Double heartache for shooter Ser

INCHEON — Not once, but twice, it happened, when the calm so guarded by shooters was disturbed, when she heard the announcer at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range saying: “Jasmine Ser is probably going to be eliminated.”

The Singaporean was eventually eliminated in the women’s 10m air rifle final at the Asian Games yesterday, but the distractions did not cause her to finish fourth, as Iran’s Najmeh Khedmati, who had 207.9 points, and Narjes Emamgholinejad Andevari (206.6) — gold and silver medallists, respectively — as well as China’s bronze medallist Zhang Binbin (186.3) were simply better.

“I’m quite content because I just came from the World Championships and I didn’t shoot so well there. I was ninth at the last Asian Games and missed the final, but this time I was fourth,” said Ser, who celebrates her 24th birthday tomorrow.

“I’m surprised (2012 Olympic champion) Yi Siling didn’t shoot so well today, but maybe she felt the pressure. With this new format, you have to take it one shot at a time and can’t get affected by it, even if the announcer is saying, ‘Jasmine Ser is going to be eliminated.’ I could hear her but I just blocked her out.”

Facing an early exit, Ser trailed China’s Yi by only 0.4 points, hanging precariously in fifth place after the 13th shot. But Ser — eighth in the qualification with 415.9 — shot a perfect 10.9 to send her friend and rival Yi off.

However, Ser did not survive the second elimination threat, shooting 9.7 and 10.7 for a total of 164.9 to finish fourth.

She also missed out on the bronze medal yesterday in the women’s team final with team-mates Martina Lindsay Veloso and Cheng Jian Huan.

Shooting a total of 1241.1 for fourth place, behind China, Iran and South Korea, the Singaporeans were initially bumped up to third spot after China’s Zhang was disqualified following a routine equipment check, but an appeal saw the decision overturned.

China’s Yi, Zhang and Wu Liuxi won in a new world, Asian and Games record score of 1253.8, while Iran (1245.9) and hosts South Korea (1241.6) claimed the silver and bronze, respectively.

Said 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Martina, 14: “China set a new world record and they deserved it. It’s been really great for me because at this age, not many people get to go to the Asian Games.”