Arshad Nadeem

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Arshad Nadeem is a Pakistani track and field athlete who competes in the javelin throw.Growing up in Mian Channu, he would often head to the ground to watch Pakistans popular rural sport Nezabazi (tent pegging) in which horsemen show their daredevilry. On his fathers insistence, who was passionate about Nezabazi, Nadeem took up the sport and became a regular at the towns sprawling grounds, exposing him to different outdoor sports.An exceptionally versatile athlete since his early school days, he dabbled in various sports like cricket, badminton, football, and athletics. However, his passion for cricket transcended other sports and led him to play it at district-level tape-ball tournaments.When he was in seventh grade, he caught the attention of Rasheed Ahmad Saqi during an athletics competition, who then took him under his apprenticeship. Saqi had a reputation for developing sportspeople in Pakistan.In an interview, Nadeems father talked about his humble household and said, I used to earn 400-500 per day on contract labour at that time and it was tough to manage things for all the children. But I made sure that Nadeem would get milk and ghee to become a well built youth. I did not want him to work like me and I always wanted him to lead a good life, which he has ensured with his performances..However, after a couple of years, Arshad had to make a choice between cricket and athletics. Inspired by his two elder brothers, both of whom were athletes at the divisional level, Nadeem chose athletics after a thorough discussion with his coach. In an interview, while sharing the dilemma of leaving cricket, he said, Leaving cricket behind was not easy, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. My father was a labourer, we didnt have the required resources or contacts to make it pro in cricket. My schools PT [physical training] teachers Ajmal and Zafar looked after me well and helped me adjust to the change..In 2015, he started his journey as a javelin thrower.Winning Gold medals in subsequent Punjab Youth Festivals and an inter-board meet roped in offers from the leading domestic athletics teams in Pakistan, including Army, Air Force, and Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA).When the 2015 National Championships were just around the corner, Nadeem appeared in their trials, where he managed a throw of 56 m. Although the scouts on duty dismissed him saying that he would never be a 60 m+ athlete, his potential was recognised by Syed Fiaz Hussain Bokhari, who inducted him into the camp for the championships. Within a month, when Arshad secured a gold medal in the inter-department championship with a throw of 69m, Bokhari, became his permanent coach.Thereafter, he started representing Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in domestic competitions.