HANGZHOU: Shooters Alia Husna Budruddin and Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi recorded good scores, but still failed to reach the 10m air rifle finals at the Asian Games on Sunday.
This was expected as it was not the main event of the two national shooters. Alia recorded her best score on the international stage and Suryani showed she still has the touch even though she has not shot in a competitive event for a long time.
Alia finished 39th out of 62 shooters with 619.9 points while Suryani was ranked 44th with 617.8.
China's Huang Yuting won the gold with a new Games record of 252.7 while compatriot Han Jiayu was second (251.3). India's Ramita won the bronze (230.1).
For coach Zubair Mohammad, Sunday's event was more of a warm-up and to get comfortable with the competition venue, the Fuyang Yinhu target range.
"The feedback from our athletes is positive, their emotions and mental state are at the best. It's just that we lack a bit in terms of accuracy.
"I hope they will do better in their pet events, the 50m rifle three positions on Tuesday, where I see Malaysia having a good chance to advance to the final," he said.
Zubair hopes that Haritz Iklil Hessly Hafiz will not be afraid to perform when he faces China's world record holder Sheng Lihao in the men's 10m individual air rifle on Monday.