Shooting: Sextet named for Asian Championship

The group also includes teenage marksman Fatima Aftab

KARACHI: National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) will be sending six players, including a 14-year-old, with the senior team to the 9th Asian Championship for 10m Rifle/Pistol, which will be held in Tehran from December 3 to 9.

NRAP secretary Javaid Shamshad Lodhi told The Express Tribune that six players were selected for the aforementioned competition after careful analysis of their recent performance.

“The 14-year-old Fatima Aftab is going with the senior team to get experience before the Youth Olympics Qualification competitions, which will be held next year,” said Lodhi. “She is the most talented youngster in the country and we want to give her maximum exposure to build a strong future for the senior team.”



Of the sextet, Fatima, her namesake Fatima Azim, Zeeshan Farid and Minhal Sohail are currently training at the Navy shooting range in Karachi, while Javeria Shafqat and Kaleemullah are honing their skills at Jehlum’s Army shooting range.

Lodhi further informed that Fatima Aftab, Minhal, and Farid will take part in the 10m air rifle category, whereas Fatima Azim, Javeria and Kaleemullah will participate in the 10m air pistol event at the Asian Championship where they will be up against as many as 259 athletes from 12 nations.



Meanwhile, the six chosen players will also be participating at the first edition of Airgun Shooting Championship at Islamabad’s Gun and Country Club Shooting Ranges from November 16 to 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2016.

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