Skeet champ has a double in her sights

Above right: Keysborough’s Natalia Rahman proudly displays her Commonwealth Games

By Shaun Inguanzo
KEYSBOROUGH skeet shooter Natalia Rahman is on target for two Commonwealth Games gold medals after winning her first on Monday and feeling confident heading into tomorrow’s competition.
The 23-year-old finance administrator won gold on Monday at the Melbourne Gun Club range in Lilydale, in the women’s skeet pairs along with fellow Aussie, Lauryn Mark.
The pair were defending the gold medal title they earned at the Manchester 2002 games.
An ecstatic Rahman this week said the feeling of victory was ‘indescribable’, and she was overwhelmed by the home-crowd support.
“I think I heard someone say there were 3000 people out there in the grandstand,” she said.
“It was just a feeling that you can’t describe, I’ve shot in front of crowds but never in front of a home-crowd like that.”
Now, with only her single skeet shooting competition to go, Rahman this week said she was confident that a second medal – even gold – was possible heading into Friday’s event.
“I think I give myself a better chance solo, because in pairs you are worried about disappointing the other half of the team,” she said.
“I will be doing it for myself…it takes more pressure off you, therefore you put more effort into going out and doing what you have to do.”
If Rahman wins, it will be the first time the young shooter claims Commonwealth gold in the solo competition, after managing silver at the 2002 games in Manchester.
Rahman shot a perfect 25 in her first round, followed by a score of 20 in her second, and coupled with Mark’s scores of 24 and 21, it was enough for the pair to defend the gold medal against silver medallist Cyprus and bronze medallist England.