THE UFO-sponsored Fiji shooting team is happy with the shooting of their shooters in the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
Shooting Fiji section manager Henry Stephen said the team were able to create new records in the sport.
“The PNG games were a very successful outing for shooting. Shooting Fiji went to these games with the knowledge that the standard in the DTL discipline had improved tremendously since the 2011 Noumea Games,” he said.
“Shooting Fiji honoured the undertaking it gave to hosts PNG to make up the sixth pistol shooting nation so the discipline could be offered. The Fiji pistol team went with no expectation but a lot of enthusiasm and determination.”
Stephen said considering the limited facilities available in the country the shooters adjusted well into the new categories.
“The first ever gold medal for Fiji in the pistol category was won by Faiyum Khan, competing against well established teams and athletes who represented their countries at bigger events like Oceania, Commonwealth Games and ISSF World meets. After a brilliant display of 25 metres standard sports pistol shooting, involving a stint of rapid fire, where the target is only visible to the shooter for three seconds then removed for seven seconds,” he added.
“This discipline was not practised in Fiji at all as there is no facility for that and even the standard 25 metres precision target was shot totally outdoor in Fiji, rather than under semi cover as done at the games.”
Veteran shooter Glen Kable found his entire target in the DTL (shortgun) category.
“The DTL (shotgun team) broke the Pacific Games record in the double barrel event when Glenn Kable and Christian Stephen, both of Fiji, shot the perfect score of 100 out 100 targets on day one.”
The association thanked all the sponsors who came on board to help the team.
