Lahore — Pakistan’s Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem has added another illustrious achievement to his growing list of accolades. The 28-year-old javelin throw champion has been included in Forbes ’30 Under 30 – South Asia’ list 2025. He is the only Pakistani athlete to be included this year and the first athletics player from the country to be included in this global list.
The annual Forbes list recognises the most influential young leaders, innovators and athletes in South Asia under the age of 30. Arshad Nadeem’s inclusion is not only a recognition of his extraordinary athletic achievements. There is also evidence of their social and cultural influence.
From Olympic History to Global Recognition
Arshad Nadeem was the first individual who won gold medal for Pakistan at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He not only won the men’s javelin throw final with an incredible throw of 92.97 m but also set an Olympic record and created a new history for Pakistan.
Forbes hailed her performance as a “stunning display” of her journey, which started from the small town of Mian Channu in Punjab to the global stage. His win also ended Pakistan’s three-decade-long medal drought.
Dominance in Asian and Global Competitions
After the success in the Olympics, Arshad Nadeem also proved his superiority by winning another gold medal in the Asian Athletics Championship. In the last few years, he has won five gold, one silver and four bronze medals in major competitions, including:
- 2022 Commonwealth Games (Gold)
- 2023 World Athletics Championships (Silver)
- 2024 Olympic Games (Gold)
- Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, Asian U20 Championships and South Asian Games
His consistency and work ethic have set a benchmark for aspiring athletes in Pakistan and South Asia.
Role Model and Regional Trailblazer
Arshad Nadeem’s journey is not only a success story in the field of sports But it is also an example of overcoming obstacles. In a country where athletics is undervalued, they made it to the world stage despite limited resources.
By joining the Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list, Nadeem finds himself alongside global sports icons like Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown and Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju — underscoring his rising stature on the world stage.
Eyes Set on World Athletics Championships
Arshad Nadeem now has his eyes set on the World Athletics Championships in September – the only international honour that still remains in his career. He will be leaving for England soon. Where they will train hard for the next big competition.
With a career that includes several historic titles, Arshad Nadeem is not only rewriting the history of Pakistani athletics. But they have also become an example of courage for a new generation.
