Johnathan-Joseline's Dreams Of Gold Stymied By Weak Performance In Qualifiers

By Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

BANGKOK, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Johnathan Wong and Joseline Cheah’s dreams of winning Malaysia’s second gold medal in shooting at the 2025 South East Asian (SEA) Games were shattered due to a weak showing at the qualifying round of the mixed team 10 metre (m) air pistol event here today.

The duo, however, managed to secure a bronze medal when they beat the Myanmar team of Khaing Khaing Wai-Ye Tun Naung 16-8 in the bronze medal decider at Sports Authority of Thailand shooting range.

Johnathan admitted that their weak performance in the qualifying rounds, in which they scored 563 points to place fifth out of six competing countries, had affected their chances at the gold medal, but described their bronze medal as a significant win as it was the first medal for Malaysia in the mixed team event.

“Our target today was actually the gold medal decider but unfortunately we performed less than satisfactory in the qualifying round. It seems like a lot of things are out of what we predicted but in the final (bronze decider), I can say we performed well.

“Hopefully, we will perform better in the upcoming SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur,” he said when met after the match today.

Meanwhile, teammate Joseline admitted feeling the pressure to perform at her best following her bronze medal win in the women’s team 10 m air pistol event yesterday,

“Today I feel pressured a bit, because I have seen what I could improve yesterday, so today I felt like doing better but the outcome wasn’t what I thought. Luckily I could correct it in the final,” she said.

The mixed team 10 m air pistol gold medal was won by Indonesians Muhamad Iqbal Raia Prabowo-Putri Darmoyo Arista Perdana, who beat Trinh Thu Vinh-Pham Quang Huy of Vietnam 17-9.

-- BERNAMA