Hardy Hadafi delivers
Cop leaves it late to stun favourites in 50m rifle prone event
SUBANG: Policeman Mohd Hadafi Jaafar saved his best for last when he stunned the favourites in the men’s 50m rifle prone at the Selangor Shooting Championships.
Hadafi won the gold at the National Shooting Range in Subang with a 244 score to outshine Commonwealth Games- bound shooters – Mohd Lutfi Othman and Muhd Ezuan Nasir Khan.
Lutfi finished second with 243.5 while Incheon Asian Games silver medallist Ezuan took the bronze with 222.8.
The 32-year-old Hadafi shot down his second gold when he partnered Mukhris Othman and Shahrizal Ishak as Police won the team gold with a score of 1756.
Hadafi, who has been with the national team since 2008, was happy to bag a double.
“It has been a year of ups and downs for me. I was ranked second
best before the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (in August) but failed to make the team,” said Hadafi, who contributed medals in three previous SEA Games.
“I didn’t give up because I just love this sport. I’ve had close calls over the past nine years but I know that I’ll win big one day.”
Hadafi is not in the tentative list for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia in April next year but he is not too worried about it.
“A country can have two rifle shooters in one event. Ezuan and Lutfi have been named ahead of me.
“And I’ve finished ahead of them today.
“This will serve to motivate me as I have many more years ahead of me,” added Hadafi, who participated at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Meanwhile, experienced hands Nur Suryani Taibi and Bibiana Ng continued to stamp their mark.
Suryani pocketed her third gold when she bagged the 50m rifle prone individual gold with a score of 587.
The 35-year-old from the Armed Forces also won the individual and team 50m rifle three positions titles on Thursday.
Yesterday, policewoman Bibiana won the 10m air pistol with a score of 230.7 points.