LAHORE: Pakistani athletes are set to commence their journey at the Paris Olympics, with competitions kicking off at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre in France on Saturday.
Two of Pakistan’s national shooters will be competing on the first day. Joseph Gulfam will vie for a spot in the finals of the 10m air pistol qualification round, facing a formidable field of 33 participants. The top eight shooters will advance to the final round, and despite the stiff competition, Gulfam is equipped with the skill and determination to succeed.
Simultaneously, Kishmala Talat, who clinched a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, will begin her pursuit in the women’s 10m air pistol qualification event. Talat, a university student, is one of 45 competitors in this phase and is poised to demonstrate her prowess on this grand stage. The national shooting team engaged in pre-event training on Friday to fine-tune their preparations.
Ghulam Mustafa Bashir is another Pakistani shooter competing in the Paris Olympics, adding to the country’s representation in shooting events.
Pakistan has sent a contingent of seven athletes to the global event, supported by a team of 11 officials. The delegation includes notable athletes such as premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, sprinter Faiqa Riaz, and swimmers Mohammad Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi. Among them, only the shooters and Arshad Nadeem have earned direct qualifications for the Olympics.
In a gesture of support, the Pakistan Embassy in France hosted a reception for the Pakistani contingent on Thursday. The event was attended by IPC Minister Rana Sanaullah and other dignitaries in Paris. Also present was Usman Khan, the country’s leading eventer, who had to withdraw from the Olympics due to technical issues. Residing near the Olympic site, Khan was specially invited by the embassy to join the celebration.
As the competitions begin, hopes are high for the Pakistani athletes to deliver outstanding performances and make their mark on the Olympic stage.
