Keysborough’s Natalia Rahman with her swag of shooting medals is looking to add World Championship and Olympic gold to the cabinet.By Shaun Inguanzo
ELITE sports shooter Natalia Rahman is hoping to gun down the mental foes that have cost her gold in the past.
Rahman, 24, flew to Croatia on Monday for the World Championships where she will compete in the women’s solo skeet competition this Saturday.
The Keysborough resident is riding a wave of success after winning Commonwealth Games gold, paired with fellow Aussie Lauryn Mark in March.
Rahman is also one step closer to qualifying for the Beijing Olympics, having met the Minimum Qualification Score at a leg of the World Cup earlier this year.
But still hurting are memories of a Games solo shootout for a bronze medal against English veteran Pinky Le Grelle.
Le Grelle was allowed to shoot twice following a protest as opposed to Rahman’s single attempt.
She missed both targets on her first attempt, but hit both on the second, while Rahman hit only one, booting her from medal contention.
However Rahman said this week a lack of focus was to blame rather than Le Grelle’s protest.
“The sport is mainly psychological,” she said.
“People play mind games and try and put thoughts into your head. It really is a battle against yourself.”
Rahman has seen a hypnotherapist and psychologist in preparation for this Saturday’s World Championship to help her focus in tough situations.
Meanwhile, the star shooter is now on the hunt for more sponsorship to fund her Olympic campaign.
Beretta International has given Rahman a $10,000 sponsorship and the City of Greater Dandenong gave her $200.
But a thankful Rahman said she needed other sponsors to jump on board.
“It’s very hard to find sponsors, but I’m always looking for them,” she said.
Rahman said she rejected offers from Croatia and Serbia to shoot for their national teams and be paid to do so – a luxury not afforded to shooters in Australia.
Father Goran and brother Paul are also champion shooters with all three having made state and national levels.
Paul Rahman was the youngest shooter to represent Australia at the Olympics when he was selected to go to Athens in 2004 at age 19.
