NSAM Hopes Banned Trio's Return Can Boost Sea Games Medal Hopes

LANGKAWI, June 29 (Bernama) -- The return of experienced trio Bibiana Ng Pie Chin, Siti Nur Masitah Mohd Badrin and Joseline Cheah to the national shooting squad after a two-year suspension by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), has boosted the country medal hopes at the Laos Sea Games.

National shooting coach Mohd Hashim Desa hopes the presence of the three shooters would help the country achieve what the national squad had achieved in the past.

Bibiana Ng, Joseline Cheah and Siti who served a two-year suspension after testing positive for propranolol during the President Ally T. H. Ong Championships, joined the national squad in training after their suspension ended in April.

The trio are among 14 national elite shooters undergoing their first phase of training at the Langkawi International Shooting Range of Malaysia (Lisram) since June 18, under coaches Mohd Hashim and Saidov Isroil from Belarus.

The National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) are hoping that Malaysian shooters who won three gold medals at the 2007 SEA Games in Korat, Thailand, would be able to increase that tally in Laos, come December.

Bibiana, winner of the 25m pistol gold at the Manila SEA Games in 2005 but who had to miss the Korat Games due to suspension just like Siti and Joseline Cheah, is expected to be reinstated as the favourite for the event in Laos.

-- BEERNAMA