Gun failure haunts Olympic hope

Brian Rosario’s gun broke down in a recent international shootfest.

The Filipino skeet shooter was lucky the malfunction happened before the London Olympics, but the incident drilled a hole in his confidence.

Mikee Romero, president of the Philippine National Shooting Association, said Rosario has been dealing with the traumatic experience and should get it out of his system with five weeks left before the Olympics.

“His morale is down,” said Romero. “Each time Brian pulls the trigger, the thought of his gun breaking down consumes him.”

To regain his confidence, Rosario was enrolled by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the PNSA in a pregames training camp in London that will begin next week.

“I hope (the camp) will bring his confidence back,” said Romero, who contemplated hiring a sports psychologist to help the 29-year-old Rosario.

Before his shotgun failed in the 36th Southeast Asia Shooting Association Championships last week in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Rosario had had decent performances overseas.

He made 122 out of a perfect score of 125 in the skeet in the 2012 World Cup of Shotgun in Belgrade early this year and in another tournament.

Beijing gold medalist Vincent Hancock of the United States advanced to the finals with 121 points.

“It means that statistically, there’s a chance,” said Romero of Rosario’s medal chances in the Olympics.