Fiji’s lone female sport shooter, Shayal Prasad will be out to do her best in the upcoming Pacific Games in Samoa. This will be her first overseas tournament.

She will be taking part in the 25 metres standard pistol mixed events.

The 20-year-old University of the South Pacific second year law student is proud to be the first from her family to represent Fiji.

Shooting runs in the family. Both her parents and younger brother take part in the sport.

“I started shooting when I was 9-years-old.

“My dad coached me in the beginning but I’m now being trained by Quintyn Stephen in the lead up to the Games.”

Since her selection, Prasad has stepped up the tempo.

“I normally train once or twice a week– now its four to five times a week at the shooting range in Vatuwaqa. It’s fun.

“I enjoy shooting and I’d encourage other young women to try out the sport as well.”

As a good luck omen, Prasad will be taking her father’s pistol to use at the Pacific Games.

“My family is proud that I’ve reached this level of competition.”

Meanwhile, seasoned shooter Glenn Kable is likely to repeat the same feat as he did in the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

He won gold and set a new record in the shotgun double Barrel individual shooting event.

He had set a new target of 121 points and erased the old record of 100 points.

Kable was also instrumental in the shotgun team event alongside Adarsh Datt and Christian Stephen. They had also brought home a gold medal.

Prasad and Kable are the only two shooters to compete in Samoa.

SHOOTING VENUE

Tafaigata Shooting Range is the same venue used in 2007. It has space for 200-300 spectators. Entry to the shooting will be free

A LITTLE HISTORY

Shooting was first introduced at the Pacific Games in 1987, this year 8 countries will compete in 6 different categories.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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