Pakistani shooters gear up for Asian Championship

A sizeable Pakistani contingent is set to feature in the Asian Shooting Championship slated to be held at the Shooting Plaza Shymkent in Kazakhstan from August 16-30.

The ten-member squad comprises Lt Col Mohammad Farrukh Nadeem (trap), Imam Haroon (skeet), Olympian and world bronze medalist Ghulam Mustafa Bashir (rapid fire pistol), Sulaiman Khan (air rifle), Asian Games bronze medalist Kishmala Talat (10m air pistol, 25m pistol), Rabia Kabir (10m air pistol), Rasam Gul (10m air pistol), Olympian Joseph Gulfam (10m air pistol), Maqbool Tabassum (rapid fire pistol) and Hadia Liaquat (10m air pistol, youth).

Meanwhile, a source told Nukta that Mehr Khaliq (air rifle), Major (retd) Amir Iqbal (double trap), Zahid Tufail (skeet) and Shameil Khan (skeet) are also going to feature in the championship.

There are three types of shooters who feature in such events.

“We only disclose officially those shooters who are being backed by NRAP hundred percent or fifty percent. The third category is of those athletes who sponsor themselves but there too we keep merit so that the most deserving shooters could get an opportunity to show their worth in international circuit,” an NRAP official told this correspondent.

The official said that these athletes will proceed to Kazakhstan in different phases as per their events in the continental event.

“Yes, they will proceed in phases as they have their events in different dates,” the official said.

Aiming high

The official hoped that Pakistan will put in their best in the showpiece.

“We have some good shooters in the squad. Ace-shooter GM Bashir is a big name and we expect a lot from him. Kishmala Talat is also a rising star and can spring surprise on the given day,” the official said.

GM Bashir is the only Pakistani shooter who has won bronze in the World Championship in 2022 in Egypt. The three-time Olympian, having represented the country in 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, has been doing well consistently in international circuit.

He is confident to do well in Kazakhstan.

“I have been training for the last three to four months and am in top shape. I am confident to do well in the Asian Championship,” Bashir told Nukta.

On the other hand, Col Farrukh Nadeem is also confident of putting up his best show.

“This is not 2+2 = 4 sports where you know if I am finishing 100m in nine seconds during practices then it’s confirmed medal. But I can say that I am shooting the scores through which I can qualify for finals. InshaAllah with the help of Almighty if I shoot like this in match the possibility is there to shoot for medal,” Farrukh told this correspondent from Jhelum.

“Qualifying scores are 121-122 out of 125 and I am shooting 123, 122, 121 and sometime 119-120 as well. Let's hope for good scores for which I am positive and determined with my training,” said Farrukh.

Shooting has been the most productive sport in Pakistan. The leading marksmen have been seen qualifying directly for Olympics for the last few years. But they need more support in training under a top coach which is the only way to make them able to pull off big surprises in international circuit.

The country’s major shooter Usman Chand is not going to feature in the Asian Championship.

“He is not feeling well and so he is not going,” an NRAP official said.

Another official of NRAP said if he gets fit then he may go.

Usman Chand, when contacted by this correspondent, said he is taking rest these days.

“I am taking some off and will return to competitive circuit next year. And then onwards it will be a packed international calendar and I will go all out. And from 2027 onwards will be a race for qualifying for the Olympics. Although I missed the Olympics spot last time by just one stroke but this time, I will be trying my best to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics,” Usman said.