LAHORE: Arshad Nadeem is banking on his fitness and preparations to end Pakistan’s over three-decade-long Olympic medal drought at the Paris Games.Pakistan have not bagged a medal of any colour since the 1992 Olympics but its star javelin thrower stressed on Tuesday that “he will try his best” for a podium finish in the French capital.
“I’m fit and well-prepared and I’ve worked really hard for this prestigious event,” he told reporters before his departure to Paris. “I feel I can achieve my goal of winning a medal.”The 27-year-old will compete in the qualification round on August 6 with the final scheduled two days later.
Arshad, who will be Pakistan’s flag-bearer at the Olympics, is the nation’s leading hope after having won gold at the Commonwealth Games two years ago. He finished runner-up at the World Athletics Championship a year later and will renew his cross-border rivalry with India’s Neeraj Chopra in Paris.
“I will continue my training in Paris to bring further improvement before competing in the event and if every thinggo to plan, I will get a medal for the country at the Olympics,” added Arshad. “Yes, the target is high but my ambitions are also high and I am feeling in great shape to deliver and make the nation proud.”
Arshad finished fifth at the last edition of the Games in Tokyo in 2021, after becoming the first athlete from Pakistan to qualify for the Games, stressed, however, that the country needs more venues for athletes to train.
Meanwhile, Pakistani martial artist Muhammad Rashid Naseem has set a new Guinness World Record by crushing 39 cans with his head in 30 seconds.Guinness World Records shared a video of the attempt on social media.
Naseem, who began his record-breaking journey in 2013 by removing 40 bottle caps in one minute, has since accumulated dozens of Guinness World Records.
According to his Facebook profile, he holds 101 records, making him the only Pakistani to surpass 100 records. Some of his notable feats include the most cans crushed with the head in one minute, the most walnuts crushed by hand in one minute, and the most watermelons crushed with the head in 30 seconds.
In the video, Naseem is seen striking his head against a row of metal drink cans, each bursting open on impact.His remarkable achievement adds to his extensive list of world records, highlighting his unique skills and dedication to martial arts.
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has been involved in supporting such feats to promote local talent and bring international recognition to Pakistan.In 2021, Fatima Naseem, following in her father Muhammad Rashid Naseem’s footsteps, set a new Guinness World Record for the most full-contact elbow strikes in one minute, achieving an astonishing 242 strikes.
This accolade makes Fatima the youngest Guinness World Records holder in martial arts, highlighting her impressive skills and continuing her family’s legacy of record-breaking achievements.
Naseem, who began his record-breaking journey in 2013 by removing 40 bottle caps in one minute, has since accumulated dozens of Guinness World Records.
According to his Facebook profile, he holds 101 records, making him the only Pakistani to surpass 100 records. Some of his notable feats include the most cans crushed with the head in one minute, the most walnuts crushed by hand in one minute, and the most watermelons crushed with the head in 30 seconds.
