Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has been awarded the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award in the Global Breakthrough Athlete category at the World Sports Summit in Dubai.
Arshad Nadeem was honored for his record-breaking performance at the Paris Olympics, where he threw 92.97 meters to win the gold medal. The throw set a new Olympic and world record, breaking the previous mark held by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen for the past 16 years.
The achievement also marked Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the javelin throw.
Speaking after receiving the award, Nadeem described the moment as a source of pride for both himself and Pakistan. He said international recognition helps inspire young athletes and brings greater attention to the javelin throw in the country.
He added that his next goal is to win gold medals for Pakistan at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
Nadeem said the major sports award from the Dubai government has given him renewed confidence and motivation.
Nadeem said he will begin formal training from January as part of preparations for the 2026 multi-sport events. He stressed that he would compete with the clear objective of winning gold medals rather than just participating.
Established in 2008, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award recognises outstanding sporting achievements and contributions from around the world.
Nadeem was the only Pakistani athlete represented at this year’s summit, which brought together leading figures from the global sports industry.
