KARACHI, Nov 11: Pakistani marksmen will figure in the Asian Shooting Championship schedule to be held at Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) from Feb 8 to 19 next year, National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) announced on Tuesday.

Decision in this regard was taken during the NRAP Executive Committee meeting held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of its president Chief of Naval Staff Admiral, Shahid Karimullah, on Monday.

Executive vice-president of NRAP Pervez Abbasi, who returned here after the meeting said, number of shooters for the participation in Asians will be decided as per resources and funds made available to the national association.

He said both men and women will be taking part in the continental contest in which in all rifle, pistol and shotgun events will be contested.

Parvez said the Asian event will provide good build up to the Pakistani sharp shooters for the IX SAF Games to be held at Islamabad from March 29.

As many as 16 gold as many silver and bronze medals will be at stake in the SAF Games. He said with the participation of India, shooting will be a high class.

Indians he said possess the services of several high class shooters and would be strong contenders to take major chunk of the medals.

He said during the meeting dates of the national championship were also finalized. The nationals will be contested at International Naval Shooting centre from Jan 1 to 8.

NRAP official said all the men and women event in rifle, pistol and shotgun will be conducted during the national championship.

During the meeting it was decided to hire the services of Ukrainian coaches who have trained and coached Pakistan shooters in the past.—APP