Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has been honoured with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award in the “Global Breakthrough Athlete” category at the World Sports Summit held in Dubai.
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The prestigious award recognises Nadeem’s historic achievement at the Paris Olympics, where he claimed gold with a remarkable throw of 92.97 metres. The effort not only secured Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in an individual sport but also broke a 16-year-old Olympic record previously held by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen.
Alhamdulillah — honored to be recognized at the World Sports Summit in Dubai. Thankful to the Dubai Sports Council and proud to represent Pakistan on the world stage. 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/optvimGUjd
— Arshad Nadeem (@ArshadOlympian1) December 29, 2025
Speaking after the ceremony, Nadeem described the recognition as a moment of immense pride for both himself and the country. He said the international acknowledgment of his performance would serve as inspiration for young athletes in Pakistan and help increase interest in javelin throwing, a discipline that has gained unprecedented attention since his Olympic triumph.
The javelin star added that his focus has now shifted to upcoming major events, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He said receiving a distinguished global sports award from the Dubai government had renewed his confidence and strengthened his determination to achieve further success on the international stage.
The World Sports Summit, held at Madinat Jumeirah, marked Dubai’s first global gathering of its kind and attracted more than 1,500 sports professionals over two days. Discussions centred on key issues such as athlete welfare, mental health, innovation in sport, and the future of global competition.
Read More: Arshad wins Global Breakthrough Athlete honour in Dubai
Around 70 prominent speakers took part in the summit, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, and heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk. The event was organised by the Dubai Sports Council under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
According to organisers, the summit aimed to unite champions, coaches and top decision-makers from across the sporting world to shape the future of the global sports industry under the theme “Uniting the World Through Sport.”