Benjamin makes dad proud with double trap record

By LIM TEIK HUAT

Sharp eye: Edward Khor giving his son Benjamin some tips during the Tun Hanif Trophy shooting competition at the Subang Shooting Range yesterday. — FAIHAN GHANI / The Star

PETALING JAYA: His father Edward Khor used to rule the roost but how things have changed as younger son Benjamin now has the double trap national record all to himself.

The younger Khor, who was not even shooting double trap when his father Edward won the gold medal at the South East Asia Shooting Association (SEASA) shooting championships in 2007, blasted his way to a new national mark en route to bagging the double trap gold in the Tun Hanif Trophy shooting meet at the Subang Shooting Range yesterday.

Benjamin showed quick agility in adapting to the new format in double trap by hitting 127 in the preliminary round to improve on the previous national mark of 111 set by Tan Tian Xiang at the Ally Ong shooting meet back in February this year.

Benjamin, representing Johor Clay Target, edged Ho Chee Fai in the final 26-17 to win the gold medal.

Benjamin received a dose of good news when National Sports Council agreed to fund him for training and competition expenses.

"I am happy to get the national record. I adapted well to the new format, which puts us in an unknown situation. You just don't know where the targets are going to come from. It can be left or right.

"But all this is part of my training towards the major meets outside the country.

"I will finish my A levels in Singapore next year and I can focus more on preparing for the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year.

"I am also aiming to go for the ISSF World Cups now that I got some funding and am hoping for the best next year," said Benjamin, who hopes to make the grade for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

There was a second national mark set at the shooting range with Abdul Hadi Abdul Malek of Pahang scoring 188.2 to win the 50m pistol individual gold.

London Olympian shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi completed her campaign on a perfect note by claiming her third gold medal for Armed Forces.

Suryani, who had won the 50m rifle prone and 50m rifle three-position individual titles earlier, shot a winning score of 204.5 in the 10m air rifle final.