Before the 8th of August, not many knew of, Arshad Nadeem. Including myself, I was aware of him, but never took an interest in him, didn’t even know about the Javelin throw and if I’m being honest didn’t even know he was competing. I will presume here and say that a considerable number of Pakistanis would agree with me. But since that auspicious day, Arshad Nadeem has become a household name, he’s become a national celebrity and an inspiration to all. Everyone is celebrating him all over the world, no one can stop talking about him, and of course, no one can stop using him.
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The reason why Arshad fascinates me is that he is the man who did it all without anyone, just pure talent and perseverance, shockingly barely any professional training. He broke a 16-year-old World Record with the longest throw and a forty-year-old curse.
The curse? Pakistan had not ever won an individual Olympic Medal, ever. The one other time we won a medal at the Olympics was for the hockey team. It is unbelievable that Pakistan has never won a gold medal for individuals.
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It’s deeply unsettling, that with a population of two hundred and fifty-one million something people, we’re just not good at sports. Is it that as a country we’re just talentless and lazy? Or is there something else to it?
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Coming back to the legend, Arshad Nadeem, every company that can, is hiring him, YouTube, Facebook, on television, he’s everywhere. Although it’s great for him to have other forms of income, it’s almost comedic. The man who was begging on social media for adequate equipment, Nadeem’s Indian rival Neeraj Chopra had to help him out. Whose village has had to pool money to send him to events and competitions, is everywhere in every company’s advertisements, praising Pakistan and patriotism, like Arshad was an outcome of Pakistan’s hard work.
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Everyone taking advantage of his newly formed clout, riding on his back to promote their products. Where were they when he was struggling? When his opponent, our ‘enemy’ had to send out an appeal on social media. “His old equipment had become practically unusable, and his social media appeal for help garnered widespread attention. The response was overwhelming, including support from Neeraj Chopra, which helped Nadeem secure the necessary equipment and resources for his training and competition.” one Indian media outlet stated.
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Arshad is everywhere from Meezan Bank to Ufone, and I am happy for him, but every time I see an advert with him and the company stating that they’re proud of him and he’s the pride of Pakistan, I have pangs of anger, I feel resentful towards this country, how that when he has made it, that’s when he’s receiving support but before that, there was nobody except for a few notable brands.
Maybe Nadeem is going to be the one changing this country, maybe he’s the wake-up call that we needed, to start investing in the Youth of Pakistan. We need to take the children of Pakistan seriously, to take an interest in their passions, no matter how stupid or idiotic or childish they may seem. To give them the resources, to give them the help, support, and confidence. Anything to allow them to dream, rather than wondering how to survive, this isn’t their job, to be worried about their future or the food on their table or the electricity bills.
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To the past and future Arshad Nadeems, this is to you, I am so sorry, that you did not get what you needed, not even the belief that you could do it. I hope you don’t give up exactly like how Arshad Nadeem never did, how his perseverance, his determination, his persistence is what got him to where he is now. Nothing else, no one else. It was Arshad who did it, all by himself.
