Pakistan’s Olympic javelin star Arshad Nadeem had a memorable moment in Dubai when he met Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the World Sports Summit. The FIFA president surprised many by showing familiarity with Nadeem’s achievements and warmly engaging with the Pakistani athlete.
During their brief interaction, Infantino asked Nadeem about the distance of his famous throw. Nadeem replied that it was a 92-metre effort and added that his goal now is to go even further and break his own record. Infantino responded with words of encouragement and posed for photographs with the Olympic champion, a gesture that left a strong impression on Nadeem.
The meeting came just days after Nadeem was honoured with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award in the Global Breakthrough Athlete category. The award recognised his historic performance at the Paris Olympics, where he claimed gold with a massive 92.97-metre throw.
That throw not only set a new Olympic record but also ended a 16-year reign of the previous mark held by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen. More importantly, it delivered Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in javelin throw, cementing Nadeem’s place in sporting history.
Speaking after receiving the award, Nadeem described the moment as a source of immense pride for himself and the country. He said international recognition of this level would inspire young athletes in Pakistan and help bring greater attention to javelin throw as a sport.
Looking ahead, Nadeem said his focus is firmly set on the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He added that being honoured by the Dubai government had renewed his confidence and motivation.
In an interview on the sidelines of the summit, Nadeem stressed that recognition alongside global sports stars strengthens an athlete’s belief. “Confidence and motivation are what a sportsman needs the most,” he said, adding that such encouragement pushes athletes to aim higher and dream bigger.
