The administrators in Pakistan have made a surprising U-turn on Arshad Nadeem. He was all by himself, left with least amount financial support and facilities for training. 

He even arranged for his travel to the Tokyo Games three years ago and returned fifth. Even after his gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, and then the historic silver at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, the Pakistan government came forward with only the air ticket for the Paris Olympics. 

Nadeem was the only Pakistan athlete who got his travel sponsored by the government for this year's Games.

Jump to 2024-Arshad Nadeem's historic medal—Pakistan's first since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics—woke a few from their sleep. The result? A splurge of cash rewards and accolades.

Punjab (Pakistan) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a cash award of (Pakistan) rupees 100 million for Nadeem. Similarly, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government announced rupees 50 million for the athlete while the Sukkur city mayor also announced a 'gold crown' for him.