PISTOL shooter Choo Wen Yan is so passionate about the sport that all he cares about is training and competitions. So much so that he hasn’t even had time to get his upper tooth repaired.
The bespectacled shooter suffered facial injuries when he fell from a bicycle after training in Bukit Jalil.
Wen Yan, 21, however, plans to see a dentist before he heads for the Asian Games in Incheon next month.
The Batu Pahat-born is one of four shooters given the nod by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to compete in the Asian Games under Category B.
“I will see a dentist tomorrow to repair my teeth. I don’t want to head to Incheon with my partially chipped tooth,” said Wen Yan yesterday.
“I hope the dentist can do something about it as I want to look good for the photographers when I take aim in the Asian Games.”
Rifle shooter Zubair Muhammad with double trap specialist Edward Khor and his son, Benjamin, make up the 12-member shooting squad.
Those heading to Incheon under Category A are Sea Games pistol champion Eddy Chew, Johnathan Wong, Mohd Ezuan Nasir, Hadafi Jaafar (men), Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi, Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim, Muslifah Zulkifli and Alia Sazana Azahari (women).
Former World Cup silver medallist Joseline Cheah, with veterans Bibiana Ng, Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan and Khalel Abdullah were dropped following their poor performances in Glasgow.
Wen Yan, who made his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow last month, hopes to steal the limelight from his more illustrious rivals in the 10m air pistol and 50m free pistol events in Incheon.
“I broke the 10m air pistol national record at a local meet in April by posting 581 points while I have a personal best of 548 in the free pistol event.
“I am posting better scores in training and hopefully, I can do better than in Glasgow.
“I did not prepare well for the Commonwealth Games and as a result, finished only 10th in the free pistol event,” Wen Yan added.
The National Shooting Association of Malaysia is not setting a target for its Asian Games-bound shooters.
“The shooting competition is very tough in the Asian Games. However, our shooters must at least finish in the top eight bracket in their respective events,” said team manager Adam Tee.