
Arshad Nadeem named in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 after historic Olympic gold
The Entertainment & Sports category of the list, which highlights rising talent across Asia 'on court and the screen,' credited Nadeem's 'stunning show' at the Olympics, where the 28-year-old shattered records with a throw of 92.97 meters, setting a new Olympic record and ending Pakistan's 30-year Olympic medal drought.
The recognition by Forbes marks yet another milestone in Nadeem's illustrious career, which has revitalised Pakistan's presence on the global athletics stage.
Olympian Arshad Nadeem named Asia's Best Athlete of 2024
His gold-winning feat earned him more than Rs153 million in cash rewards from the Punjab and Sindh governments, alongside accolades from federal bodies and corporate sponsors.
As part of national recognition, a road in Islamabad was named in his honour, and Pakistan Post issued a commemorative stamp on Independence Day to celebrate his contribution to the country's sporting legacy.
Nadeem continued his winning streak by clinching gold at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships with an impressive throw of 86.40m, just shy of the meet record. It was Pakistan's first gold at a continental event in over 50 years.
Having previously won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2023 World Championships, Nadeem is now preparing in England for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in September, the only major title missing from his collection.
With his continued dominance and rising global recognition, Arshad Nadeem has firmly established himself as Pakistan's most celebrated track and field athlete in modern history.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Hezly Rivera edges Leanne Wong
Hezly Rivera was the fresh face a year ago. The newcomer. The teenager on a team of 20-something Olympic gymnasts, doing her best to absorb what she could from Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles. The one thing that stood out, even more than the sometimes otherworldly gymnastics, is the way her fellow gold-medal-winning teammates went about their business. "They looked so confident," Rivera said. "They're like, 'I'm going to go out and I'm going to hit.' It gave me that confidence as well." Looks like it. The now 17-year-old who says she's paying no attention to the idea that she's the leader of the women's program in the early stages of the run-up to the 2028 Olympics certainly looks the part. Buoyed by a polished steadiness - and a beam routine that finally looked the way it does back home at her home gym in Texas - Rivera captured her first national title Sunday night at the U.S. Championships. Her two-day total of 112.000 was good enough to fend off a challenge from Leanne Wong and put her in excellent position to lead the four-woman American delegation at the world championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October. Rivera, by far the youngest member of the five-woman team that finished atop the podium in Paris a year ago, bounced back from a shaky performance at the U.S. Classic last month with the kind of measured, refined gymnastics that she attributed to simply "letting go" of whatever pressure she might feel as the lone Olympic gold medalist in a remarkably young field. "No matter how rough the competition is, I still can get back into the gym and work hard because all those months previously that I've been working hard, I know it's going to show up eventually," she said. "So it kind of just took a weight off my shoulders." Rivera, at the very least, locked up a spot in the world championship selection camp next month. So did Wong, a four-time world championship medalist, budding entrepreneur and pre-med student who shows no signs of slowing down despite years of competing collegiately and at the elite level simultaneously.


Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Donkey cart race marks freedom, resilience
Amid cheers and waving flags, participants steer their donkey carts through the bustling streets at Teen Talwar in a race marking Independence Day and Marka-e-Haq celebrations. PHOTO: PPI In a unique celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day and Maarka-e-Haq, the Sindh Government's Sports Department organised a donkey cart race from Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, Clifton to Frere Hall. The event drew enthusiastic participation, with over 50 donkey carts competing in the spirited race. Nadeem clinched first place, followed by Rizwan in second and Khalid Ismail in third. The winners received cash prizes of Rs75,000, Rs50,000, and Rs25,000 respectively, along with trophies to honour their achievement. Besides the top three, everyone was a winner. All participants were also awarded cash prizes and commemorative trophies, adding to the festive atmosphere. The closing ceremony was held at Frere Hall, where Parliamentary Secretary Saima Agha served as the chief guest and distributed the prizes. Additional Secretary for Sports, Asad Ishaq, along with other officials, also attended the event. The donkey cart race, blending tradition with celebration, attracted attention from locals and passersby, turning the streets into a lively track of cheers and excitement.


Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Pak to lobby for Olympic cricket spot at LA 2028
Both Pakistan and New Zealand are at risk of exclusion from LA 2028. Photo: AFP Pakistan are preparing to mount a strong lobbying effort to secure a place in cricket's historic return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028, has learnt from informed sources, amid reports suggesting that both Pakistan and New Zealand are at risk of exclusion. Cricket will make only its second appearance in Olympic history after a long hiatus since Paris 1900. The LA 2028 Games Organising Committee has scheduled the men's and women's cricket events for July 2029, featuring six teams in each category. The organisers are expected to follow a regional qualification format, a standard method across Olympic disciplines. According to current discussions, India (Asia) and Australia (Oceania) are set to qualify directly based on their respective regional rankings. Other likely qualifiers include Great Britain (Europe), South Africa (Africa) and USA as the host nation. The sixth and final spot is still undecided, with speculation it could go to a Caribbean nation or another Asian team. Both Pakistan and New Zealand are reportedly in danger of missing out on qualification under the current framework. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not ready to give up. "Olympics are a prestigious event, and with cricket included, we cannot afford to miss out," a PCB source told Telecom Asia Sport ( "A letter will be sent to both the ICC and the LA Games Committee urging them to announce a qualification cut-off date, ideally one year prior to the Games." Meanwhile, former captain Rashid Latif has called on the PCB to take the initiative. "Olympics are prestigious, and a medal is at stake," Latif said. "The criteria should either reflect the percentage of teams in each region or a fair ranking-based cut-off date should be announced." He further added: "PCB must engage with both the ICC and the LA committee, and suggest using the T20 World Cup standings in March next year as a qualification benchmark." Hope is not lost for Pakistan despite being ranked eighth in the ICC Men's T20I rankings, Pakistan still has time to boost their position before any cut-off is finalised. Strong performances in upcoming series could help them break into the top bracket. The PCB is determined not to let this golden opportunity slip away, especially with the chance to bring home an Olympic medal – a feat that could reignite national pride and global recognition for Pakistani cricket.