Determination, Triumph, and Prestige: Discover the Pakistani Athletes Heading to the Paris 2024 Olympics
Flag-bearers Arshad Nadeem and Jehanara Nabi will lead Pakistan’s contingent in Paris.
Determination, Triumph, and Prestige: Discover the Pakistani Athletes Heading to the Paris 2024 Olympics Achieving excellence is a delicate balance that differentiates Olympic dreams from reality. Each fraction of a second, each centimeter farther represents years of meticulous preparation converging into a single moment of athletic brilliance. Olympians epitomize this pursuit of perfection.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, seven of Pakistan’s top athletes will proudly make their appearance. While seven may seem a modest number for a nation of nearly 250 million, the focus should remain on celebrating their achievements rather than critiquing the broader athletic infrastructure.
Pakistan’s sports glory might seem like a distant memory, but every sprint, shot, and throw represents a chance to revive that past greatness. As these athletes step onto the global stage, let us give them a standing ovation as they strive to carve their names into history.
Arshad Nadeem Athletics
Men’s Javelin Throw, August 6, 8
Arshad Nadeem has demonstrated what it means to transition from one dream to the next with remarkable skill. After a historic direct qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he secured a gold medal and set a games record at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, followed by a groundbreaking silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Nadeem has already made his mark by joining the elite 90-meter club, a feat his South Asian rival Neeraj Chopra has yet to achieve. Despite Chopra’s reigning Olympic Champion status, Nadeem is focused on claiming the gold in Paris.
With a height of 6’3″, the 27-year-old javelin star is under the weight of the nation’s expectations, aiming to secure an Olympic medal for Pakistan after a 35-year hiatus. The pressure is matched by his determination, bolstered by prayers and support to surpass his personal best of 90.18 meters for a podium finish. Recently, Nadeem’s performance at the Paris Diamond League, where he threw 84.21 meters to secure fourth place, showcased his readiness for the upcoming Games.
“I’ll be ecstatic if I win gold,” Nadeem said. “The goals we’ve set and the training we’ve done all year will come to fruition.”
Faiqa Riaz
Women’s 100m, August 2
Faiqa Riaz will have just 12 seconds to make her mark at the Olympics, but she’s ready for the challenge. The Paris-bound sprinter is set to chase down Pakistan’s 100m national record, a goal she is well-positioned to achieve after clocking an unofficial time of 11.70 seconds earlier this year.
“It feels incredible to be going to the Olympics; it’s always been my dream, and now I’m about to make it a reality,” Riaz expressed. The 24-year-old will compete in Paris alongside her idol, Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who will be making her fifth consecutive Olympic appearance.
Before her sprinting career, Riaz was a hockey player. In 2017, she transitioned to athletics, where she has since found both success and fulfillment, earning the title of Pakistan’s fastest woman.
Her boundless ambition has been nurtured by a supportive family that encouraged her to pursue her dreams without hesitation. Notably, Riaz is also a high achiever academically, having completed a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance—a rare accomplishment among Olympians.
Ghulam Mustafa Bashir Shooting
Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, August 4
Ghulam Mustafa Bashir will once again walk out with the Pakistani contingent at his third consecutive Olympic Games in Paris, this time with the prospect of an Olympic medal within reach.
Bashir has already made history by securing Pakistan’s first-ever shooting medal, a bronze in the Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol at the 2022 World Championships.
Ranked 18th in the world, Bashir’s ascent in the sport is impressive, given that he became a national champion just two years after taking up shooting—an achievement that typically takes others four or five years. “It feels a bit extraordinary to have done that,” he reflects.
As a leading figure in Pakistani marksmanship over the past decade, Bashir has witnessed younger talents like Gulfam Joseph and Kishmala Talat enhance the national team, stepping into roles at a younger age than he did when he began his journey in the sport.
While he appreciates the excellent training facilities and equipment available in Pakistan, the seasoned shooter is deeply thankful for his humble beginnings.
“If you receive everything you desire—like the best coach and top-notch facilities—then your struggles are behind you. But if that’s the case, what will drive you to keep working hard?”
Gulfam Joseph
10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Event, July 27 | 10m Air Pistol Men, July 29
Gulfam Joseph is entering the Paris Olympics with high hopes for a podium finish at his second Games.
