Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan Javelin throw that won him gold, also goes down in history as the first athlete in Javelin to cross reach the 90 Metre Mark. He got an standing applause at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on Sunday, becoming the first javelin thrower from the subcontinent to reach the magic mark.
World Champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was placed second with a best throw of 88.64 metres. It was also a record of sorts, the furthest-ever second place throw in the history of the Commonwealth Games.
Arshad Nadeem also created a record feat scripting a new record at Common Wealth Games as well as the first in the sub continent to reach the coveted metre.
Arshad Nadeem an incredible Gold, record winning Javelin Throw at CWG 2022
As the first person to cross the 90-meter line, Arshad Nadeem, who often spars with India’s gold medalist from the Tokyo Olympics Neeraj Chopra and occasionally throws his javelin during contests, earned bragging rights with the Indian.
In his fifth throw on Sunday at the Alexander Stadium in this city, Nadeem produced a huge personal best of 90.18 metres, a Games Record, propelling him to the top of the standings and positioning him for a medal.
Kenya’s Julius Yego threw out of his skin to get a season’s best of 85.70m and take the bronze medal.
In Chopra’s absence, India’s D.P. Manu finished fifth with a best throw of 82.28 while Rohit Yadav was placed sixth with an effort of 82.22 metres.
With his effort on Sunday, Nadeem beat Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo Olympic throw of 87.58m, which had fetched the Indian a gold medal, and the World Athletics Championship throw of 88.13m. Nadeem had finished behind Chopra in both these events.
Besides being rivals on the field, both Nadeem and Chopra are good friends, encouraging and praising each other for their performances. Their bromance is a matter of discussion on the social media circles of both the neighbours. Now with Nadam going past Chopra, it sure will spice up the rivalry as Chopra has always aimed to cross the 90m mark.