Pakistan contingent head happy with female athletes’ performances

PARIS: Chef de Mission Pakistan contingent Muhammad Shafiq was excited about two female athletes’ performance, saying that they have proved their worth despite getting few chances to express themselves at the international level.

Talking to The News on Saturday, he said that both Kishmala Talat (shooting) and Faiqa Riaz (100m sprint) were impressive.

“After performing outstandingly in the 10 Air pistol mixed team event Kishmala again made her mark in the 25m Pistol Fire where she stood 22nd out of over 40 shooters. She was exceptional. She did her best. She is a very talented athlete and had won bronze at the Asian Games, being the first lady to do so in the individual event. Here again, she outwitted even Ghulam Joseph to get a better score in the Mixed Team event. She should be proud of that,” Shafiq said.

The Chef de Mission hoped that the day was not far away when Kishmala would go on to win more laurels for the country at the world level.”

About Faiqa, who appeared in her first ever world-level meet, Shafiq said she also made an impression by finishing sixth in her heat and even achieved her best time.

“It was her first ever international level competition. She is talented and hopefully will be in a position to improve her timing. Faiqa must have learnt a lot in the company of the best athletes around. She could well be a prospect for Pakistan in the South Asian Games and hopefully will go on to do well at the Asian level.”

About swimmer Jehanara Nabi, he said that she was a wild card holder. “Swimming has never been our plus point. She has done her best and that was exactly what we could hope from her. All three female athletes managed to make an impression. Mind you this is Olympics.

Unless you keep your athletes in competitions throughout the year you can’t win. I hope and pray that the ladies get more chances to compete against the best in the coming days.”