Highlights
- Shafaq Ansari is the first Pakistani Australian female athlete to be selected for Queensland's state junior shooting team.
- She participates in the 25-metre sport pistol and 10-metre air pistol events.
- The 18-year-old credits her family's support for her excelling in a sport that is not so popular in migrant communities.
Shafaq, a recent graduate from the Queensland Academy of Science, Maths and Technology, has taken part in shooting competitions since she was 11.
The 18-year-old says her father, who also participated professionally in shooting, is her biggest inspiration for taking up the sport.
Shafaq hopes her prowess in the air pistol and sport pistol events will enable her to one day qualify for the Olympics, where she dreams of representing Australia.
Recently crowned the Queensland junior women's air pistol champion at the ISSF State Championships, she also claimed top honours at competitions such as the Warwick Annual Open and the BISC Cup in 2021.
In addition, Shafaq was awarded 'Best in Shooting' by the 214 Squadron of Australia Air Force Cadets at its yearly graduation parade ceremony held in Brisbane.
Young gun Shafaq believes shooting is not very popular among migrant communities Source: Supplied by Shafaq Ansari
The sport of shooting
Shooting is a sport that requires precision and dedication, explains Shafaq.
In pistol events, athletes shoot at stationary targets from a prescribed distance - 10 metres, 25 metres or 50 metres.
The 10-metre air pistol event sees shooters fire 60 shots within a timeframe of one hour and 15 minutes.
The 25-metre sport pistol event features two qualifying rounds of 30 shots each. Using a .22 sport pistol, the shooter first participates in a precision round, where they have five minutes to fire five shots, and this repeats six times.
The rapid-fire round sees competitors fire five shots in 30 seconds without resting their shooting arm below 45 degrees. The targets appear to the shooter and then disappear when the shooting time is up.
In both events, the pistol must be fired by one unsupported hand.
Shafaq is the first Pakistani Australian female athlete selected as a member of Queensland's state junior shooting team. Source: Supplied by Shafaq Ansari
Growing popularity
Young gun Shafaq says that, in her experience, shooting is not very popular among migrant communities, which she believes might be due to the stigma attached to firearms.
However, she sees it as a sport with many opportunities for women.
"Shooting is an equal opportunity sport, and women can participate in this sport and can make a difference," she says.
While Shafaq says she hasn't experienced discrimination in the sport, she admits female participation could be higher.
"I encourage other women from migrant communities, particularly Pakistani women, to come forward and participate and make it popular among the community.
You miss all the shots you don't take.
Shafaq's family was supportive in encouraging her to follow her sporting dream. Source: Supplied by Shafaq Ansari
Family support
Shafaq credits her family with being highly supportive and encouraging her to participate in shooting competitions from a young age.
"I think I am very fortunate to have my family in that they were happy with me pursuing a more unconventional sport," she says.
"They support me through thick and thin."
Shafaq adds that she has a number of Pakistani Australian friends who have also played sports their whole lives, and she thinks of the community as largely being supportive of young people engaging in extra-curricular activities.
