KUALA LUMPUR: Two shooters, one target.
That’s the story of Johnathan Wong and Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi as they gear up for next month’s 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Johnathan has competed in the 2010 (Guangzhou), 2014 (Incheon) and 2022 (Hangzhou) editions, and his best achievement is reaching the final of the men’s 10-metre (m) air pistol event in Hangzhou.
So, naturally, his aim, now that he is armed with a new pistol, is to gun down a medal – gold if possible – when he competes in the men’s 10m air pistol individual and mixed team events at the Sept 19-Oct 4 Asiad.
“So far, all preparations are coming along fine. This year, I’m also using a new pistol… so there’s renewed hope of striking a medal. The dream is, of course, to strike gold,” he told reporters after chef de mission Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan visited the National Sports Council (NSC) here today.
However, the 34-year-old shooter knows it won’t be smooth sailing as he will have to contend with world-class shooters from China, South Korea and India, not to mention the rising threat from Southeast Asian shooters.
Johnathan, who has been employed as the manager of the shooting range that is under the NSC since 2021, is also grateful to the NSC for providing him with the flexibility to adjust his work schedule around his training routine.
“The NSC has helped me a lot, allowing me to go and compete whenever possible,” he said, as he aims to repay their kindness with a medal.
Meanwhile, veteran Nur Suryani, who will turn 44 during the Asiad on Sept 24, aims to mark her sixth Asiad appearance by presenting the country with a special gift – a medal, gold if possible.
She has, after all, won a silver and two bronze medals since making her Asiad debut at Doha 2006.
In 2010 (Guangzhou), she won a bronze in the 10m air rifle individual event. In 2014 (Incheon), she won an individual silver and team bronze in the 50m rifle prone.
With only an Asian Games gold medal missing from her trophy cabinet, expect Nur Suryani, who captured global attention when she competed while eight months pregnant at the 2012 London Olympic Games, to set the record straight when she competes in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions (individual and team) this time.
She has also described her preparations this time as way more thorough and organised, as she plans to help the national shooters to be more competitive.
On her game plan for the Asiad, Nur Suryani said she would focus on her own ability in every round rather than dwell too much on the reputation of the other gunslingers.
“Miracles can happen. So, what I need to do is to focus on my own performance and enjoy the Games. I’m not going to care about what the other shooters do,” she said.
She also said that she has no plans to call it a day anytime soon, not as long as the country needs her services.
— BERNAMA
