Malaysian shooters need to bite the bullet after Asian Games misfire

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian shooting team must take a hard look at itself if they hope to qualify for the Olympics following their disappointing performance at the Asian Games, according to national coach Firdaus Abd Rahim. Malaysia's pistol team failed to win any medals at the Asian Games, held at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, with no medals earned in the women's 25m pistol individual qualification.

Alia Sazana Azahari placed 19th with 574 points, while Nurul Syasya Nadiah Ariffin finished 38th with 564 points. The men's team also struggled, with Olympian Johnathan Wong missing the 10m air pistol final and the mixed team event falling short.

Firdaus urged the team to step out of their comfort zones and take responsibility for their performance. He emphasized that high training scores can be misleading, as shooters must demonstrate mental independence and emotional control during competition. Firdaus also pointed out that the team lacked exposure to multiple tournaments, which is crucial for building a winning rhythm.

He urged the team to regroup and prepare for upcoming World Championships and Asian Championships in February. Firdaus stressed that the athletes must take responsibility and not rely on external support, as they need to stand on their own feet and control their emotions under pressure.