Pakistan’s ace-shooter Ghulam Mustafa Bashir had a solid start in his men’s 25 metre rapid fire pistol event of the 20th Asian Games at the Aichi Perfecture General Shooting Gallery in Japan on Wednesday.
Competing in stage 1, the 2022 World Championship bronze medallist and Olympian Bashir finished eighth among 28 shooters with a score of 289-8x.
He will now compete in the second stage on Thursday and it is highly expected that the veteran shooter will be able to qualify for the finals also to be held on the same day.
Bashir’s performance placed him ahead of several experienced competitors and kept him within reach of the leading positions. China’s Su Lianbofan topped the stage 1 standings with 297-12x, followed by South Korea’s Yoon Seoyeong with 293-9x and Lee Gunhyeok with 292-8x.
Bashir’s 289 points also put him just one point behind Kazakhstan’s Nikita Chiryukin, who occupied seventh place. His result was particularly encouraging given the closely packed standings, where only a few points separated many of the competitors.
Initially Mohammad Farooq and Mohammad Shabbir were also scheduled to feature in this event but they could not proceed.
“I think Bashir has started well,” a senior official of National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) Razi Ahmed Khan told The Express Tribune.
Razi, who is also a senior coach, hoped that Bashir will be able to advance to the finals.
“I think he is in the best position to proceed. The second stage is more important. The pressure is really on top two shooters and if Bashir keeps his focus he can qualify and even win a medal,” Razi said.
Only two shooters have made it to the Asian Games because of NOC issue. The other is Rabia Kabir who has completed her competition in the 25m pistol, having failed to do better.
Besides Farooq and Shabbir, Farrukh Nadeem, who won Asian shotgun gold, prolific Usman Chand, Imam Haroon and Kishmala Talat were the others who could not proceed due to NOC matter.
“NOCs had been issued but they were late and when you miss a flight then you need at least one week to manage ammunition transportation and that is why they could not proceed,” Razi said.
He specifically mentioned Kishmala, saying she was in fine touch and could win another medal.
“Kishmala had secured historic bronze last time in the 2023 Hanzghou Asian Games and again she could lift a medal as she was in great form but unfortunately the same matter ended her chance,” Razi said.
Kishmala became the first Pakistani shooter who won a medal in Hanzghou in Pakistan’s Asian games shooting history.
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