Bilal Ahmed 
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Kishmala Talat is a 21-year-old woman of Pakistani. She loves shooting sports. This coming summer, she is scheduled to be in Paris and France to attend the Olympic Games. The Games are scheduled to start on July 26. Kishmala will compete in two events: there is the 10-meter air pistol and the 25-meter pistol as part of the shooting discipline. The lady has a dream and she has it big – have the Pakistani women win the country’s first medal in the Olympics.
Breaking Barriers
In Pakistan, many people think girls should stay at home. They don’t expect girls to play sports or use guns. But Kishmala is different. She comes from a military family and loves shooting. She says, “In Pakistan, people think girls should play with dolls and boys should play with guns. I want to change that idea.”
Hard Work and Dedication
Kishmala trains very hard every day. She spends 10 hours practicing:
- 1 hour of exercise
- 4 hours shooting with a 10-meter pistol
- 4 hours shooting with a 25-meter pistol
- 1 hour of meditation
She even stares at a candle flame to help her focus better. Kishmala says, “I want to do my best for Pakistan. I want people to remember my name.”
Challenges in Pakistan
In Pakistan, not many people play shooting sports. Most people like cricket. Also, the country doesn’t spend much money on sports. This makes it hard for athletes like Kishmala to succeed.
Another big problem is that many people in Pakistan don’t think women should play sports. They have rules about how women should dress and behave. These ideas make it difficult for women to become athletes.
Support from the Military
Kishmala gets help from Pakistan’s military. They give her a place to train and good coaches. She practices in a city called Jhelum, which is known for its strong connection to the army.
A Family Dream
Kishmala’s mother, Samina Yaqoob, is very proud of her daughter. Samina is 53 years old and works as a nurse in the army. She once dreamed of being an athlete too. Now, she’s happy to see her daughter follow that dream.
Samina says, “Girls should move forward and work hard. Parents should support them.” She believes her daughter can do anything.
Looking to the Future
Kishmala knows it will be hard to win a medal at the Olympics. She is not ranked very high in the world right now. But she doesn’t let that stop her. She says, “I don’t see others as competition. I compete with myself.”
Kishmala wants to make history for Pakistan. She hopes to show girls in her country that they can do great things. When she goes to Paris, she’ll carry the dreams of many Pakistani women with her.
