Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem had a record-breaking night at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham as he became the first South Asian athlete to breach the 90-meter mark in men’s javelin throw. Arshad, who was part of the men’s final event in javelin had his highest throw of 88 meters till his 5th attempt before he put everything into his final attempt which went 90.18-meter mark to finish ahead of world champion Anderson Peters.
It was a first gold medal for Pakistan in track and field in 60 years while the two Indian athletes in the event D.P. Manu and Rohit Yadav finished 5th and 6th respectively with throws of 82.28 and 82.22 meters as Arshad Nadeem broke the CWG record.
Wishes poured in for Arshad from all corners, including his arch-rival and friend off the field, Neeraj Chopra. Neeraj, who didn’t take part in CWG 2022 due to fitness issues following the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, just before the games congratulated Arshad for his record-breaking achievement.
Arshad shared the video of the throw on his Instagram saying, “Allah k krm se or aap sab ki duao se Commenwealth games ka Gold and Commenwealth games New Record 90.18m Thanks (Thanks to God and everyone’s prayers, I achieved Commonwealth games gold and new record 90.18m).” On the post, Neeraj reacting to the same wrote, “Congratulations Arshad bhai for gold medal and crossing 90mtr with new games record. Aage ke competitions ke liye all the best.”
After winning the gold, Arshad said that he missed Neeraj at the event and it would have been even more fun if he was part of it as well.
“Neeraj ki mujhe kami mehsoos hui hai. Woh hote toh aur bhi mazaa aata. (I felt Neeraj’s absence today while competing. If he was there competing today, it would have been even more fun). We’re really good friends. Injuries are part and parcel of the sport. I hope the Almighty gives him good health too. I want to use this occasion to wish him luck for the upcoming events,” he said after the win.