The 24-year-old shooter, exuding confidence, is determined to improve his standing in the 10m Air Pistol event, following a ninth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
While his remarkable talent has propelled him to this level, Joseph credits the world-class shooting facilities in Pakistan and the unwavering commitment of the shooting federation to its athletes for his progress.
However, he’s disheartened by the underutilization of these top-notch facilities, which is reflected in the modest size of the Pakistani contingent in Paris. Despite this, Joseph remains hopeful that the team will eventually grow to reflect its former sporting glory.
Currently, Joseph finds himself both inspiring and being inspired by his teammates, especially expressing a particular sense of protectiveness and pride for Kishmala. “I see so much of myself in her,” Joseph remarked, recalling that he was just 21 when he first competed at the Olympics. The two will team up in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, where they secured a bronze medal at the Asian Shooting Championships earlier this year.
Kishmala Talat Shooting
10m Air Pistol Women, July 27 | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, July 29 | 25m Pistol Women, Aug 2
For Kishmala Talat, making it to Paris 2024 was no mere stroke of luck. At just 22 years old, she has already made history as the first Pakistani woman to qualify directly for the Olympics.
Talat is set to compete in a record three events at her Olympic debut, the highest number of events for any athlete in the Pakistani contingent. Her impressive performance at the Asian Shooting Championships earlier this year, where she won both a bronze and a silver medal, secured her place in Paris.
Supported by a large network of family—parents, siblings, teammates, and coaches—Talat was encouraged to believe in her Olympic potential long before she saw it in herself.
Inspired by Gulfam Joseph and Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, Talat is paving the way for female athletes, showing that their Olympic dreams are more attainable than they might think.
“You can only achieve winning results when women are given equal participation and opportunities,” Talat asserts. “That’s how you win championships.”
While gender inequality remains a significant challenge in Pakistan, Kishmala Talat is determined to narrow that gap, one shot at a time.
Ahmed Durrani Swimming
Men’s 200m Freestyle, July 28
Less than four months after setting a new national record in the 200m Freestyle, Ahmed Durrani is eager to replicate his success at the Paris Olympics. “There are definitely some nerves, but I’m incredibly excited and honored to represent Pakistan,” the 18-year-old said.
As the youngest member of the Pakistani contingent, Durrani aims to inspire future generations by turning his childhood dreams into reality. His swimming idol is Tokyo 2020 Olympian Haseeb Tariq, who “paved the way and set the standard that I aspire to reach.”
Looking ahead, Durrani has set his sights on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, hoping to secure a direct qualification rather than a wild card entry as he did for Paris. Although this goal has eluded Pakistani swimmers so far, Durrani’s dedication is evident from his impressive record of nearly 20 national titles, combined with four hours of daily training and a rigorous academic schedule.
He also aims to rank among the top three South Asian swimmers, with a podium finish at next year’s South Asian Games potentially paving the way.
Durrani is fortunate to have his biggest supporters—his family—by his side in Paris. “I couldn’t compete without them,” he said, noting their presence at the Games. “They’ve supported me throughout this journey, so it’s only fitting they’re there when I reach the finish line.”
He expresses profound gratitude to his mother, who he believes is even more excited about his Olympic journey than he is, especially considering the early mornings she endured to drive him to countless swim practices.
“I want her to know how much her support means to me,” Durrani said. “I wouldn’t be here without her; she’s been my greatest pillar.”
Jehanara Nabi Swimming
200m Freestyle, July 28y
Becoming an Olympian was once a distant dream for Jehanara Nabi, but now it’s a reality. After eight years, 26 international medals, and numerous national records, Nabi’s Olympic aspirations have finally come to fruition.
At 20 years old, Nabi will make her Olympic debut as one of the flag-bearers for the Pakistani contingent, alongside javelin star Arshad Nadeem.
Her moment in the spotlight will come in the 200m Freestyle, an event where she has consistently set and broken national records in recent years.
Nabi’s path to the Olympics became more tangible after receiving the prestigious World Aquatics scholarship, which allowed her to train at Thanyapura, a renowned global training center in Thailand known for developing top-tier swimmers.
Being based in Thailand for the past five years has provided Nabi with invaluable opportunities to train and compete in regional meets much more frequently than she could have in Pakistan, where facilities are often limited.
Paris will be a poignant experience for Nabi as she competes in front of her parents, who introduced her to swimming at the age of three.
