Air rifle: National association places hopes on youngsters

Seven-member contingent entered for Commonwealth Games.


Nabil Tahir June 26, 2014

KARACHI: The National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) and its coaches have said their expectations rest more on their young shooters rather than the senior ones for the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

“The youngsters have a better ability to absorb training and get in practice more quickly than the older ones,” NRAP chief coach Razi Ahmed Khan told The Express Tribune.

“You can see this from their performances during practice sessions; Army’s Minhal Sohail, 20, is a clear example.”

NRAP Secretary Javed S Lodhi agreed, “During the selection of the players for the training camp, we asked all the departments to participate in the trials.  At that time, Minhal was not on our list to be considered for the Commonwealth or Asian Games.

“However, within five months after her inclusion in the camp, she broke her own air rifle national record three times and now holds a record of 395/400. We entered her name for participation in the Asian Games on special request – past the due date – given her outstanding performance.”

Zeeshan Shakir, 19, is another young shooter who showed impressive form during the camp, and the association is now expecting a medal from him at the Games.

“Shakir has also made a national record and his name is among the seven players sent forward for the Commonwealth Games,” said the secretary.

The 12-member training camp, which began on February 25 at the PNS shooting range, is currently on a week-long break and will resume its final phase on June 29.

Usman Chand, Mehwish Farhan, Tazeen, Uzair, Shehzad, Zeeshan Shakir and Nasir Yaseen are part of the Pakistan contingent for the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2014.

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