Arshad Nadeem’s fifth place in the javelin throw at the World Athletic Championships in Oregon, USA was his personal best this year, but was also the first time that a Pakistani had reached the final of these championships. Arshad, it might be remembered, had sparked hope of a medal for Pakistan at the Tokyo Olympics last year when he reached the final of the javelin throw.
It was noted even then that he had reached the place he had only after overcoming many obstacles, mainly the lack of support from his country, especially in giving him a livelihood, or training opportunities. While his story is heartening in that he surmounted these obstacles to become a world-class athlete, it should also give the entire nation pause. Athletes should not require an iron will against obstacles; many athletes with Arshad’s ability are probably going waste because of a lack of opportunity. A possible source of athletes might be those who do not make the cut as national cricketers, but get stuck at the club level. There is already too much concentration on a limited number of sports, cricket being at the forefront with field hockey and squash as well; there are signs of an irreversible decline.
A well thought-out strategy to widen the basis of sports is needed, and the government should not forget that a wider basis of sports than just cricket and hockey gives a much improved soft image of Pakistan, and Arshad Nadeem’s not winning a medal is an improvement on the usual news from Pakistan, about political turmoil or terrorism. He deserves congratulations for having raised the heads of his countrymen, and one can hope that he would be able to cover the 4-plus meters that was all between him and the winner.
