RAWALPINDI — A nine-member contingent from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) has secured first position at the prestigious International Pace Sticking Competition 2026. The prestigious annual military drill event concluded on Friday at the Royal Military Academy (RMA) Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, showcasing elite training standards from global armed forces.
Key Highlights
- The Pakistan Army team, represented by the PMA, won first place overall at Sandhurst.
- The country’s contingent achieved a clean sweep, claiming every major trophy at the event.
- A total of 16 international teams from various global armies participated in the competition.
- The nine-man Pakistani squad was led during the deployment by Major Haider Gulzar.
- This victory builds on Pakistan’s established record of high performance in international military exercises.
In yet another achievement, Pakistan army has won top honours at the International Pace Sticking Competition 2026, held at the United Kingdom’s (UK) Royal Military Academy (RMA) Sandhurst.
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— The Current (@TheCurrentPK) June 12, 2026
A Clean Sweep of Major Trophies
According to an official press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, the Pakistani team dominated the tracking fields. The squad managed a complete clean sweep of the event’s highest accolades, taking home the 1st Overall Team Trophy alongside the individual Best Pace Sticker and Best Driver awards.
The selected contingent arrived in the United Kingdom on June 5 to undergo final field orientation before entering the competitive lineup. The military’s media affairs wing stated that the landmark victory stands as a direct reflection of the rigorous professional training standards, personal discipline, and operational dedication consistently maintained across the armed forces.
The victory marks a continuation of Pakistan’s strong competitive footprint at international military forums. The country first entered the specialized pace sticking event at Sandhurst in 2018, subsequently capturing consecutive titles, including a notable hat-trick performance capping off in 2020.
Recent International Military Achievements
• 2026: 1st Overall Team Trophy & Clean Sweep at Sandhurst Pace Sticking.
• 2025: Gold Medal at the grueling Exercise Cambrian Patrol in Wales.
• 2024: Gold Medal at Exercise Cambrian Patrol.
Pace sticking is a highly technical military drill discipline that demands exact precision, synchronized timing, and physical endurance, as handlers use a specialized wooden stick to measure and regulate the length and pace of marching steps. This latest overseas victory follows closely on the heels of the army’s consecutive gold medal achievements at the premier Exercise Cambrian Patrol in Wales, solidifying the academy’s reputation for world-class instructional excellence.
