Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Lahore after winning gold at the Olympics. The 27-year-old athlete was greeted by thousands of fans, government officials, and his family at the airport before embarking on a journey to his hometown in Mian Channu.
Along the way, Arshad was met with celebrations in various towns, with fans lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the first individual Olympic gold medal winner in Pakistan’s history. His journey home took longer than expected as he stopped to greet fans, receive garlands, and pose for selfies.
Upon reaching Mian Channu, Arshad fell at his mother’s feet in a touching moment of reunion before being embraced with pride. His humble beginnings of training in wheat fields with homemade javelins have now led to him being honored with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the country’s second highest civil award.
Arshad Nadeem’s homecoming was a celebration of achievement, pride, and unity for Pakistan as they rejoiced in his historic victory.
Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2024