Paris 2024 Olympics: Pakistani shooters fall short in 10m Air Pistol

Pakistani shooters Gulfam Joseph and Kausar Talat failed to advance to the final round of the 10m air pistol events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In the women's competition, Talat finished 31st, while Joseph placed 22nd in the men's event.

On the first official day of the Paris Olympics, both Pakistani athletes were in action but struggled to make a strong start.

In the men's 10m air pistol event, Gulfam Joseph could not maintain his previous form and finished 22nd out of 33 competitors. In his second series, Joseph missed nine targets, scoring only 91 points, which significantly affected his overall position. He ended with a total score of 571.

Kausar Talat also failed to shine in the women's 10m air pistol event. She scored a total of 567 points over six series.

Talat earned 93, 97, and 94 points in the first three series, respectively, and 93, 95, and 95 points in the final three series, finishing 31st overall.

Both Talat and Joseph will compete again on July 29 in the mixed-team event. Talat will also participate in the women's 25m pistol competition.

On Friday, Pakistan's pride and joy, Javelin Thrower Arshad Nadeem, said he is looking forward to the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony while on his way to the venue.

"Alhamdulillah, the preparations are going very well," Arshad told The Express Tribune. "The training has been going very well too. I am feeling very good about everything. Everything is going smoothly. Since I've come here, we have been training properly, so far we've done two-hour sessions."

Meanwhile, the other athletes, including sprinter Faiqa Riaz, swimmers Muhammad Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi, shooters Kishmala Talat, Ghulam Muhammad Bashir, and Gulfam Joseph, said they all were set for the ceremony as well.

The shooters will compete in the 25 metre Rapid Fire Pistol, 10 metre Air Pistol, 10 metre Air Pistol Mixed Team while Faiqa will participate in the 100 metre athletics event.

The athletes donned white shalwar kameez with green waistcoats and black shoes.

"We are all ready, we will be representing Pakistan in the best way we can," said Shafiq who was among the first ones to arrive in Paris, on July 18.

He also attended the initial meetings to set up the contingent once everyone else began to arrive.