Lack of funds stunt junior development

12/11/2001

THE National Sports Council's (NSC) decision not to fund shooting clubs
and associations have started taking its toll on junior development
programmes.
National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) executive secretary Mej
Jasni Shaari said in the past NSC's support has made the sport grow but
now they will have a hard time implementing their development programmes.
"With the policy, even the Subang Shooting Range, among the best in the
country, find it hard to support the junior and senior shooters because
they have an overhead cost of about RM20,000 a month to keep the place
running.
"Even the richer shooting associations like Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
have been hit by the policy because now we have to source for our own
funds to pay for coaches and equipment. And it looks like we may have to
make do without foreign coaches because we can't afford to pay their
salaries anymore.
"Some shooters, like Irina Maharani, only get their salary from the NSC
but the Selangor Shooting Association (SSA) foot the bill whenever there
is a tournamant," said Jasni.
Shooting clubs survive on what they get from members but unfortunately,
the members are only interested in recreational shooting and most are not
bothered with the score.
"So we are in a dilemma here. You can't blame the clubs for being
business minded but at the same time, we need some form of subsidy to keep
shooting alive in the country."
NSC director general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad was unavailable for comment as
he is he has left for overseas.
Meanwhile, Jasni said 11 shooters who competed in the Kuala Lumpur Sea
Games have been retained in their project squad for the Commonwealth and
the Asian Games.
"But they will have to be on their toes if they want to get selected.
The Tun Haniff Cup after Hari Raya is part of the selection for the Asian
and Commonwealth Games.
"After that there will be other tournaments where they will have to do
well before making the final squad," said Jasni.
According to Jasni, it is easier to win medals at the Commonwealth Games
than in the Asian Games where China also compete.
In the Commonwwalth Games, the format is also different where by instead
of the team event with three shooters, only two are allowed and they
compete in the individual and doubles.
(END)