Federation targets new shooting field for SEA Games

The Lao Shooting Federation wants to expand the international shooting field by 20 lanes to provide enough room for shooting events at the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane in December.

Events to be held at the field will include rapid pistol, air pistol, centre fire pistol, standard pistol and lady's pistol at 25 metres.

The federation is soon to open a new shooting field of about 32 lanes next month and the national shooting team will have an opportunity to train at the field. The federation will use the 32 lanes for rifle, air rifle and free pistol shooting events.

The federation's secretary, Dr Paseuth Bodhisane, said these lanes were unsuitable for rapid fire pistol, standard pistol and 25m air pistol events.

He said the additional 20 lanes should be ready in nine months and work will begin this month.

Currently, Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co Ltd and the China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Corporation in association with the China Development Bank are constructing the main football stadium, swimming pool, tennis courts, the 32 lane shooting field, and two indoor stadiums at Dongsanghin village.

Construction of the facilities comes at a cost of more than 849 billion kip (US$100 million).

The national shooting team (16 men and 11 women) will begin regular training at the end of this month. Some shooters will train in Hanoi , Vietnam , from March to September.

Dr Paseuth said the federation plans to organise national shooting events in March and April.

The national team will compete in a number of friendly matches with neighbouring countries ahead of the SEA Games.

Shooting events at the games will comprise men's and women's 50m rifle , men's and women's 10m air rifle, men's singles and men's 50m team pistol, women's singles and women's 25m team pistol, men's 25m rapid fire pistol, women's singles and women's team 10m air pistol, men's singles and men's 25m centre fire pistol, men's singles and men's team 25m standard pistol and men's singles and men's team 10m air pistol.

The national shooting team came sixth at the South East Asia Shooting Championships in Vietnam last September 22 to 29, winning one gold, four silver and eight bronze medals.

The gold went to the women's 10 metre air pistol team consisting of Khamla Xayavong, Thongsy Phetdaoheuang and Lattana Inthavong.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
February 03, 2009