Shooter Martina aiming to conquer nerves and fatigue

As Team Singapore prepares for battle at the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, its contingent includes several young up-and-coming athletes, many of whom are making their debuts and have the potential to be Singapore’s future sports stars. TODAY’s countdown coverage of the Games will be on some of these talented youth. The focus today is on shooter Martina Veloso.

SINGAPORE — Three years ago in Munich, Germany, Singapore teenager Martina Lindsay Veloso stunned the shooting fraternity worldwide when she won a historic gold in the women’s 10m air rifle at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup.

By beating former Olympic champion Katerina Emmons, the then 14-year-old became the youngest medallist in ISSF history, and fired herself to the forefront of the Singapore shooting scene.

But Martina’s greatest achievement to date has not been without its drawbacks. After setting the bar at such a high level, she began to feel weighed down by the increased expectations that were now being placed on her young shoulders, and this affected her at the 2015 SE Games in Singapore.

“I was still so young, so I felt really pressured, especially during my SEA Games debut in 2015,” said Martina, who did not win an individual medal in the end.

“While it was good that there were people supporting me at the Games, knowing that they were actually at the venue, and expecting much from me, was quite distracting.

“I wasn’t experienced enough to cope with the pressure then, and it was tough dealing with the expectations placed on me.

“But I think this is something that I will have to deal with all the way in my shooting career.”

Martina did not finish the 2015 SEA Games empty-handed, though — she managed to help Singapore win the 10m air rifle team event.

Two years on, ahead of the Games in Kuala Lumpur later this month, the 17-year-old believes she is now better able to handle the pressure of being one of the country’s top shooting talents.

Gunning for medals in the 10m and 50m three positions air rifle events, Martina, who set a new national women’s 10m air rifle record score of 421.0 in April, said: “Having had two more years of competitive experience at a senior level under my belt, I’m now more confident and able to handle things much better.

“I’ve also come to realise that the key is to focus on the process, and not the results. Thinking of just the results will only get in my way and distract me from what I need to do.”

These days, however, Martina has also had to face a different challenge: Fatigue. Since enrolling into Nanyang Polytechnic’s sports and wellness management course last year, she has barely had time to rest and recharge, with training — which can take up to a combined eight hours daily for up to six days a week — competitions and schoolwork taking up most of her time.

The former Singapore Sports School (SSP) student explained: “It hasn’t been easy … the polytechnic system is much more loaded than when I was at SSP, which allowed us more flexibility towards our sporting endeavours.

“I had difficulty adapting to this new lifestyle in the first six months, but I’ve gradually got used to it.

“Thankfully, my classmates are very understanding and help me whenever they can. My school is also very supportive and allows me to go for competitions.”

A five-day break last month after her return from a competition in Germany was the longest that Martina had this year, and it was sorely needed.

“It’s been back-to-back … every weekend I have local shoots or selection trials, or I’m overseas for competitions. On top of that, I still have school to worry about,” revealed Martina, who usually has dinner only at around 10pm when she gets home.

“I started feeling the fatigue taking a toll on me. So I really needed that break, to re-energise and refresh myself before the SEA Games.”

Martina also admits there are days she questions why she puts herself through all of this instead of leading a normal teenager’s life.

The answer, however, is always the same. “I choose to lead this life because I want to medal at the Olympics one day,” she said with a smile.

“I know there are many sacrifices that I’m making to achieve this goal, but I love the sport, and I know it’s all going to be worth it one day.”

WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR:

* Jasmine Ser (Singapore) – Two-time Olympian, three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Asian Games silver medallist (team) in 2006, and three gold medals at the SEA Games.

* Teh Xiu Hong (Singapore) – She won an individual and a team silver at the 2015 SEA Games in the 25m short pistol event, and a team bronze in the 10m air pistol.

* Hoang Xuan Vinh (Vietnam) – Reigning Olympic champion in the 10m air pistol, Olympic silver medallist in the 50m pistol, won two SEA Games gold medals in 2015.

* Johnathan Wong Guanjie (Malaysia) – Competed in his first Olympics last year in the 10m air pistol, won silver in the 10m air pistol at the previous SEA Games.