Worst outing for our shooting team in Asiad

SOUTH KOREAN coach Park Sangsoon imposed a gag order on the Malaysian team ahead of the Asian Games but it did not help the shooters become better athletes.

Instead, Malaysia recorded one of their worst outings when their challenge was completely muted in the Asian Games shooting competition. They did not win any medal and none of their shooters even reached the topeight individual final.

Seasoned campaigners Bibiana Ng (pic) and Joseline Cheah yesterday were placed 23rd (560) and 24th (559) respectively in the women’s 10m air pistol qualifying at the Jakabaring Shooting Range in Palembang. Malaysia sent eight shooters – Nur Izazi Rosli, Mohamad Lufti Othman, Alia Sazana Azahari, Joseline, Bibiana, Abraham Eng, Charles Chen and Johnathan Wong for the Asiad challenge.

Although all the shooters went under category B this time, it is still a disappointing outing considering that Malaysia finished with two silvers and one bronze at the last Asiad in Incheon four years ago.

The two silvers came from Ezuan Nasir Khan and Nur Suryani Taibi in the men’s and women’s 50m rifle prone while the bronze was contributed by the women’s 50m rifle prone team of Nur Suryani, Nur Ayuni Farhana and Muslifah Zulkifli.

However, the discipline was dropped from the Asian Games programme this time.