ISLAMABAD: Shooter Mohammad Khalil Akhtar has become the first Pakistani to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) announced on Monday.

The 35-year-old Khalil from Pakistan Army, put up a splendid show in the World Shooting Cup in Brazil, finishing sixth in the rapid fire pistol competition. The event served as the qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.

“Khalil has qualified for the Olympics through the quota system. At the World Shooting Cup, he edged past world No. 1, 4 and 5 opponents,” NRAP executive vice-president Javaid Lodhi told APP.

“So far he is the only Pakistani to qualify for the Olympics. We are happy at his performance and now hope he would earn a medal at the prestigious event in Tokyo,” Javaid added.

With the exceptions of the St Louis 1904 and Amsterdam 1928 Games, shooting has featured on every Olympic programme since the first modern Games in 1896.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, contests will be held in 50m rifle 3 positions (men/women), 10m air rifle (men/women), 25m rapid fire pistol (men), 25m pistol (women), 10m air pistol (men/women), trap (men/women), skeet (men/women), 10m air rifle mixed team, 10m air pistol mixed team and trap mixed team.

Khalil will compete in 25m rapid fire pistol event involving successive rapid fire in the standing position over short periods of eight, six and four seconds. No automatic function is used and all shots require the trigger to be pulled manually.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2019