Far from the deafening cheers of cricket stadiums and the glare of television cameras, a different kind of sporting excellence has been quietly taking shape in Pakistan. At the shooting range of Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) Wah, where silence is sacred and success is measured in millimeters rather than runs, Mohsin Nawaz has spent two decades redefining what it means to be an elite athlete in the country.

Nawaz’s journey began in 2004, not with fanfare or formal sponsorship, but with discipline, curiosity, and an uncommon patience for precision. Hailing from Faisalabad, he was drawn to the exacting demands of long-range shooting, a sport that tests not just physical control, but mental resilience, emotional balance, and strategic clarity. What began as a personal pursuit would evolve into a historic career that has placed Pakistan firmly on the global map of F-Class long-range shooting.

Twenty years on, Mohsin Nawaz stands as Pakistan’s most decorated F-Class shooter, a distinction made all the more remarkable by the absence of institutional backing that typically accompanies international success. His achievements have been largely self-driven, self-funded, and self-sustained, an anomaly in a sporting culture heavily dependent on federations and state patronage.

In March 2026, Nawaz will become the first civilian shooter in Pakistan’s history to receive the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest civil honors. The recognition is not just a personal milestone; it is a symbolic breakthrough for a sport long relegated to the margins of public consciousness.

Unlike athletes nurtured through centralized systems, Nawaz carved his own path in an environment riddled with structural obstacles. Import duties on specialized firearms and optics remain prohibitively high, access to international-standard ranges is limited, and sponsorship opportunities are scarce. Yet these challenges became catalysts rather than constraints. His determination saw him earn Life Memberships with both the UK and USA National Rifle Associations, a rare honor reflecting his standing among institutions known for their uncompromising standards.

Nawaz announced his arrival on the international stage in 2016, finishing second in the 800-yard category at Montana’s prestigious Rocky Mountain Championship. Two years later, he achieved a watershed moment for Pakistan by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal in NRA USA long-range shooting, a feat that received little domestic attention but resonated powerfully within global shooting circles.

The medals continued to accumulate. In 2019, he claimed silver at the CIHPRS Shooting Championship in Indianapolis, followed by another silver at Bisley in 2020, the spiritual home of long-range shooting. A bronze medal at the South Africa Long Range Open in 2021 further confirmed his consistency at the elite level.

However, it was 2022 that truly defined Nawaz’s international stature. At the 68th Western Bisley Long Range Championship, he delivered one of the most dominant performances ever by a Pakistani shooter, capturing three gold and two silver medals in a single competition. It was a statement performance, unmistakable, emphatic, and impossible to ignore.

His momentum carried into Europe, where he secured silver at the 2023 European Long Range Shooting Championship in the 800-yard event. The 2024 season saw him maintain that elite standard, winning silver at the 155th NRA UK Imperial Championship (300-yard category), followed by a silver in the Day One Aggregate and bronze in the 1000-yard event at the European Championship. That bronze marked his 10th international medal, the highest tally ever achieved by a Pakistani F-Class shooter.

To sustain his competitive edge, Nawaz has trained extensively in South Africa under the mentorship of 2023 World Champion Hermann Rolfes, a collaboration that underscores the respect he commands globally. His role as an ambassador for Peregrine Bullets and Kahles Optics further positions him as Pakistan’s leading representative in the international shooting fraternity.

On home soil, Nawaz’s dominance has been equally pronounced. He captured gold at both the 35th and 39th PARA Army Shooting Championships, and claimed top honors at the 2nd Muhammad Ali Jinnah All Pakistan Shooting Championship. Most recently, at the 3rd F-Class National Long Range Shooting Championship in Jhelum (November 2025), he rewrote national history by setting two new Pakistani records, in the 200-meter .22 ELR event and the FTR 300-meter category.

Yet Nawaz’s influence extends beyond medals and records. A certified sports psychologist, emotional well-being coach, and nutritionist, he views shooting as a holistic discipline where mental clarity is as critical as technical skill. Speaking at the ICT Police Shooting Competition, where he was guest of honor, he summarized his philosophy succinctly:
“Mental strength is the real weapon. The quality of our thoughts determines the quality of our life.”

This mindset now shapes his mentorship of young shooters. At competitions, he is as likely to be found advising newcomers on focus, emotional regulation, and performance anxiety as he is perfecting his own technique. His approach treats athletes not merely as competitors, but as complete systems, mental, physical, and emotional.

Despite his success, Nawaz remains acutely aware of the systemic gaps that limit Pakistan’s potential in shooting sports. He continues to advocate for accessible 50-meter ranges in major cities, streamlined import regulations, and greater institutional recognition for non-mainstream sports. His advocacy is grounded in lived experience, having personally borne the financial and logistical burden of competing internationally.

As Pakistan’s sporting narrative slowly diversifies beyond traditional disciplines, Mohsin Nawaz represents a powerful alternative model, one where excellence emerges through individual resolve, intellectual rigor, and self-belief. His journey raises a critical question: should national support follow success, or help create it?

For now, Nawaz remains focused on the road ahead, preparing for the 2026 World Championship, refining his craft in South Africa, and carrying the quiet responsibility of representing a nation still awakening to his achievements.

In the stillness of the shooting range, where breath, balance, and belief converge, Mohsin Nawaz has proven that even from the margins, it is possible to hit targets once thought impossibly distant, and in doing so, redefine the boundaries of Pakistani sport.