Just reward

Suryani set to compete in two events in London

Nur Suryani has qualified for her maiden Olympics.

SHOOTER Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi is likely to compete in two events at the London Olympics   if a ruling set by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is applied.

Nur Suryani was the only local shooter under the Road to London programme, to qualify on merit for the Olympics at the Asian Shooting Championships, which ended in Doha yesterday.

The 29-year-old secured one of the two tickets on offer in the women's 10-metre air rifle to earn her first appearance at the Olympics.

Her success in Doha also made Malaysia as one of only four countries, China, Iran and Kuwait being the others, to earn Olympic spots at the Asian meet.

An Olympic qualifier, however, can earn a second quota for his or her country, if he or she meets the Minimum Qualification Score (MQS) for another event.

Only countries with one qualifier can exercise the rule.

Nur Suryani met the MQS score of 565 for the 50m rifle three-position by posting 581 points in Doha, which allows the National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) to apply for the extra spot.

If NSAM exercises its right, then the spot for the three-position would likely be given to Nur Suryani.

"NSAM is sure to get an extra spot if it applies for one as I've surpassed the MQS for three-position," said Nur Suryani.

The association, however, has the right to nominate others for the London Games as all quota spots are for a country and not individuals.

But Nur Suryani is likely to get the nod as she has been impressive over the last two years.

She made headlines two years ago by first bagging the country's first ever medal in the World Cup by winning the air rifle silver in the Melbourne leg before winning gold, along with Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim, in the pairs event.

She continued her impressive form when she won bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and last year, she earned two titles at the Indonesia Sea Games.

At the Asian Championships, she led Muslifah Zulkifli and Nur Ayuni Farhana to the team bronze in the 50m rifle prone, a non-Olympic event.

Read more: NST