05/10/1997
MALAYSIAN shooters have competed in more than 10 Sea Games and their haul
has never exceeded two gold medals.
At the 1989 Games in Kuala Lumpur, the shooters failed to win a single
gold medal. And so, the five-gold target announced by the National
Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) for the Jakarta Games caught many
by surprise.
National shooting coach Mej Jasni Shaari said the target is realistic,
as it was based on the Southeast Asian Shooting Championships, in where
Malaysia won five gold medals.
But Russian rifle coach Iouri Ratnikov begs to differ: "Sure, we have
many good shooters in our team, but can they perform under pressure?"
The national team have undergone an elaborate training schedule and have
been performing well.
According to Ratnikov: "Some air pistol shooters have recorded 395
points, which is on par with Olympic standards, but that was during
training.
"What they need now is mental preparation. If they can stay calm during
the Games, the gold medals will follow suit."
Ratnikov prefers the shooters to take the Games as part of the
preparations for the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, and they must work
towards winning a medal in 1998.
"The Commonwealth Games will have world-class shooters and winning a
medal then will be every shooters dream."
At the Chiangmai Games, Kaw Fun Ying won the clay target trap gold while
the clay target skeet team returned with 332 points to beat the
Philippines and Singapore.
Mej Jasni, 38, is still seeking his gold medal since making his debut in
the Bangkok Games in 1985. At the Jakarta Games, Malaysian shooters will
compete in 13 out of the 21 events.
Meanwhile, the Langkawi Second Commonwealth Shooting (Lacos)
championships will be held at the International Shooting Range on Nov 17-
29.
The 15-event championships will offer 45 medals and further prepare the
shooters for the Commonwealth Games.
The Games will serve as selection platform for Lacos.
Squad - Men: Mej Jasni Shaari, Abdul Mutalib Razak, Azmi Zakaria, Sabiki
Din, Aziz Ebrahem, Hashim Desa, Ang Chee Choon, Hazli Awan, Che Wan
Zulqarnaen, David Hor, Marzuki Man, Goh Kek Chuan, Ricky Teh, Roland Lau,
Gary Goh, Leong Wei Heng, Hing Chai Hoe, Ong Chee Keng.
Women: Noriha Rani, Nurul Huda Baharin, Nordalilah Bakar, Sarihati
Awang, Roslina Bakar, Kamisah Jalal, Norsita Mahmud, Suriani Othman,
Bibiana Ng.
(END)
