Paris Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem to get buffalo by father-in-law; netizens divided over the gift

    Arshad Nadeem also won USD 50,000 (about Rs 41,97,552) as an award after his victory.

    Arshad Nadeem

    Arshad Nadeem

    Pakistan's javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, has been in the spotlight since winning gold in the men's javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics 2024. He competed against India's top javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, and achieved a new Olympic record of 92.97 meters.

    Following his historic victory, Nadeem has been showered with monetary rewards and other presents. He won USD 50,000 (about Rs 41,97,552) for his awards. In addition, his father-in-law has decided to give him a buffalo as a tribute to their rural heritage and traditions. 

    The news has spread rapidly but also garnered mixed reactions. While some people find the gesture touching and appropriate, others are annoyed. Many on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared how netizens are reacting to this news.

    On Sunday, Muhammad Nawaz informed local reporters in Nadeem's hometown that presenting a buffalo is "very valuable" and "honourable" in their community. "Nadeem also takes great pride in his roots and despite the success, his home still remains his village and he still lives with his parents and brothers," said Nawaz. The father-in-law also mentioned that he had four boys and three daughters, and his youngest daughter, Ayesha, was married to Nadeem.

    "When we decided to marry our daughter to Nadeem six years back, at that time he used to do small jobs and run errands but was extremely passionate about his sport and constantly practised throwing the javelin at home and in the fields," said Nawaz.

    Arshad Nadeem re-established Pakistan's Olympic presence by winning an extraordinary gold medal in men's javelin throw. It was the first time an athlete from the country won an individual gold medal at the Olympics - the first Games medal in an athletics event, and the country's first gold since the men's hockey team won their last in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.