Pakistan’s single gold medal in the men’s javelin throw has unexpectedly propelled them to 53rd place in the overall medal standings, surpassing India, which is currently ranked 64th. As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games draw to a close, India has secured a total of five medals: four bronze and one silver. Neeraj Chopra, who was India’s leading gold medal hope after the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the 50kg women’s freestyle final, fell short of expectations. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem outperformed Chopra, clinching the gold and pushing Pakistan ahead in the rankings.
The Medal Standings Explained
Despite India winning a greater number of medals than Pakistan in these Games, their lower position is due to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ranking system. The IOC prioritizes the number of gold medals won when determining rankings. Therefore, even if a country accumulates numerous silver or bronze medals, it will be ranked lower than a country with just one gold. Silver and bronze medals only influence the rankings if there is a tie in the number of gold medals.
Arshad Nadeem’s Historic Victory
Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal in javelin throw not only marks Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold in four decades but also sets a new Olympic record. This victory is significant as Pakistan had not previously won an individual Olympic gold medal. The country’s only Olympic golds before this were in field hockey, earned in 1960, 1968, and 1984.
Pakistan’s Olympic Medal History
Pakistan’s history of Olympic medals has been limited. Apart from the three golds in field hockey, the country has won just two individual bronze medals: one in wrestling in 1960 and another in boxing in 1988. The last time Pakistan secured an Olympic medal was in 1992, when the field hockey team won bronze in Barcelona.
Conclusion
The ranking system used by the IOC highlights how a single gold medal can significantly alter a country’s position in the standings. Pakistan’s recent success in the javelin throw has not only brought them a historic gold but also a higher rank than India, despite having fewer total medals. As the Paris Games continue, these rankings reflect the impact of each medal on a nation’s overall Olympic performance.
