Bashir’s Brilliant Finish Brings Asian Games Bronze to Pakistan
Pakistan has secured another medal at the 2026 Asian Games, with veteran shooter Ghulam Mustafa Bashir producing a composed performance to win bronze in the men’s 25-metre rapid-fire pistol event in Nagoya, Japan.
Bashir finished third in a tense eight-man final at the Aichi Prefecture General Shooting Gallery, scoring 22 points to secure a place on the podium. South Korea’s Lee Gunhyeok claimed gold with 32 points, while China’s Su Lianbofan also finished on 32 before losing the shoot-off for the top position and settling for silver.
The bronze medal marks a significant achievement in Bashir’s Asian Games career and adds another major international honour to the record of one of Pakistan’s most experienced shooters.
Bashir Delivers When It Mattered Most
Bashir’s road to the podium was far from straightforward.
The Pakistani shooter had finished eighth after the first stage of qualification on Wednesday, recording 289-8x among 28 competitors. That position left him with work to do in the second stage if he wanted to reach the medal round.
Instead of allowing the difficult opening position to derail his campaign, Bashir responded with a stronger second stage.
He finished qualification in sixth place with 578 points and 19 inner tens, securing one of the eight places available in the final.
That comeback turned what initially looked like a challenging campaign into a genuine medal opportunity.
From Eighth to the Podium
The progression tells the story of Bashir’s competition.
He started the event in eighth place after the opening stage, improved to sixth in the overall qualification standings and then finished third when the medals were decided.
That consistency under pressure proved crucial in an event where the margins between competitors were extremely narrow.
The qualification standings were particularly tight, with several shooters finishing on or around the same score. Bashir’s 578 points were enough to secure a final place, with his 19 inner tens helping separate him from other competitors on the same total.
A Tense Eight-Man Final
The final brought together eight of the competition’s strongest rapid-fire pistol shooters.
Bashir maintained his composure through the elimination stages and remained in medal contention as the field was gradually reduced.
His final score of 22 points was enough to