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Sports

Monday August 3, 2009

Joseline rebounds from doping ban to qualify for Laos

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: As the eldest of three siblings, Joseline Cheah Lee Yan (pic) could have just walked away from the sport when she was handed a two-year suspension for doping.

But, with her parents behind her, she continued to pursue her passion and yesterday, it all paid off when she booked a SEA Games spot by winning the 10m air pistol gold in the Mini Olympic Games at the Subang Shooting Range.

Joseline Cheah

The 27-year-old Penangite equalled the Laos SEA Games silver-medal qualifying mark of 379 with her preliminary round score.

Joseline took a four-point lead over Norerffani Abdul Malick after the preliminary round with a four-round series of 94-91-96-98.

Joseline managed 93.40 in the final to round off with a total of 472.40 points against Norerffani’s 471.30. Sarifah Zalina took the bronze medal with 466.40.

Bibiana Ng, who took gold in the 25m sport pistol on Friday, finished eighth yesterday with 461.50.

Joseline, Bibiana and Siti Nur Masitah had their two-year suspension lifted in April and they have since been accepted back into the national team.

Joseline was glad to have earned her place in the SEA Games squad on merit.

“This is my first victory after more than two years and I’m happy to have made the cut for the SEA Games in my third competition of the year,” said Joseline, who thanked coach Hashim Desa and Bibiana for their guidance.

“I was a bit nervous going into the final as this was the first time I was in gold medal contention. That’s why my score dipped in the final round.”

In the men’s 50m rifle prone, Mohd Shahril Ishak took his second gold of the Games with 689.40 points but failed to beat the SEA Games qualifying mark.

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