The summer of 2024 brought glory to Pakistan when the country’s hero Arshad Nadeem clinched the Olympic gold medal in the javelin-throw at the Paris Games. This monumental achievement marked a historic milestone for Pakistan and brought widespread acclaim, both nationally and internationally.

From the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to provincial Chief Ministers, Nadeem received well-deserved recognition and rewards for his extraordinary feat. His success ignited celebrations across the country, while messages of congratulations continue to pour in months after his victory.

In a recent development, General Dahlan Bin Jaman Al-Hamad, President of Asian Athletics and a member of Qatar’s Shura Council, extended his congratulations to Major General (retd) Muhammad AkramSahi, the former President of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) and current Chairman of the South Asian Athletics Federation. General Dahlan commended Sahi’s vision and efforts in nurturing Nadeem’s talent, transforming him into a world-class athlete, and promised his support for the further development of athletics in Pakistan.

While Nadeem’s victory is a moment of immense pride, it also serves as an encouragement for Pakistan’s athletic leadership to build upon this success. Sustained efforts are needed to ensure that the momentum created by Nadeem’s triumph translates into a robust pipeline of future champions.

Grassroots Development:

To elevate Pakistan’s athletics to international and world standards, grassroots development is critical. Schools, colleges, and provincial sports bodies must play a pivotal role in nurturing talent.

Historically, the 1950s and 1960s are considered the golden era of Pakistan athletics, with legends like Abdul Khaliq and Ghulam Raziq setting Asian records and earning international acclaim. However, the absence of a structured development programme has stifled progress in recent decades.

Athletics Culture:

Reviving a strong athletics culture requires collaborative efforts. The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP), under the leadership of President Brig (retd) Wajahat Hussain and Secretary General Lt Col (retd) Shahjehan Mir, has been striving to promote the sport through district, provincial, and national championships.

As athletics in Pakistan is being governed by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) it organises athletic tournaments in Pakistan.

The National Athletics Championship has become a regular annual feature of the AFP calendar.

Moreover, Pakistani female athletes have also represented Pakistan at the international level, such as Shabana Akhtar, who was the first Pakistani female athlete to participate at the Olympics.

Yet, the federation alone cannot shoulder all responsibilities along. Departments, educational institutions, and the private sector must step up to support the sport by creating job opportunities, funding development programmes, and encouraging participation.

Enhancing Infrastructure and Opportunities:

A long-term solution lies in developing modern sports infrastructure across the country. Government initiatives and private-sector investments are essential to establish world-class facilities. These complexes should serve as training hubs for aspiring athletes, enabling them to compete on the global stage. Additionally, recognising and rewarding athletes’ achievements can boost their morale, motivating them to strive for greater success.

Pakistan’s dismal representation at the Paris Olympics-only seven athletes from a population of over 240 million-highlights the urgent need for a cohesive national strategy.

Encouragingly, the government’s recent announcement of the Prime Minister’s University Sports Olympiad, which also included athletics, is a step in the right direction. Such initiatives can help revive the dwindling sports culture in schools and colleges, which are the best nurseries for future talent.

A Call to Action:

Pakistan’s athletics community must work collectively to reignite the country’s sporting legacy. With concerted efforts from all stakeholders - federations, government bodies, educational institutions, and the private sector - Pakistan can produce not just javelin throwers like Nadeem but also champions across a variety of athletic disciplines.

By nurturing a culture of sportsmanship and excellence, Pakistan has the potential to reclaim its position as a formidable force in global athletics. This revival requires concerted efforts, including robust support from both the government and the corporate sector. Such support can breathe new life into the declining state of athletics, providing national athletes with the job security and financial stability they need to support their families while representing the country on international platforms.

Ensuring these athletes have the resources to sustain themselves and improve their international rankings is crucial for success in prestigious events like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympics, and World Championships. A unified commitment to nurturing talent, coupled with strategic investment, can pave the way for Pakistan’s resurgence in the world of athletics.

All should not be left just to the athletics federation. It is also the responsibility of the whole nation to work for the development of athletics culture so that like many small and developing countries/nations Pakistani athletes could mark their impression at the international and world athletics events. Many small and developing countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Nigeria, to name a few, have athletics culture and despite facing economic problems their athletes have earned medals in Olympics and regional competitions only because they have sporting/ athletics culture and they start it from the grassroots level.

Pakistan also needs to develop athletics culture in the country to see athletics flourish and produce top class athletes in Pakistan not just in javelin-throw but also in the other categories of athletics like it had been in the past.

By adopting athletics culture every Pakistani can be an athlete irrespective of gender.