Wen Yan shifts focus after setback

specialist Choo Wen Yan wants to bounce back from the disappointment of being dropped from the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games squad.

Wen Yan, however, is still preparing hard as he will be an option if Jonathan Wong or Eddy Chew gets injured prior to the biennial games.

"Only the best two shooters were picked as there are no team event this time in the Sea Games. I am currently ranked third behind Jonathan and Wen Yan,” said the 24-year-old yesterday.

"To be honest, I do feel sad after having competed in the 2013 Myanmar and 2015 Singapore editions but I am ready to step in if I am needed. I believe my form is quite good at the moment."

Eddy, Jonathan and Wen Yan paired up and won the men’s 10m air pistol team bronze medal in the Myanmar edition.

Wen Yan said he is now focusing on next year’s Indonesia Asian Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"The qualifying process for the Tokyo Olympics will begin in December. I want to emulate Jonathan who qualified on merit for last year’s Rio Olympics.

"Our coach (Park Cheol Wan) has told us to focus on the Asian Games next year.

"Although, we have won medals in the rifle disciplines before, no Malaysian has ever made the podium in the pistol events at the Asian Games and this is something I would like to achieve next year,” Wen Yan added.

Wen Yan, a business management student of Segi University, started shooting at the age of 14 and like Eddy, he is also from Batu Pahat. He was called up to the national back up squad in 2010 before moving up to the elite squad in 2014.