Mohsin Nawaz makes history: First time in Pakistan, a sports shooter awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

F-Class long-range shooter Mohsin Nawaz became the first shooting sports athlete in Pakistan's history to receive the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, when President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award at a Presidential Awards ceremony in Islamabad on May 13, 2026.

The award marks a milestone not only for Nawaz but for the shooting sport itself; no shooting athlete has received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz since Pakistan's independence in 1947.

Nawaz, who is from Faisalabad, began competing in F-Class long-range shooting in 2004 at the Pakistan Ordnance Factory shooting club in Wah. At that time, Pakistan had no national federation for the discipline and no formal support structure for athletes seeking international competition.

Speaking after the ceremony, Nawaz credited General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Long Range Rifle Association (PLRA), with building the institutional foundation that made international representation possible. "I especially thank the Patron-in-Chief of the PLRA, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. He created this entire platform and managed everything. Through his leadership, Pakistan was able to gain recognition from world federations. Almost all the credit goes to the Chief of Army Staff for building this federation and giving us the platform to represent Pakistan on the world stage," Nawaz said.

The PLRA, under General Munir's patronage, secured affiliation with the International Confederation of Full-bore Rifle Association (ICFRA), enabling Pakistani shooters to compete at European Championships, the NRA UK Imperial Championship, and other major international events under official national representation.

Over two decades of competition, Nawaz has accumulated 10 international individual medals — the highest tally of any Pakistani athlete in the sport. His results include three gold and two silver medals at the 2022 Western Bisley Long Range Championship, a silver medal and a continental record equal at the 2023 European Championship at 800 yards, and two medals at the 2024 European Championship, where he became the first Pakistani to place in the Day One Aggregate and 1000-Yard categories. He also won a silver medal at the 2024 Donegall 300 match at the 155th NRA UK Imperial Championship.

At the domestic level, Nawaz set two new national records at the 3rd F-Class National Long Range Shooting Championship in Jhelum in November 2025: 144 in the 200-Meter .22 ELR event, and 50.9 V-bulls in the FTR 300-meter category. He also holds the Bisley 800-yard Pakistan record.

Nawaz is the first Pakistani athlete to hold Life Membership with both the NRA of the United Kingdom and the NRA of the United States. In 2018, he won Pakistan's first-ever gold medal in NRA US long-range shooting.

Off the range, Nawaz holds certifications as a Sports Psychologist, Sports Nutritionist, and Emotional Wellness Coach. He serves as a global brand ambassador for KAHLES Sports Optics of Austria and Peregrine Bullets of South Africa. He competes using Borden Action rifles fitted with Blake Barrels and 215 Hybrid Target Bullets, and trains in South Africa under Hermann Rolfes, the 2023 World Champion.

Nawaz was also recognised under the Pakistan Super League's 'Hamaray Heroes' initiative at the 2026 PSL Final closing ceremony on May 3, 2026, and received a lifetime achievement award in July 2023, presented by Tariq Bajwa, then advisor to the Prime Minister.

Mohsin Nawaz recently joined Hawksmith Gun & Shooting Club DHA Karachi as a brand ambassador. This venture is aligned with Hawksmith’s mission to establish Pakistan's premier, secure ecosystem for elite tactical training, precision shooting, and world-class sports facilities, which includes state-of-the-art American gun ranges. By partnering with the country's most decorated long-range shooter, the club aims to support the development of a world-class, integrated tactical sports club and elevate the national profile of shooting sports.

He has previously met with Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal to discuss policy changes, including reduced import duties on specialised sporting equipment and expanded training infrastructure.

"Allah has always blessed me beyond my expectations, and no amount of thanks will ever be enough. It is a great honor to have been invited by Pakistan's Cabinet Division for this Presidential Award ceremony," Nawaz said following the ceremony. He also noted: "Behind this achievement are the endless prayers of my parents. Their prayers have brought me to where I stand today."

Nawaz is currently preparing for the 2026 World Championship in the United Kingdom.