SHOOTING: Benjamin steals the show

By Ajitpal Singh | ajitpalsingh@mediaprima.com.my

CRACKSHOT: Junior outguns father Edward to win double trap gold in record fashion

BENJAMIN Khor used to polish his father, Edward Khor's shotgun after competitions but the roles have been switched as the 20-year-old is now a better double trap shooter.

Benjamin once again dethroned his father at the Tun Hanif Omar Trophy yesterday by setting a record in the preliminary round en route to winning his second title of the season.

Under the new International Shooting Sport Federation format, each shooter has to shoot five series of 30 targets in the preliminary round and random schemes are used to determine the target combinations.

Benjamin soared high by hitting 127 targets at the Subang Shooting Range yesterday.

He also shot well in the semi-finals, posting 24 points before edging Ho Chee Fai 26-24 in a thrilling final over 30 targets.

Tan Tian Xiang, who held the previous national record of 111 hits, finished third. Edward was placed fifth behind Nazree Ismail.

Benjamin won his first title of the season under the new format at the Sultan Iskandar Trophy in April after failing to make an impact in the Ally T.H. Ong a month earlier.

A bronze medallist at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Benjamin, who is studying A-Levels in Singapore, was down with sinus and had to go for surgery in March.

Edward, 52, jokingly said he now cleans Benjamin's shotgun and attends to his needs in competition.

"I am a proud father. Benjamin is now the star ... what my son used to do for me ... I am now doing it for him. The last time I did better than my son was at last year's Singapore Open," said Edward in Subang yesterday.

Benjamin, who is now under the National Sports Council's (NSC) back-up programme, is using this season to adapt to the new format ahead of next year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Incheon Asian Games.

"I will take a short break after completing my A-Levels next year to prepare for both competitions. As for this year, I will participate in three international meets -- Thailand Open, Asian Shotgun Championships and the Southeast Asian Championships in October.

"My sinus got worse earlier this year and I had to go for a surgery. I am doing much better as I can now focus on competitions," said Benjamin.

Benjamin is hoping to make his debut in the ISSF World Cup Series next year.

"I am not far off the elite shooters. While they are recording 28 hits, I am doing 26 consistently. I must thank NSC for sponsoring my training and competitions. I will repay them by making Malaysia proud," he said.

Benjamin plans to move to England next year to pursue a degree in law and train with top class shooters.

"Although I've not selected a university, I will likely choose one which will be near the training centre of Britain's national shooters. I heard they train in Bisley," Benjamin added.

Meanwhile, Ng Beng Chong and Joseph Lee were in their element, winning the trap and skeet respectively, while Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi won her fifth gold in the women's 10-metre air rifle yesterday.

Abdul Hadi Abd Malek broke the new national record of 182.5 in the men's 50m pistol by posting a 188.20 series for the gold, ahead of second-placed Choo Wen Yan (186.0) and Johnathan Wong (162.8).

Armed Forces were crowned overall champions with a haul of 11 gold, six silver and five bronze medals ahead of Pahang (5-5-0) and Perak (4-2-2).

Atlet Malaysia in the NEWS

Monday, June 10, 2013