Going great guns as five shooters hit the mark for Asian Games

PETALING JAYA: The National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) will have no complaints as five shooters have been given the nod to go for the Hangzhou Asian Games (Sept 23-Oct 8) under category A.

Podium shooters Johnathan Wong, Nurul Syasya Nadiah Arifin and Alia Sazana Azhari got in after surpassing the qualifying mark of their respective pistol events.

Rifle shooters Haritz Iklil Hessly Hafiz and veteran Nur Suryani Taibi will also compete under category A after beating the qualifying marks in the men’s 10m and women’s three position respectively.

A shooter needs to equal or better the fourth placing mark of the 2018 Asian Games shooting competition to make the cut for Hangzhou.

Johnathan scored 581 in the men’s 10m pistol at the Selangor Shooting Championships in March, which was equivalent to the fourth place Jakarta mark to claim his spot.

Syasya qualified after scoring 574 in the World Cup leg in Changwon, South Korea, which was better than the qualifying mark of 571 while Alia qualified after her 586 during the Selangor Shooting Championships was better than the fourth place mark (584) in Jakarta.

Haritz scored 625.8 at the Asia Cup leg in Jakarta in March to win bronze while Suryani, 40, secured her place after scoring 589 in the women’s three position, bettering the qualifying mark of 585.

National coach Firdaus Abdul Rahim said it was encouraging to see five shooters qualifying for the Asian Games.

“Johnathan managed to claim his place with 581 in this year’s competition while Syasya did well in the World Cup last year to earn her ticket. However, she has scored 571 several times after that,” said Firdaus.

“Although Alia shot 586 as a guest shooter at the Selangor Championships, the score was taken into consideration for qualification.

“It is also good motivation for Haritz as he won a bronze medal at the Asia Cup while Suryani has also done well although she is not part of the national programme.

“A few more are also in the running for spots in the Asian Games squad and they can qualify by doing well in the National Shooting Championships in Subang this week.”

The National Championships begins today and will conclude on Sunday.

Veteran pistol shooters Bibiana Ng, 46, and Joscelyn Cheah, 40, are also in the running to claim their places for the Asiad in the women’s 10m event.

Bibiana, who shot 571 at the Tun Haniff Cup in January, was surprisingly not included but she could boost her chances with another outstanding performance on Friday to claim her Hangzhou spot.

In the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol, veteran Hasli Izwan Amir Hassan, Hafiz Adzha and Mohd Riduan Mohd have also been given a last chance to confirm their spots in category A or B.