Bashir shooting bronze: Pakistan's Ghulam Mustafa claims Asian Games medal
Bashir shooting bronze: Pakistan’s Ghulam Mustafa claims Asian Games medal
NAGOYA: Ghulam Mustafa Bashir won bronze in the men’s 25 metres rapid fire pistol at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday, finishing third with 22 hits in a tense eight-man final at the Aichi Prefecture General Shooting Gallery. It is the first Asian Games medal of his career and Pakistan’s second shooting medal in the continental event’s history.
The Bashir shooting bronze Asian Games result came after a steady climb through the qualifying rounds, with the three-time Olympian holding his nerve against some of Asia’s leading rapid-fire pistol shooters.
A tense final at Aichi
South Korea’s Lee Gunhyeok took gold with 32 hits, beating China’s Su Lianbofan in a shoot-off after both finished level. Lee’s 32 equalled the Asian record in the final, underlining the quality at the top.
| Position | Shooter | Hits |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Lee Gunhyeok (South Korea) | 32 |
| Silver | Su Lianbofan (China) | 32 |
| Bronze | Ghulam Mustafa Bashir (Pakistan) | 22 |
| 4th | Pham Quang Huy (Vietnam) | 20 |
| 5th | Suteja Dewa Putu Yadi (Indonesia) | 18 |
Bashir stayed in the medal race through the elimination stages and finished two hits clear of Vietnam’s Pham Quang Huy in fourth. India’s Anish finished seventh with 11 hits.
The road to the final
Bashir’s path to the podium was built over two days of qualifying. He was eighth after the first stage on Wednesday with 289 points, then climbed to sixth in the second stage on Thursday with 578 points and 19 inner tens, the last qualifying spot.
China’s Su Lianbofan topped qualifying with 592 points, setting a new Asian Games qualification record, with Lee Gunhyeok second on 588. Bashir edged Kazakhstan’s Nikita Chiryukin on inner tens to take sixth.
The bronze carries weight beyond one event. Kishmala Talat’s bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games was Pakistan’s only previous shooting medal at the Games, so Bashir’s medal doubles the country’s shooting tally at this level. The result also took Pakistan’s total at the Nagoya Games to six medals.
What the medal means for Pakistan
Bashir is no stranger to big stages. He won bronze at the 2022 ISSF World Championships, a result that lifted him to world number seven, and he has competed at three Olympic Games. The Asian Games bronze was the one major honour missing from his collection.
Pakistan’s shooting squad arrived in Nagoya with hopes of a medal, and the experienced shooter delivered. With younger shooters also in the contingent, officials will hope the result gives the sport a lift at home.
Frequently asked questions
What event did Bashir win bronze in?
He won bronze in the men’s 25 metres rapid fire pistol at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
What was Bashir’s score in the final?
Bashir scored 22 hits to finish third, two hits ahead of Vietnam’s Pham Quang Huy in fourth.
Who won gold and silver in the event?
South Korea’s Lee Gunhyeok won gold and China’s Su Lianbofan took silver, both with 32 hits. Lee won the shoot-off, equalling the Asian record.
How many medals has Pakistan won at the Nagoya 2026 Asian Games?
Bashir’s bronze took Pakistan’s medal tally at the Games to six.
