Perak’s Nazirul-Alya turn on power in air rifle final

PETALING JAYA: Perak saved their best for last by denying Pahang the final shooting gold at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma) through Nor Alya Aqila Mahathir-Nazirul Iqbal Ros­zaini.

The Perak pair came from behind to win the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the National Shooting Range in Subang yesterday with a combined score of 493.3 points.

Pahang’s Nur Auni Arissa Azahar-Iman Syahmi Azidi had looked on course for victory after taking the early lead but settled for silver with 489.1 points while Penang’s Irfan Danish Muzammir-Connie Tan took bronze with 421.1.

For Nazirul, the victory was particularly satisfying as the mixed team is one of his favourite events.

“It means a lot to me because this is the first time I have won gold in the mixed team,” said Nazirul.

“We did not even make the final and finished sixth at the last Games.

The victory gave Perak their third shooting gold of the Games.

Nazirul had earlier struck gold in the men’s 10m air rifle individual event, where he also set a new Sukma record of 243.9 points.

Alya ended her campaign with two gold medals, three silvers and a bronze. She had earlier captured the women’s team 50m rifle three positions with Nurul Ain Murad and Ainul Mardhiah Yusri with Games record.

“My father told me that after seeing me go through so much over the past four years (without titles in previous Sukma), I could not let all that effort go to waste without bringing home a gold medal,” said Alya.

“So I proved that I could do it and managed to bring home two golds.”