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The Nairobian

Ayuni misses target: Shooting champion withdrawn after jacket goes missing

Sports

By REUTERS | Jul 23, 2014

Shooting champion Nur Ayuni of Malaysia during a past Asian Games championship. Ayuni has been withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games after her jacket went missing. [PHOTO: AGENCY]

Commonwealth Games shooting gold medallist Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim has been left devastated after being ruled out of competing in Glasgow because her competition jacket was lost en route to Scotland.

Malaysian Ayuni, who won the gold medal with Nur Suryani Taibi in the 10 metre air rifle pairs in New Delhi four years ago, was due to compete in the 10 metre air rifle and 50m rifle events.

Team manager Musa Omar said he was left with no choice but to withdraw Ayuni from competition after the missing luggage, believed to be in London, failed to show up in time for Monday’s registration ahead of Thursday’s start of competition.

“She was a gold medallist last time and now she won’t even get a chance to compete. It is really painful for her. I just feel so sorry for her,” Musa was quoted as saying by Malaysian media on Tuesday.

“We made a report when her bag did not arrive with the other luggage. We waited for three days... today is the last day for us to confirm the names.

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“The rules clearly state that a rifle shooter must wear a jacket.

“We tried to borrow one but it did not fit her. We tried to make a new one but she said she would need two months to get used to it.”

Musa said Ayuni had been unable to stop crying and wanted to fly home immediately upon being told she would not be able to compete.

However, Musa said she would have to stay with the team in Scotland and watch Muslifah Zulkifli take her place in the 10m air rifle and Suryani, who competed in the 2012 London Olympics while 30 weeks pregnant, take over for the 50m prone.

“The licence for all her firearms is under her name. We cannot send her back immediately,” Musa said.

“This is all so unfortunate. She’s taking it badly. She is sad, we are all sad.”

Meanwhile, Olympic cycling champion Bradley Wiggins plans to concentrate on the team pursuit event in the velodrome and will not ride in any road races at the Commonwealth Games starting in Glasgow on Thursday.

The 34-year-old, winner of the 2012 Tour de France weeks before taking gold in the London Olympic time trial, said on Monday he was tempted to take part in a wider range of races but wanted to focus on the track in preparation for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“All the preparation has been for the team pursuit and that has been the focus during training,” the Englishman told reporters. “I’ve put all my eggs in the one basket.”

The team pursuit takes place on Thursday, following Wednesday’s opening ceremony.

In another announcement on Monday, England’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, 21, one of the favourites for the heptathlon, confirmed she will miss the Games because of a foot injury.