Loads of energy
Trap shooter Charles still a hotshot at 53 – thanks to ‘secret weapon’
KUALA LUMPUR: Trap shooter Charles Chen Seong Fook is still a top gun at 53.
He will be competing in his 11th SEA Games at the Philippines Games from Nov 30 to Dec 11 – and has no plans to retire yet.
The evergreen Charles is full of energy at the shooting range and it seems he is able to outgun rivals half his age too.
What’s his secret?
Well, it could be due to his involvement in chakra – an ancient meditation practice.
In fact, Charles is currently in Egypt for a 10-day meditation programme.
“I’m in Egypt to practise chakra, it energises and motivates me,” said Charles.
Charles said he would channel his energy into winning his ninth SEA Games medal in the Philippines.
“It will be my 11th SEA Games but it will not be my last as I want to compete again in 2021,” he said.
“I’ll turn 54 on Dec 18 but I’m physically and mentally as good as before.
“Shooting is like wine, it tastes better with age,” said Charles, who holds the national record of 120 birds shot at the National Shooting Championships in Subang in 2017.
The shooter from Selangor made his debut in the 1987 Jakarta SEA Games and has won a total of three silvers and five bronzes from 10 previous Games.
His best outing was in the Singapore Games in 2015 as he bagged two silvers in the individual and team partnering London-based Bernard Yeoh and Ng Beng Chong.
He did not feature in five SEA Games – in Manila (1991), Brunei (1999), Laos (2009), Palembang (2011) and Naypyidaw (2013).
Charles, who has a degree in electrical engineering, is also hoping to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games by doing well in the Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar, from Nov 3-11.
“I have represented Malaysia for more than three decades but I have yet to feature in the Olympics. I failed to make the cut in the last six attempts,” said Charles.
“Hopefully, I will get it right this time,” added Charles, who has also featured in five Commonwealth Games – Kuala Lumpur (1998), Melbourne (2006), New Delhi (2010), Glasgow (2014) and Gold Coast (2018).