“I see no one as competition. I compete with myself”- Pakistan shooter Kishmala Talat eyes to create history at Paris Olympics 2024
Kishmala Talat is the first woman from Pakistan to qualify for the Olympics in shooting. She is preparing to make a podium finish at the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024.
In a country, where women aren’t encouraged enough to take sports as a profession, Talat is determined to defy the odds and make a name for herself. Pakistan have won 10 Olympic medals so far in the tournament’s history and all of them have been won by men since 1992.
Talat, meanwhile, will represent the nation in the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events at the Paris Olympics 2024.
“In Pakistan there’s a prevalent taboo that dictates girls should stay at home, do girly things, and play with dolls, while boys are to play with guns,” she told AFP [via Sportstar]
“I see no one as competition. I compete with myself,” she added.
Kishmala Talat has four international medals to her name, including a bronze medal at the Asian Games, last year.
"I am dedicated to giving my best performance to let Pakistan’s name shine" - Kishmala Talat
The Pakistan’s woman shooter is aiming high to make her nation proud at Paris 2024. She expressed her desire to create history at the global event and longed for recognition in the sport.
“I longed for recognition. I wanted to do more,” Talat said.
“I wanted that whenever shooting is discussed, or ‘Kishmala’ is mentioned, it would be associated with someone who did something great for Pakistan. I am dedicated to giving my best performance to let Pakistan’s name shine,” she added.
Earlier, Kishmala Talat had secured her qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Asian Shooting Championships in Jakarta. She made her entry in the final after amassing 575 points in the first round of women’s 10-metre air pistol.
However, she lost to Esha Singh and had to settle for the silver medal. Nonetheless, she became the third Pakistan shooter to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024 after Gulfam Joseph and GM Bashir.