LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has awarded Rs1 million to Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem.
Nadeem clinched the top spot in the javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics, setting a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters and surpassing India’s Neeraj Chopra.
Arshad Nadeem is a long-time employee of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), where he currently holds a permanent 18-grade position. Following his Olympic victory, the power entity’s board has proposed his promotion to the 19th grade, a matter now under committee review.
Nadeem began his career at LESCO in 2011 as a sportsman in Grade 7, initially working as an assistant linesman. Over the years, he has risen through the ranks to Grade 18, the highest achievable level for a sportsman within the company.
Notably, LESCO has been a supportive platform for sports talent, with former test cricketers like Muhammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar, and Zahid Khan, as well as hockey stars Muhammad Yousaf, Sohail Abbas, and Waseem Ahmed, also having been part of its sports programs.
Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic gold has brought him widespread acclaim across Pakistan, with commendations and rewards pouring in from various quarters, including the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh, the Governor of Sindh, and prominent figures such as Maulana Tariq Jameel.
