Pakistan’s star athlete Arshad Nadeem on Saturday, reached Istanbul on his way back to his homeland after winning the Paris Olympics gold medal in the Javelin throw.
According to the details, Arshad, alongside his coach Salman Butt reached the Turkish capital on Saturday evening and is anticipated to touch down in Pakistan in the wee hours on Sunday.
He will be accompanied by the Chairman of South Asian Athletics, Muhammad Akram Sahi.
Upon his return to homeland, a grand reception is planned for the champion and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will receive Pakistan’s javelin thrower Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem at Lahore airport, his coordinator Rana Mashood confirmed.
Earlier today, President Asif Ali Zardari directed for the conferment of Hilal-e-Imtiaz upon star athlete Arshad Nadeem for his ground-breaking performance in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
“The President will confer the civil award upon Arshad Nadeem during a special ceremony to be held in recognition of his prominent performance in sports. The President will confer the civil award under Article 259 (2) of the Constitution,” President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release, on Saturday.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Under the constitutional provision, the president can confer Pakistani citizens with civil awards in recognition of their meritorious services in different fields of life.
Upon the President’s directive, a letter had been dispatched by the Aiwan-e-Sadr to the Cabinet Division, in this regard.
President Zardari said that Arshad Nadeem, with his brilliant performance, had made the nation proud in the field of sports.
Arshad Nadeem became the first-ever individual gold medalist in the Olympics for Pakistan.
In the first stage, the star javelin player failed to make a mark in his first attempt, however, he made a remarkable recovery with 92.97m in his second attempt, a new Olympic record, which was eventually proved sufficient for him to secure the gold at the Paris Olympics.
READ: Usman Khan shines as Shaheens register first win in Top End T20 series