Pak shooters to feature in Olympic Test Event

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top shooters who won quota places for Tokyo 2020 will feature in Olympic Games Test Event to be held in Tokyo, Japan from April 16-26 next year.

The three Pakistani shooters who won quota places for Tokyo 2020 are Khalil Akhtar, Ghulam Mustafa Bashir and Gulfam Joseph. “We have decided to send these three shooters to the test event to prepare them for the Olympics since the games are to be held on the same ranges,” said executive vice-president of National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) Javaid Lodhi, while talking to ‘The News’ on Sunday.

He added that this event will be important for the shooters in the wake of their participation in the Olympics next year. Javaid added that apart from this event, the three shooters will also be sent to different international events next year to help them prepare better for the Olympics.

where I would talk to the president of Germany’s shooting association in this regard,” said Javaid. He said that NRAP is hopeful of arranging one of the best coaches of the world for the shooters.

“I am going to attend ISSF Extraordinary General Assembly in Germany from December 7 where I will talk to the president of Germany’s shooting association in this regard,” said Javaid.

He said the coach will be either Italian or German. “We are making all efforts to win a medal for Pakistan,” he said, adding that NRAP and its shooters have achieved this success without any support from the government.

“I hope the government realises the potential in shooting sport which has 15 Olympic gold medals on offer. Pakistan has immense talent but no patronage from government is hurting it,” he said.