LAHORE, April 27: Pakistani shooter Khurram Inam has received an invitation to take part in the shooting event of the Athens Olympics to be held in August. This was stated by Muhammad Latif Butt secretary Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on Tuesday.

Butt said that Inam from Karachi narrowly missed the qualification by one point. "POA took up the matter with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to give consideration to the case of Inam. IOC referred the case to its special commission which granted an invitation card to the shooter due to his past record," he said.

Inam who won a gold medal in the recently concluded 9th SAF Games at Islamabad also participated in the Atlanta Olympics through a wild card. "POA is taking keen interest in securing maximum slots for the home athletes in the Olympics and our efforts so far have produced productive results as we have already received similar invitation cards in few other disciplines", he added.

Pakistan has earned two cards in athletics, two in swimming, one in shooting and efforts are underway to get one in weightlifting and we are expecting that IOC will come up with a decision regarding granting one card to our lifter till May 15, he added. Butt said participation of Pakistani athletes in various disciplines will give them high profile experience besides improving their standing. -APP