Fernel Wins Gold Charm In Third Try

2019 East Asian Youth Airgun Competition

The third time was indeed a charm for shooter Fernel Tan Qian Ni at the East Asian Youth Airgun Competition as she was crowned 2019 champion in the 10m Air Rifle Women Youth event. After missing out twice on podium finishes in the individual event of the annual meet in 2017 and 2018, Fernel could finally celebrate after the 10m Air Rifle Women Youth individual final on 28 August 2019. After 24 shots, the 17-year-old shooter found herself ranked highest with 247.4 points.

The Year 1 post-secondary student-athlete in Sports School’s Diploma in Business Studies through-train programme went one better than her Sports School senior Ho Xiu Yi who finished with a bronze in the same event last year contested on homeground. Xiu Yi, who is on the Extended International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, another of Sports School’s through-train pathways, will be making her Southeast Asian Games debut in Philippines at the end of the year.

Competition was stiff in the final. By the end of 10 shots, Fernel trailed her strongest rival Maho Hirano by just 0.1 points. Keeping her eye on the target and her composure in check, Fernel reaped the reward of her training and hard work after the last shot was fired. She had earlier shot 621.1 points to qualify for the final in 5th.

“This achievement was not without the help of my coaches Lim Chea Rong and Ong Jun Hong and NYSI Sport Psychologist Dr Harry Lim, after missing out closely on a medal last year with a 4th-place finish,” said Fernel.

“The East Asian Youth Airgun Competition is definitely a great experience for all youth shooters like my Singapore Sports School teammates and I to gain experience for future major competitions. The level of competition brought by our Japanese and Korean counterparts is higher than most meets we participate in which allows us to stretch ourselves and push our mental and technical boundaries.”

Fellow post-secondary shooter Ryan Dayne Phang (Diploma in Sport Management Year 1) also did well to win the individual silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Men Youth event. His final score of 246.9 points was 1.7 points shy of Korean gold medallist Choi Dong Ryeol’s.

Sports School student-athletes also added another 3 Team silver medals to Singapore’s tally at the 2019 East Asian Youth Airgun Competition in Seosan, South Korea, from 25 to 30 August 2019.

RESULTS

Gold

10m Air Rifle Women Youth Individual – Fernel Tan Qian Ni

Silver

10m Air Rifle Men Youth Individual – Ryan Dayne Phang

10m Air Pistol Men Youth Team – Kevyn Loh Zheng Lin, Teo Jia En

10m Air Pistol Women Youth Team – Emily Kek Jia Yi, Shirlene Hew Yun Ting

10m Air Rifle Women Youth Team – Cecilia Ng, Fernel Tan Qian Ni