The return of the 25-metre Rapid Pire Pistol event in the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games Shooting competition has got veteran Hasli Izwan Amir Hassan fired up!
Both events were not contested at the 2013 (Myanmar) and 2015 (Singapore) biennial games.
A veteran of nine SEA Games, Hasli made his debut in the 1997 Jakarta SEA Games but it was only in 2001 when Malaysia hosted the Games did he bagged the 25-metre rapid fire pistol gold medal. He followed up with gold medals in 2005 (Philippines) and 2007 (Thailand) but settled for silver medals in 2009 (Laos) and 2011 (Indonesia).
“My best performance was in 2008 where I was ranked World No 11 and qualified for the Beijing Olympics,â said Hasli, who also won silver medals in the 25-metre rapid fire individual and team events in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
âI am looking forward to my fourth gold medal in this event and plan to quit after the SEA Games. It has been a good 20 years of service. I have plans to be a coach and the juniors are asking me to help them as well,â added the Perak-born shooter.
“It was in 1997 that I made my debut and participating in the 29th edition in Kuala Lumpur will be my ninth appearance. I will do my best to win a fourth gold medal.â
“In terms of certification, I’ve completed a Level Two Coaching Course and I am a certified coach now. I had delayed my âretirement processâ as a competitor as I was hoping for another shooter to replace me,â said Hasli. – BY ALVIN OH
