Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem wins Commonwealth Games gold with record breaking javelin throw

Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Nadeem's fifth throw was mammoth 90.18 meters, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. 

He defeated reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Granada, who clinched the silver medal, and Kenya’s Julius Yego, who bagged the bronze. 

What a superb performance from Arshad Nadeem!

He earns Pakistan their first track and field Gold after 60 years 🥇🥇, setting precedence with a new Games record.

Congratulations @NOCPakistan 👏🏾#CommonwealthGames2022 | #B2022 pic.twitter.com/6H5YlKxeLg

— Commonwealth Sport (@thecgf) August 7, 2022

Nadeem’s 90.18m throw makes him the first South Asian athlete to breach the 90m mark and earned Pakistan their second gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. 

Earlier in the competition, weightlifter Nooh Dastagir Butt had won Pakistan’s first gold medal with a record lift of 405 kg.

Arshad Nadeem's victory earned Pakistan its first Commonwealth Games gold in track and field in the last 60 years. 

Congratulations Arshad Nadeem on making history in Javelin throw and winning Gold Medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Nation is proud of you. #CommonwealthGames2022 #CWC2022 pic.twitter.com/WXDfS0h1nf

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 7, 2022

Nadeem finished fifth in last year’s Tokyo Olympics but was one of the favourites this time around after his friend and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India pulled out of the Commonwealth Games with an injury. 

Several Pakistani commentators, politicians and celebrities - including the nation’s President - congratulated Nadeem for his performance.