Pakistani javelin thrower wins gold medal at South Asian Games 2019
KATHMANDU (92 News) – Arshad Nadeem, a Pakistani javelin thrower, won a gold medal at the ongoing South Asian Games 2019 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Following the win, he has qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, becoming the first Pakistani track and field athlete to qualify directly for the Games.
Nadeem’s position at the Olympics was confirmed when he scored a throw of 86.48 metres, making a new event record distance. The qualification standard of the Olympics is set at 85 metres.
The 22-year-old was congratulated by Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza on Twitter, who called him Pakistan’s pride.
“It is a great honour to qualify for the Olympics, for me and also for Pakistan,” said Nadeem in a video message. He was also congratulated by the Athletics Federation of India.Congratulations to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem for winning a gold medal in javelin throw and qualifying for Olympics 2020. #Javelin #Pakistanspride #SAG2019 #Pakistan #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/RA3Ml78X6o
— Dr. Fehmida Mirza (@DrFMirza) December 7, 2019
Second position was bagged by India’s Shivpal Singh who threw a distance of 84.43 metres.Congrats #ArshadNadeem, javelin star of #Pakistan for winning gold at #SAGames2019 with a throw of 86.48m (PB & New Pakistani record) Qualified for #Tokyo2020 Olympics, first Pakistani athlete in decades to earn direct qualification. Photo- @Neeraj_chopra1 & Arshad at 2018AG pic.twitter.com/tHzB9McY94
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) December 7, 2019