis coach Salman Iqbal Butt outlined the road ahead highlighting a packed training and competition schedule designed to keep Arshad in peak form.
\n\u201cArshad\u2019s training is ongoing in Lahore. We are submitting his entry for a meet in Switzerland and then planning a one-month training camp in England.
\n\u201cHe will also compete in the final Diamond League event of the season in Poland before heading to the World Championship in September. Our goal is to ensure Arshad is at his best for the biggest stage,\u201d Butt concluded.
\nFor the unversed, Arshad created history by winning the country\u2019s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal on Monday earned another major accolade, a place on the Forbes \u201830 Under 30\u2019 South Asia list for 2025.
\nThe prestigious annual list by Forbes recognises the region\u2019s most influential young leaders, innovators and changemakers.
\nNadeem\u2019s inclusion highlights not only his record-breaking athletic feats but also his rising cultural impact across South Asia.
\nThe 28-year-old became the first Pakistani track-and-field athlete to receive this honour \u2014 a milestone for Pakistani athletics on the global stage.
\nNadeem captured global attention last year when he shattered the Olympic javelin record with a remarkable throw of 92.97 metres at the Paris Olympics.
\nThe historic feat earned him Pakistan\u2019s first individual Olympic gold medal and ended a medal drought of over three decades.
\nForbes described his performance as a \u2018stunning show\u2019 and hailed him as a trailblazer for South Asian athletes.
\nHe has clinched five gold medals in major competitions so far, cementing his place among the elite in the sport.
\nNadeem joins an impressive list of international sporting figures on Forbes\u2019 \u201830 Under 30\u2019, including Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown and Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju.
\nNadeem first shot to fame with his gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and he followed it up with a silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
\nHe has won four golds, one silver and four bronze medals in various events so far, including the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, South Asian Games and Asian U20 Championships.
\nNow, he\u2019s heading to England to train for the World Athletics Championships in September, the only big competition where he hasn\u2019t struck gold yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI always strive to win more medals and bring more honour to my country,\u201d says Arshad Nadeem LAHORE Pakistan\u2019s Olympic gold medalist and javelin star Arshad Nadeem on Wednesday said his focus is now firmly on the upcoming World Athletics Championship, vowing to make the nation proud once again following his recent triumph at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":485206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-485190","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n