No target, no pressure for shooters in SEA Games

National shooter Eddy Chew being hoisted by his team-mate and coach after he won the 50m air pistol gold medal at the Myanmar SEA Games in 2013. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: Setting targets can be a double-edged sword, so the National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) are keeping their cards close to their chest ahead of the Singapore SEA Games next month.

At the 2013 Myanmar Games, Malaysia claimed only one gold, three silvers and four bronzes in 12 events. 

This time around, shooting offers 26 golds at the SAFRA Yishun (indoor) and National Shooting Centre from June 6-13. The NSAM, however, are not setting any target for their shooters.
“We’ve improved, but so have the shooters from Vietnam, Thailand and even Singapore. It will be tough fight for all,” said NSAM secretary Adam Tee.

“We want our shooters to do well, so we don’t want to burden them with targets. They should go in with no pressure and a positive frame of mind,

“Now, you can win by 0.10 point. That’s how close it has gotten in our sport. Yes, you need skill as well as a little bit of luck,” added Adam.

In Myanmar, the pistol shooters contributed five of the eight medals.

Eddy Chew was the star performer, winning the 50m air pistol individual gold as well as a silver in the 10m air pistol individual. Johnathan Wong Guangjie contributed a bronze in the 50m air pistol individual.

Eddy, Johnathan and Choo Wen Yan then combined to win bronze in the 10m air pistol team event. Abdul Hadi Abdul Malek, Eddy and Johnathan bagged another bronze in the 50m air pistol team.
The NSAM are also counting on the rifle shooters to bring glory to the country.

At the Incheon Asian Games last year, Malaysia clinched two silvers and one bronze. The two silvers were contributed by Muhammad Ezuan Nasir Khan (men’s 50m rifle prone individual) and Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi (women’s 50m rifle prone individual). Nur Suryani went on to win a bronze in the team event with Muslifah Zulkifli and Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim.

Suryani also won an individual bronze in the same event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last year.

“We do have high hopes on the women riflers and Ezuan doing well in Singapore. We also have Eddy and Johnathan and I wouldn’t discount our shotgun shooters, too,” said Adam.

The shooters have one last test – the Tun Tan Siew Sin Trophy at the Subang Shooting Range from May 14-17 – to prepare for the Games.



 by Ashreena Pillai - The Star