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Pregnant Malaysian shooter eyes Olympic gold | Pregnant Malaysian shooter eyes Olympic gold |
(1 day later) | |
By Jonah Fisher BBC News, Kuala Lumpur | By Jonah Fisher BBC News, Kuala Lumpur |
It is one of the first events of the London Olympics on Saturday morning, but the 10-metre women's air rifle could also be among the most sensational. | It is one of the first events of the London Olympics on Saturday morning, but the 10-metre women's air rifle could also be among the most sensational. |
Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi, a shooter from Malaysia, will compete at the Royal Artillery Barracks while eight months pregnant. | Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi, a shooter from Malaysia, will compete at the Royal Artillery Barracks while eight months pregnant. |
At least three expectant mothers have competed at the Olympics before, but Suryani, as she likes to be known, will easily be the most heavily pregnant athlete to have taken part. | |
"Since I started shooting in 1997, I've been dreaming of going to the Olympics," she said, after a morning training at Malaysia's National Shooting Range on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. | "Since I started shooting in 1997, I've been dreaming of going to the Olympics," she said, after a morning training at Malaysia's National Shooting Range on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. |
So when in January Suryani discovered that she was pregnant, her first thought was that her London ambitions were over. | So when in January Suryani discovered that she was pregnant, her first thought was that her London ambitions were over. |
But after talking to her husband and praying, she changed her mind. If "everything is in order", she would still try, she told me. | But after talking to her husband and praying, she changed her mind. If "everything is in order", she would still try, she told me. |
Two days later, she qualified for the Games in the 10-metre air rifle, and has not looked back since. | Two days later, she qualified for the Games in the 10-metre air rifle, and has not looked back since. |
Dressing ordeal | Dressing ordeal |
Despite an early period of morning sickness, Suryani's now thinks that pregnancy might even give her a small advantage. | Despite an early period of morning sickness, Suryani's now thinks that pregnancy might even give her a small advantage. |
"Now I have balance at the front and the back," she said, with a smile. "So the stability is there." | "Now I have balance at the front and the back," she said, with a smile. "So the stability is there." |
With her stomach bulging, just getting in and out of the thick suit she uses for shooting is something of an ordeal. It is with a sigh of relief that she unbuckles her belt to allow herself to sit down and talk to me. | With her stomach bulging, just getting in and out of the thick suit she uses for shooting is something of an ordeal. It is with a sigh of relief that she unbuckles her belt to allow herself to sit down and talk to me. |
Not everyone in Malaysia is backing her decision to take part, but beneath the smiles, it is clear that there is steely determination to the 30-year-old naval officer. | Not everyone in Malaysia is backing her decision to take part, but beneath the smiles, it is clear that there is steely determination to the 30-year-old naval officer. |
"Some people say that I'm crazy. Some people say I'm too selfish. But I just ignore what others say. I just concentrate on what I want to do and what I dream of." | "Some people say that I'm crazy. Some people say I'm too selfish. But I just ignore what others say. I just concentrate on what I want to do and what I dream of." |
And that dream currently involves picking up Malaysia's first-ever gold medal at lunchtime on Saturday. | And that dream currently involves picking up Malaysia's first-ever gold medal at lunchtime on Saturday. |
'No kicking' | 'No kicking' |
Currently ranked 47th in the world, it would be a considerable upset if Suryani did make it onto the podium. But to her credit, she already has a solid tournament record, with a gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and a bronze at the Asian Games. | Currently ranked 47th in the world, it would be a considerable upset if Suryani did make it onto the podium. But to her credit, she already has a solid tournament record, with a gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and a bronze at the Asian Games. |
If she is to come out on top, she will need her unborn daughter to play her part and not kick at a crucial moment. | If she is to come out on top, she will need her unborn daughter to play her part and not kick at a crucial moment. |
"On the morning of the competitions, normally, I will say to my baby, 'Mummy's going to compete today so I need you to calm down, and then afterwards if you want to be active and you want to kick a ball or something that's OK!'" | "On the morning of the competitions, normally, I will say to my baby, 'Mummy's going to compete today so I need you to calm down, and then afterwards if you want to be active and you want to kick a ball or something that's OK!'" |
Outside the indoor shooting range, JJ Raj, the secretary general of the National Shooting Association of Malaysia, and Muzli Mustakim, Suryani's manager, joins us. | Outside the indoor shooting range, JJ Raj, the secretary general of the National Shooting Association of Malaysia, and Muzli Mustakim, Suryani's manager, joins us. |
As they share a farewell drink by the swimming pool, JJ Raj says he knows that Malaysia's prime minister will be taking a special interest in her event. | As they share a farewell drink by the swimming pool, JJ Raj says he knows that Malaysia's prime minister will be taking a special interest in her event. |
Luckily, Suryani is unflappable and shrugs it off. | Luckily, Suryani is unflappable and shrugs it off. |
If she happens to get a medal, she says she would share it with her daughter, but if not, she would settle for sharing the memories. | If she happens to get a medal, she says she would share it with her daughter, but if not, she would settle for sharing the memories. |
"When the baby is born, I will tell her you are very lucky," she said. "You were not born yet, but you competed with me in the Olympic games." | "When the baby is born, I will tell her you are very lucky," she said. "You were not born yet, but you competed with me in the Olympic games." |
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