Ezuan receives timely boost ahead of SEA Games

CYBERJAYA: This year has been really tough on national shooter Mohd Ezuan Nasir Khan.

He lost his father in January and then his name was listed under Category B of the Podium Programme (athletes have to fund their own trip and would only be reimbursed if they win a silver medal) for the SEA Games in the Philippines in November.

Instead of buckling under pressure, the 30-year-old air rifle shooter picked himself up and went looking for sponsors for almost nine months and got a timely boost when he received RM20,000 from Koperasi Tanjung Keramat which would enable him to compete at the Asian Shooting Championships in Doha and the SEA Games.

“I went to so many companies asking for help. Shooting is not as popular as the other sports in the country, so it was a struggle,” he said.

“I can’t fault the National Sports Council as they are undergoing budget cuts. I hope this assistance will give me some impetus to perform well in Doha and Manila.”

Ezuan said the money would also go towards a new shooting jacket, upgrade his rifle and other equipment.

He is also thankful that the Armed Forces and Navy are also funding his trip to the biennial Games.

Ezuan is currently looking for more sponsors as he wants to go to Dortmund, Germany, for a short training stint from Oct 18 to 23.

“If all goes well, I’ll be leaving with my coach (Zulkilfi Mohamed). We’ll be working with the other coaches there to improve on my technique and stance.

“Some of the world’s top shooters like India’s Abhinav Bindra and Italy’s Niccolo Campriani have also trained there under Heinz Reinkemeier.”