Asian Games 2018 countdown: Mohamad Irwan Abdul Rahman (shooting)

A great shot of confidence

There's always something that triggers an athlete. It could be a terrible defeat, an accident, a piece of coaching advice or a crucial win. As our athletes head to the Asian Games, we asked a few of them: What was the spark that shaped your athletic life? These are their stories...

Winning SEA Games silver triggers self-belief in smiling shooter he can perform at elite level

Mohamad Irwan Abdul Rahman looking sombre in this photo but he likes to smile during competition to "release the pressure". He hopes he will have more reasons to smile when he competes at the Asian Games.
Mohamad Irwan Abdul Rahman looking sombre in this photo but he likes to smile during competition to "release the pressure". He hopes he will have more reasons to smile when he competes at the Asian Games. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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In a subdued arena, where a straight line of stern-faced riflemen stand in a trance, while trying to hit a bull's eye that's smaller than a bedbug's egg, Mohamad Irwan Abdul Rahman is not quite like anyone else.

When he shoots, he smiles. Not during a shot, but between them.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 13, 2018, with the headline A great shot of confidence. Subscribe