Shilla aims to improve mark in World Cup

Shilla aims to improve mark in World Cup

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's markswoman Yosehpin Shilla Prasasti is set take
part in the World Cups series in Changwon, South Korea, in April
2005 hoping that she will be able to break her personal mark.

Shilla was Indonesia's only shooter at the Olympic Games in
Athens in August where she scored her best of 392.

"392 is my best shot to date and I hope I can break it next
year in the World Cups," she said on Thursday on the sidelines of
a training session at the Bung Karno Shooting Range.

Shilla was placed in 22nd in the women's 10-meter air rifle
competition in Athens, but, compared with her Asian competitors,
the 22-year-old shooter from Central Java was ranked sixth.

Shilla will be competing in Korea along with teammates Dinnie
Ary W. and Gusti Ayu Indradewi.

The three are in a shortlist of best athletes from 12 sports
being groomed in the Indonesia Awakens (IA) program with the main
aim to enhance Indonesia's medal chance at the 2006 Asian Games.

After Korea, the three shooters will also take part in the
following world's series in Muenchen, Germany and Milan, Italy,
both in June.

National coach Bimmy Bimo Setiawan said that their
participation in the three series of the World Cup would be
expected to make them thoroughly tested in international events.

"Our shooters already have good skills. They just lack
international experience that make them easily wobble under high
pressure during the matches," he said.

With a mark of 392, like Shilla scored in Athens, the shooters
should have a good chance of winning a medal at next SEA Games in
Manila in December, however, Bimmy said an increase to 396 would
be needed in order that they were able to make their edge in 2006
Asian Game in Qatar.

The shooters will shift their training ground from Jakarta to
Semarang, Central Java, beginning next year in order to get new
and refreshing environment during training.