A good experience for rookie shooter

LONDON—The strength of the field was perhaps the least of Brian Rosario’s worries.

No, he was aware going into the skeet shooting competition Monday that he would be shooting alongside six World Cup champions and the reigning record holder and defending Olympic champion.

He was worried about himself, how he would fare in his first Olympics. Plus the chill and wind factor.

The tall, 31-year-old businessman from Malabon fired a perfect 25 in the third round of the competition but not before taking himself out of contention by turning in scores of 22 and 19 in the first two.

With qualification to the eight-man finals beyond his reach, he shot strings of 22-22 to close out his stint with a 110 total—a good eight points behind the No. 8 finalist and 13 off eliminations topnotcher and eventual gold medalist Vincent Hancock of the US.

“It was a good experience and I learned a lot,” said Rosario, who came undone by that nervy 19 in the second round marred by three consecutive misses in the middle of the string. “Hopefully I will be a better shooter if given the chance to compete again in the Olympics.”

Shooting coach Gay Corral said the chilly weather at the Royal Artillery Barracks firing range slowed Rosario’s firing reflexes in that disastrous round.

“I am terribly disappointed to shoot that 19,” Corral quoted the 5-foot-10 Rosario  as saying. “Hindi naging smooth ang movement ko sa mid-second round, parang nanigas.  (My movement became a bit stiff in the middle of the second round.)”

Philippine National Shooting Association president Mikee Romero said Rosario showed courage under the circumstances, pointing out that the shooter’s 25 in the third round was the first perfect score by a Filipino in the Olympics.

“He could make it to the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro if he continues to join tough competitions around the world,” said Romero. “He’s done it in the World Cup circuit and I’m sure, his latest experience here would make him aim for higher finishes.”

“The PNSA is ready to help him. We are aggressively making shooting stronger back home.”