Olympic javelin gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has received a total of 250 million rupees ($897,000) as Pakistan continues to celebrate its record launch at the Paris Games.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced 150 million rupees ($538,000) for Nadeem at a special ceremony honoring the star athlete in Islamabad. Sharif’s announcement came hours after Punjab Chief Minister Mariam Nawaz visited Nadeem in a village in Mian Channu district and handed him a check for 100 million rupees ($359,000).

Nawaz also gave the keys to a new car with a special registration number ‘PAK 92.97’ to commemorate Nadeem’s throw of 92.97 meters in Paris, which was an Olympic record. Nadeem’s trainer, Salman Iqbal Butt, also received 5 million rupees ($18,000). “You have doubled the joy of 250 million Pakistanis because tomorrow we will also celebrate Independence Day,” Sharif said while announcing the amount paid to Nadeem, whose father is a daily wage earner.

“Today, all Pakistanis are happy and the morale of the whole country is high.”
“I feel good,” Nadeem said Tuesday. “I hope to stay fit and one day break the world record.”

PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 09: Gold medalist Arshad Nadeem of Team Pakistan celebrates on the podium during the Men’s 110m Hurdles ceremony 

Last Thursday, Nadeem sparked celebrations across Pakistan when his throw easily surpassed the previous Olympic mark of 90.57 set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008. He also went well past Tokyo champion Neeraj Chopra of India, who achieved the best score of the season of 89.45 in takes the silver. .
“Arshad Nadeem has brought unprecedented happiness to the nation,” Nawaz said in a statement. Nadeem won Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years when the men’s hockey team won at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Pakistan’s last medal, regardless of color, was a bronze in the ‘field hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Later on Tuesday, Nadeem and his family flew to Islamabad on a special flight from Multan to attend a reception hosted by Sharif, who paid tribute to the athlete at a cabinet meeting.
“Nadeem has raised the name of Pakistan all over the world because of his hard work day and night, the prayers of his parents and the coaching of his coach,” Sharif said.
Pakistan is known primarily for cricket in the sporting world, with the country winning the 1992 World Cup.

PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 08: Arshad Nadeem of Team Pakistan competes in the during the Men’s Javelin Throw Final 

“Seeing him on the podium waving the flag and ringing the Olympic bell was incredible,” Pakistan cricket team captain Shan Masood said on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s podcast on Tuesday as he prepared for the Test series against Bangladesh starting on August 21 Rawalpindi.
Pakistan cricket team coach Jason Gillespie said that Nadeem will be invited to Pakistan cricket team dressing room during the first test match.

“Having come to visit the team and share their gold medal with them would be a great boost, especially with the Olympic spirit still there,” Gillespie said. “It was a wonderful moment and we extended them an open invitation.”

Nadeem also has a special postage stamp in his honor depicting his record shot. Last Thursday, Nadeem sparked celebrations across Pakistan when his throw easily surpassed the previous Olympic mark of 90.57 set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008. He also went well past Tokyo champion Neeraj Chopra of India, who achieved season’s best of 89.45 to take the silver medal. “Arshad Nadeem has brought unprecedented happiness to the nation,” Nawaz said in a statement.
Nadeem won Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years when the men’s hockey team won at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Pakistan’s last medal, regardless of color, was a bronze in the ‘field hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Games.