Paris, 4 August 2024 (TDI): The disappointing run of Pakistani athletes at the Paris Olympics 2024 continued on Sunday as marksman Ghulam Mustafa Bashir failed to qualify for the next round of the 25-meter rapid-fire pistol event.
With the first-stage exit, he became the sixth of seven Pakistani athletes who have bowed out of the Games without a medal.
On Friday, both Bashir and Khalil Akhtar failed to progress in the 25m rapid-fire pistol event, adding to the nation’s Olympic woes.
Earlier this week, shooters Gulfam Joseph and Kishmala Talat also bowed out during the qualifying rounds of the 10m and 25m air pistol events.
In athletics, Faiqa Riaz, making her debut in the Women’s 100m sprint, finished 24th out of 36 participants on Monday.
32 Years of Medal Drought for Pakistan in Olympics
Last Sunday, swimmers Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi met similar fates in their respective 200-meter freestyle heats.
Bashir, a bronze medalist at the World Championships, couldn’t secure a spot among the top six required to move on to the medal round. During the first stage, he scored 292 points—98 in the 8-second series, 99 in the 6-second series, and 95 in the 4-second series. However, in the second stage, he fell short with scores of 97, 97, and 95, failing to advance.
With six Olympians already out, Pakistan’s hopes for an Olympic gold in 32 years now rest on javelin ace Arshad Nadeem. He will compete in the initial round of his event on August 6, with the final round scheduled for August 8 if he qualifies.
All eyes are now on Nadeem, as Pakistan looks to break its 32-year gold medal drought.
