Alia breaks national record again to make strong claim for Olympics qualifier

Marked improvement: Alia Sazana Azahari celebrates after winning the women's 25m pistol. - Kamarul Ariffin / The Star

PETALING JAYA: Olympic Games hopeful Alia Sazana Azahari is one who does not give up easily.

The SEA Games champion shattered the national record en route to winning the women's 25m pistol final by shooting 39 points in the Tun Hanif Trophy competition at the Subang Shooting Range on Saturday. The shooter representing Melaka erased the old mark of 36 which she set at the Chia Woh Trophy in July last year.

She made the final after scoring 582 in the qualifying tournament.

It was the third time that she has broken the final national record over the last one year. She scored 34 at the Tun Tan Siew Sin Trophy in May last year which was one point better than the old mark which she had set in 2017.

Alia is now hoping that she will get a chance to compete in the World Cup in Rio next month, which is the last qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Paris.

"I'm so happy that I've improved the national mark by three points, it's a good improvement. I hope my showing here will pave the way for me to go for the World Cup," said Alia.

"I really hope to qualify for the Olympic Games. I need to improve my national record by another two points, to keep alive of qualifying for the Olympics."