The Paris Olympics 2024 has been challenging for Pakistani athletes, as Faiqa Riaz and Kishmala Talat have both been eliminated from their respective events after failing to advance to the next rounds.
Faiqa Riaz, representing Pakistan in the 100-meter sprint, fell short of qualifying for the next stage. The 100-meter race consists of four preliminary heats, with the top three finishers from each heat advancing to the first round. Additionally, the next five athletes with the fastest overall times, regardless of their heat, also qualify for the next round. Faiqa Riaz competed in Heat 2 and finished in sixth place with a time of 12.49 seconds. Unfortunately, this timing did not meet the qualification criteria, preventing her from moving forward in the competition .
In the shooting arena, Kishmala Talat also faced disappointment. She participated in the Women’s 25-meter pistol event but was unable to progress to the subsequent rounds. Kishmala’s performance included precision series scores of 95, 99, and 99, and rapid series scores of 98, 93, and 99, culminating in a total score of 579. Despite her efforts, this score placed her 22nd overall, falling short of the top 8 required to advance .
The elimination of Faiqa and Kishmala highlights the struggles faced by Pakistani athletes in this year’s Olympics. Prior to their departure, two Pakistani swimmers, Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi, along with shooter Gulfam Joseph, were also eliminated from their events .
Looking ahead, Pakistan’s remaining hopes in the Olympics rest on GM Bashir, who is scheduled to compete in shooting on August 4. Additionally, the country’s athletic aspirations are pinned on javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who is set to begin his journey on August 6. Both athletes represent the last chance for Pakistan to secure a notable achievement in the Paris Olympics 2024 .
The performance of Faiqa Riaz and Kishmala Talat underscores the challenges faced by Pakistani athletes on the global stage. As the Paris Olympics continue, the nation remains hopeful for a breakthrough performance from its remaining competitors.
