Against the odds
Alia returns from illness to shoot down pistol bronze
● National shooter Alia Sazana Azahari made a remarkable comeback from a two-month illness to gun down the bronze medal in the women’s 25m pistol at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
● Para powerlifter Jong Yee Khie bettered his bronze medal at the 2014 Glasgow Games to win silver in the men’s above 77kg category.
NATIONAL shooter Alia Sazana Azahari lost 29kg due to illness just three months before the Commonwealth
Games.
There were fears that she may not be fully prepared for the challenge in Gold Coast.
But yesterday, a determined Alia showed she has not lost the fire in her belly by gunning down Malaysia’s first medal in shooting with a bronze in the women’s 25m pistol at the Belmont Shooting Centre.
“This has been one challenging Games,” said Alia, who fell ill after winning two gold medals at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year.
“I was sick for a long time (two months) and had to double up my effort in a short period to be ready for this Games.
“Winning a bronze makes up for it,” said Alia, who now weighs 84kg.
The 26yearold stayed steady to amass 26 points in a tense eightwoman final. Teammate Bibiana Ng was also in the final but finished seventh with a score of 12 points.
India’s Heena Sidhu took the gold medal with a Games record of 38 points while Elena Galiabovitch of Australia came in second with 35 points.
Alia, who lived in Sydney from 20082011 to complete her high school studies and pursued business management at the Uniworld Business College there, almost missed the cut in the seventh series but did just enough to escape elimination.
Shooters have to complete 10 series and in every series, they have to hit five targets.
She finished fourth in her debut Games in Glasgow four years ago.
“I was shaking, my hands twitching ... I was so nervous but I’m glad I paid attention and stayed focused,” said Alia.
“It was not a good score but it’s good enough to win a medal.”
Alia was grateful to teammate Bibiana for pushing her hard in training.
“I thank Bibiana for her guidance, without a dedicated senior like her it would be tough for me to be where I am,” she said.
Alia said she would also present the bronze as a birthday gift to her parents, her No. 1 supporters. Her mother Saydah Salleh turned 46 on April 7 and her father Azahari will turn 54 on May 11.
“It’s a belated birthday gift for my mum and an early present for my dad. They have been so supportive,” she added.