National shooting championship: Army stands tall in Olympic trap

Bags gold and silver medals on first day of three-event series.

ISLAMABAD: What better way to blow off the week’s steam than to shoot some skeet on a Sunday afternoon; however, for those participating in the national shooting championship at the capital’s Gun Club, shooting is no pass-time affair.

As evident by the sheer finesse and skill exhibited by all 40 participants, and especially by those who bagged medals for their teams during the Olympic trap held at the club on Sunday — these men proved they are indeed a true breed of professional athletes.

Officials of the Pakistan army grinned smugly as they received the gold and silver medals for their team, while federal riffle association, representing the Islamabad Capital Territory, was awarded the bronze medal.

The remaining two events in the three-part championship — the Olympic skeet and Olympic double track — will follow in the coming days. Nine teams from across the country are participating in the national event, representing Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, the federal capital territory, army, navy, air force and Pakistan order of secretary.

Secretary South Asian Shooting Federation, Colonel Agha Abbas Raza, who oversaw the Olympic trap, said he was impressed with the skill shown by the participants. He said that the discipline required for shooting is quite similar to the one indoctrinated in the army.

“Guns are dangerous for obvious reasons, however, professional shooting is not violent and an excellent way to test one’s focus and aim,” said Raza, who frequently holds shooting classes at the gun club.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2012.