Twelve shooters to pay their way to Olympic qualifier in India BY AFTAR SINGH

Wednesday, 23 December 2015 | MYT 9:01 PM

From left: Hafiz Adzha, Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan, Ridhuan Mohamed and Khalel Abdullah are hoping to qualify for the Rio Olympics by paying their own way to the qualifying event in India next month.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Trap shooter Bernard Yeoh will be among 12 shooters who will fork out their own money in their quest to secure Rio Olympic spots.

They will head to New Delhi for the Asian Olympic Qualifying event from Jan 25-Feb 3, which is the last competition for Asian shooters to win the 35 spots on offer. So far none of the Malaysians have managed to qualify for Rio.

The other shooters paying their own way are Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan, Hafiz Adzha, Khalel Abdullah, Ridhuan Mohamed (pistol), Charles Chen Seong Fook, Chu Sien Chau, Lim Soon Siang (trap), Eng Way Jin, Tengku Mohamed Akmal and father and son Edward Khor and Benjamin (double trap). 

They will only have to pay for their flight tickets and meals as the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) will bear the cost of accommodation and also the entrance fees.

Last month’s Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait was supposed to offer qualifying status for the Rio Olympics but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the country over government interference just days before the competition.

National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) assistant secretary Muzli Mustakim said that most Asian shooters have spent money to compete in Kuwait.

“So the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) have decided to bear the cost of accommodation and also the entrance fee of RM700 per shooter.

“It is a fair decision by ISSF. The shooters will only pay for their flight and meals,” said Muzli.

“The NSAM will have a meeting in the next few days to finalise the shooters for New Delhi. We are expecting to send about 16 shooters.

“We have also given the green light to 12 shooters to pay their own passage to India,” said Muzli

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - http://www.thestar.com.my/