Shooter Bashir hopes to make his presence felt at Olympics

ISLAMABAD: Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, who is scheduled to leave for Paris Olympics along with four other members of the shooting contingent today’s (Friday) morning, hoped to make the occasion count, saying that all the efforts will be made to make the Games memorable one.

Talking to ‘The News’, Bashir said that he was heading for the Olympic Games with a complete focus on winning the medal. “It is all the more exciting when you perform in the company of leading shooters turning up from across the world to compete for the medals. In the wake of my previous performance in the company of leading shooters, I am hopeful to make the occasion count,” Bashir, the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol shooter, added.

Bashir will be seen hitting the mark on August 4 and 5 at the Shooting Range in Paris. Bashir became the second Pakistani marksman to win a place at the Paris Olympics behind Gulfam Joseph.

Bashir created history as he became the first ever shooter to win a bronze in Rapid Fire Pistol at the World Championship held in Cairo a few months back. He also won an Olympic Quota for Pakistan. Gulfam Joseph was the first to win an Olympic Quota in 10m Air Pistol. Besides the two, Kishmala Talat will be seen competing in 10m Air Pistol competition on July 27.

“All depends on how I gather my energies on the given day. First challenge will be to qualify for the finals and then to go for the medal,” Bashir said. He added that almost all those who were seen competing against him during the World Championship are expected to be there in Paris. “I have required experience of competing against them and I know I can make my mark and win the medal. All depends on how I would respond on the given day,” he said.

When asked about his Asian Games’ experience, he said he was not in the best of form at that time. “Now I have worked hard on all aspects of the game. Hopefully, my hard work and training would help me put up my best show. I want to perform in a better way than what I did at the World Championship.” Four members of the contingent will leave from Islamabad while Bashir will be joining the team from Doha.