Big haul: Pahang’s Sayyeda Khadeeja (left) is elated after winning the 10m air pistol gold. Coach Elena Sotnik is on her left. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN / The Star
PAHANG shooting team coach Elena Sotnik is losing her hair over her athletes – literally.
The Russian coach had promised to shave her head if the state’s shooters did well at the Sarawak Shooting Centre in Petra Jaya, and they have performed beyond her expectations.
She is now staying true to her promise of going bald after her shooters clinched 12 gold medals at the Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma).
It had initially started out as a joke to motivate her charges, but with the shooters doing so well, Sotnik will keep her promise and go bald when the contingent returns to Pahang.
“It was such a surprise that we got 12 gold medals. I told the team that if they got that many medals, I would go bald.
“It started as a motivation for them, and I guess now it will be a reality,” she laughed.
Pahang raked home a total of 12 gold, five silver, and four bronze medals from the shooting events.
Pistol shooter Cheah Zen Hong was their biggest contributor, winning three gold medals in individual events and four in the team and mixed events.
Negri Sembilan were also close behind, tied with 12 gold medals, but they only had three silver and four bronze medals.
Sotnik said the success was due to all the coaches being aligned with their training methods.
“We all teach the same thing to our athletes. No one strays away from that. That is our secret, the togetherness and the spirit of fighting until the last shot.
“It’s serious training and the athletes have good discipline which helps us as well,” she said.
