Pakistan's trap shooter Farrukh Nadeem aims to qualify for 2028 LA Olympics

Pakistan’s experienced trap shooter Farrukh Nadeem is one of the major prospects for the country for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Farrukh, who is from Pakistan Army, has said if things go well in the next four-year Olympic cycle, then he can win a quota place for the Los Angeles Games.

“Now in the next four-year Olympic cycle I will try to go with a perfect rhythm to achieve my target of qualifying for the Olympics,” Farrukh told Nukta in an interview.

“I have started well a month ago. I broke my own national record. It’s a day, luck, hard work and resources help you achieve your goals. If you have proper resources and support then you can excel,” Farrukh said.

In this year’s Paris Olympics three shooters including Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, Joseph Gulfam and Asian Games bronze medalist Kishmala Talat featured. However, the trio failed to qualify for the finals. They had earned direct Olympic quota which was a huge achievement.

Farrukh also tried his luck for Paris Games but failed to qualify.

“In the previous cycle I had played four to five events abroad. In two events I got second in the qualification but could not qualify for the top three. In sports ups and downs come, and on few occasions, I also lost my rhythm,” Farrukh recalled.

“I am in good rhythm and in the three last championships I have performed outstandingly. I have made two records and one is equal to the Olympic qualification. When you score 120 then you are confirmed finalist and I am doing this,” he said.

“Shooting is an expensive sport. You need a lot of resources and you also need a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, we don’t have ample resources and through makeshift arrangement we try to do the maximum whatever we can,” Farrukh said.

“If you plan for six events in a year and you have the sponsorship for that then okay you can go hard for every event. If you fail in one, you have the second and if you again fail you have other events in hand. But if you have just two events in which you have to qualify then it creates pressure and you are nowhere. Such things make the athletes handicapped. I will fight inshaAllah for the Olympic spot,” Farrukh said.

“We are engaged throughout the year. We also get four to five good competitions at home in a calendar year. Each year also carries international events. Olympic cycle is of four years as you have to prepare for it consistently until the time comes when you try for the Olympics slot through specific few events,” Farrukh said.

“It needs consistency in your training,” he said.

Support from Army

Farrukh is lucky to have the support of his department Army which has been playing a major role in the development of shooting in the country.

“I belong to Army and I am happy that it has backed me a lot in terms of weapons, ammunition, equipment and range. Even it has sponsored my visits abroad for championships. It has done a lot for me and now I also hope that I will do it,” he said.

“The financial support comes from the state and if state has no such tendency to back its athletes, then federation does not have so many resources to back its athletes outrightly,” he observed.

“Federation gathers funds on its own and it gets sponsorship for the qualification rounds from different sources. It is doing that to ensure the top stuff is fielded in the Olympic Qualifiers. But its resource-intensive exercise and federation only cannot handle it without the state support,” Farrukh said.

Farrukh also gets the support of foreign coaches through his own connections.

“If you have good IQ level you can also get something from the net. Then you have the connections,” he said.

“I have also taken coaching for two to three weeks abroad. I have also kept a coach online for mental strength. I also get tips from an Italian, who is Olympian, and he is now working with Qatar. He also teaches me online. I have also done physical sessions under him.”

“Olympian Sheikh Hasher of UAE also coaches me. I have also done sessions with him in the UAE for two times. I am in touch with few people who I consult when I have an issue. When you are shooting nice then you hardly need any coaching. You know most of the things and you can also design your training plans,” Farukh said.