Lahore: Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem fainted at his mother’s feet before embracing her , 27-year-old Olympic gold medallist, who arrived at Lahore airport late on Saturday night to a hero’s welcome, was received with a water cannon salute on the runway before she emerged into the terminal to the chants of thousands of supporters and fanfare from a police marching band.

He was received back home by his family members, and his father garlanded him. He was welcomed by hundreds of other government personalities—ministers and bureaucrats. He returned to his village with a procession to his ancestral home in Chak 101-15L, accompanied by dhol wallahs, dancing youths, and a police van.

The two-and-a-half-hour journey from Lahore lasted well over six hours, with the cavalcade escorting him home, taking a long and circuitous route along the famous GT Road. People waited for hours on the highway, lining it, to get a glimpse of the first individual Olympic gold medal winner in the country’s history.

He is our son… [he] has given us real happiness after a long time,” a resident of Mian Chunnu told reporters along the way. The two-and-a-half-hour journey from Lahore took more than six hours, with the cavalcade that escorted him home taking a long and circuitous route along the famous GT Road.

The highway was lined with people who had waited hours to have a glance at the first individual Olympic gold medal winner in the country’s history saying that he  is our son… [he] has given us real happiness after a long time,” said a resident of Mian Chunnu while talking to reporters on the way.

Arshad was received at Bhai Pheru, Pattoki, Renala Khurd, Okara, Sahiwal, and Chichawatni. At the same time, his small hometown was also darkened by countless buses filled with fans from Khanewal, Vehari, Multan, and districts far and beyond. He then started for his village, Chak 101-15L, as a procession that included dhol wallahs, dancing youths, and a police escort. 

The two-and-a-half-hour journey from Lahore took over six hours, the cavalcade proceeding along a long, circuitous route over the famous GT Road.  

Lined with people on either side, the highway was taken by the people who had waited for hours only to glimpse the first individual Olympic gold medal winner in the country’s history. He is our son… [he] has given us real happiness after a long time”, an Mian Chunnu resident told reporters on the way.

Arshad was received at Bhai Pheru, Pattoki, Renala Khurd, Okara, Sahiwal, and Chichawatni. At the same time, many buses jammed with fans from Khanewal, Vehari, Multan, and other districts further away raced to his tiny town. He continued to his ancestral house in Chak 101-15L in his car in a procession that included dhol wallahs, dancing youths, and a police escort.

The two-and-a-half-hour journey from Lahore took over six hours as the escorting cavalcade wove its long and circuitous route along the famous GT Road. The highway was packed with people who had waited for hours saying he is our son and has given us real happiness after a long time. In the Sahiwal district, special receptions were arranged for him at various hotels, such as the Arifwala Bypass, Pakpattan Bypass, Harappa Bypass, and Chichawatni Bypass.

Mohammad Farooq had come from Sargodha, hours away, to participate in the welcome celebrations.I have come here… to welcome our hero. Pakistan has gained this happy moment after 40 years. It has become a double pleasure with August 14,” he told Reuters.

Reaching Mian Chunnu amid the cheers and dances of drum players, Arshad made his way through the crowd towards his beaming mother, Raziah Parveen, and, at her feet, fell. Reaching Mian Chunnu amid the cheers, Arshad made his way through the crowd toward his beaming mother, Raziah Parveen, and, at her feet, fell.

She accepted her son’s gesture and lifted him in her arms to embrace him, beaming with maternal pride as he was a former local champion who used to train in wheat fields with homemade weapons, he is now set to receive the country’s second-highest civil award—the Hilal-i-Imtiaz.