hen contemplating sports, the 1992 Cricket World Cup invariably springs to mind. However, a multitude of sportspersons have bestowed upon us moments of glory, joy, and astonishment through their exceptional achievements. Our disproportionate focus on cricket, particularly men’s cricket, has obscured the potential of Pakistani sportspersons in other arenas. The lack of emphasis on athleticism, as exemplified by cricketers from other nations and athletes in sports like tennis or football, is perplexing.

Defying expectations, Arshad Nadeem ended a 32-year drought for the country by clinching the first-ever track and field medal at the Olympics with a gold in men’s javelin final. Despite my usual cynicism, my sister’s palpable and infectious excitement upon hearing the news was undeniable. Her detailed account of Nadeem’s triumph left me feeling both impressed and ashamed of my initial indifference.

Nadeem’s journey to the podium is a testament to sheer determination, as he overcame significant infrastructural challenges. He didn’t have the facilities that were available to many of the players he was competing against, yet he won a gold medal for Pakistan during the Paris Olympics 2024 after winning a bronze medal in 2018 Athletics Asian Games. No one from Pakistan had ever won in this particular category before.

Pakistan’s relationship with sports is characterized by fervent support during triumphs and forgetfulness in the face of defeat. It is imperative to acknowledge the challenges faced by our athletes and to celebrate their achievements without reservation.

Beyond cricket, Pakistan has a diverse history of sporting achievements.

From the hockey field to the squash court, our nation has produced word-class athletes. Arshad Nadeem’s victory serves as a catalyst for a broader conversation about sports development and the need for sustained investment in our sporting infrastructure. We’ve witnessed the prodigious Jahangir Khan win the World Squash Championship. We’ve seen Jansher Khan, also from Pakistan, defeat Jahangir to win his first World Open Squash Championship. The prodigal son, Jahangir Khan, went on to win seven British Open Squash Championships.

As Arshad Nadeem stood tall, draped in the national flag, he embodied the hopes and dreams of a nation. It is incumbent upon us to translate this moment of glory into a long-term commitment to fostering a sporting culture that nurtures talent and celebrate excellence.

Pakistan x Writers

hether you are a fan of Urdu, English, or regional languages, Pakistan has so much to offer in this field. This is the land of literary giants like Saadat Hasan Manto and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. It is also the birthplace of poetic greats such as Bulleh Shah, Patras Bokhari, Parveen Shakir, Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi, Ibn-e-Insha and Ibn-e-Safi. You will laugh and you will cry and learn more than you think you can possibly imagine. In the realm of English literature, writers like Nadeem Aslam, Kamila Shamsie, Mohammad Hanif, Daniyal Mueenuddin, Sabyn Javeri, Uzma Aslam Khan and H.M. Naqvi are among the most popular names. But if you delve deeper and research, you will find many more names across different languages and become captivated by the words and works of those we cannot name for the sake of brevity.