Army Chief Cup 2026 Long Range Championship sees national records broken in Multan

MULTAN (Dunya News) – The All Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah Open Long Range Shooting Championship, Chief of Army Staff Cup 2026, was held in Multan with strong participation from top marksmen across the country, as competitors battled tough weather and extended-distance targets in one of the most demanding rifle contests on the national calendar.

Organised by the Pakistan Long Range Rifle Association, the seventh edition of the championship took place from 13 to 15 February and featured a packed schedule of long range rifle matches across multiple categories and formats.

A total of 61 expert shooters from all four provinces took part in the three-day competition. Among them was a 15-member contingent from Balochistan, highlighting growing national representation in the sport. Participants competed in eight long range rifle matches covering distances from 300 to 1000 yards, testing precision, endurance and wind-reading skills under challenging conditions.

Competition categories included Full Target Rifle, F Class Open, F Class Target Rifle, Tactical and Iron Sight Rifle matches. Despite difficult weather, shooters delivered consistently high-level performances across the firing lines.

In the major trophy events, Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Ali Zulfikar secured the Full Target Rifle Trophy with a leading overall performance. The F Class Open Trophy was claimed by Waleed Ahmed Gul after strong finishes in the longest distance events. Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez won the Tactical Match category, while Noor Zaman topped the Iron Sight Rifle Match standings.

Individual match results reflected tight scoring margins across distances. In the 300 metre Sporting Rifle Match, first position went to Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Ali Zulfikar. The 900 yard FTR Match was won by Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez with the highest score in that category.

At 1000 yards, where wind and mirage play a decisive role, multiple winners emerged across separate matches. Junaid Waqas Iqbal finished first in the 1000 yard FTR Match No 1. The 1000 yard FTR Match No 2 was won by Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Ali Zulfikar. In the F Open 1000 yard Matches No 1 and No 2, Waleed Ahmed Gul secured first place in both contests, reinforcing his dominance in the open class at the longest range.

The championship also produced new national benchmarks. Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Ali Zulfikar set a new national record in the FTR aggregate category based on combined performance across events. Waleed Ahmed Gul established new national records in F Open 1000 yard and F Open aggregate scores, marking one of the standout achievements of the tournament.

The closing ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and senior members of the shooting community, who distributed medals and trophies among the top performers. Officials recognised the technical standard of competition and the depth of talent on display across categories.

Organisers reiterated their commitment to promoting long range rifle shooting in Pakistan through structured competitions and international participation pathways. The national long range rifle team is scheduled to compete in the 7th F Class World Championship in the United Kingdom in August 2026, where Pakistani shooters will face leading marksmen from around the world.