Islamabad (GNP): Decorated shooter Mohsin Nawaz, fresh from receiving the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, has dedicated the prestigious national honor to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Long Range Rifle Association (PLRA).
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Nawaz paid tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir’s pivotal role in laying the groundwork for shooting sports infrastructure and creating the institutional support systems the discipline had long lacked.
“Field Marshal Asim Munir stepped in at a critical time and provided the facilitation needed to build proper shooting sports facilities,” Nawaz said. He noted that with formal recognition from the Pakistan Sports Board and government backing, Pakistani shooters now operate within an internationally acknowledged framework that allows them to represent the country competitively on the world stage.
Nawaz brings considerable credentials to his advocacy — ten individual international medals and competitive appearances in the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa, backed by over two decades in the sport. He is convinced that Pakistan harbors vast untapped potential in shooting disciplines that has yet to be fully realized.
He pointed to the establishment of the PLRA as a landmark development, particularly its successful affiliation with the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA) — a breakthrough that gave Pakistan its first formal footing in long-range rifle shooting at the international level.
“The sport is moving forward under a more organized structure and the progress is visible,” he said. “We are still building, but the goal is to compete with the best in the world. The global standard has risen sharply, yet Pakistan has the raw talent and capability to reach that level — we just need to stay on the right path.”
Nawaz drew comparisons with how long-range precision shooting has matured globally into a highly specialized discipline, supported by dedicated academies, cutting-edge training facilities, and structured athlete development pipelines. He sees no reason why Pakistan cannot follow the same trajectory given consistent institutional investment and forward-looking planning.
Having trained under the 2023 World Champion, Nawaz spoke candidly about the demands of the sport — emphasizing that elite-level performance requires extraordinary mental resilience, razor-sharp concentration, and an enormous investment of training hours. “The potential here is tremendous,” he said. “What we need is unwavering institutional support and a belief in Pakistan’s capacity to build genuine excellence in this field.”
He also highlighted the natural alignment between shooting sports and the Pakistan Army, whose embedded culture of discipline, precision, and professionalism makes it a powerful partner in producing world-class competitors.
Looking beyond his own career, Nawaz expressed a heartfelt commitment to mentoring the next wave of Pakistani shooting talent. “I want to give back what the sport has given me,” he said. “There are gifted young Pakistanis out there with a genuine passion for shooting and the ability to go far internationally. My goal is to help build a clear pathway for them through guidance, mentorship, and shared experience.”
Reflecting on the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz itself, Nawaz was quick to frame it as something larger than personal recognition. “This award carries a message — one of responsibility, dedication, and service to the community,” he remarked. “The future of shooting sports in Pakistan is genuinely bright, but sustaining that momentum will require continued commitment from institutions and stakeholders. The government, the Pakistan Sports Board, and Field Marshal Asim Munir have nurtured this sapling and brought it above the ground. Now the real work begins — helping it grow as tall as it possibly can.”
He closed with a note of optimism, expressing firm confidence that with sustained institutional backing, strategic vision, and serious investment in athlete development, Pakistan is well positioned to emerge as a genuine force in international shooting sports in the years to come.
