Hasli’s worried shooters may have to put their guns down next year

PETALING JAYA: Veteran pistol shooter Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan (pic) sees a bleak future for him in 2019.

This is because the Philippines SEA Games will only contest two Olympic events – skeet and trap – among the 10 listed for the biennial event next year.

Hasli’s pet event rapid fire is not included in the programme in Manila, and he is resigned to the fact that he will not be able to take part in any competitions next year.

“Since it is not included in the SEA Games, we’ll not get much funding from the government because shooting is in Tier 4 of the revised training programme for national athletes next year,” said the 41-year-old shooter from Perak.

“We need funding to go for tournaments, and under Tier 4, we are not fully funded. I do not blame the National Sports Council (NSC) because my event is not in the Games.”

Hasli said he was unhappy that his event was not included in the SEA Games but refused to blame the organisers for not listing it.

“I don’t blame the organisers. To host Olympic events, they need to have a world-class shooting range. I guess they want to cut cost by not building it.

“There is only skeet and trap, and I have to respect their decision.”

The National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) are appealing for the Olympic events to be included.

“I’ll be prepared if the hosts include it but for now, it looks bleak,” said Hasli.

Like Hasli, other shooters such as Mohamad Lutfi Othman, Nur Izazi Rosli (air rifle); Johnathan Wong, Joseline Cheah (air pistol) will also not be able to participate if the appeal to include the Olympic events fails to come through.