LONDON (AP) — She’s shooting for two.
A Malaysian woman who is eight months pregnant will compete in 10-meter air rifle at the London Games. She found out she would be a mother just days after she found out she would be an Olympian.
Nur Suryani Mohammed Taibi is due in September.
Being pregnant means the 29-year-old Taibi has to get in and out of a special suit and belt for practice, but that is only one challenge: She is also drawing overwhelming attention that threatens her concentration ahead of competition Saturday.
To her parents, the mom-to-be is already a champion.
“Whatever happens, I’m satisfied already,” her father, Mohammed Taibi, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday from the family home in northern Malaysia.
“I’m proud of her. I’ve told her: If you can compete in the Olympics, that’s such an achievement already – all the more when you’re pregnant,” ”We’re her family, so we support her. We’ll be praying for her,” he said.
He said he and Taibi’s mother would be watching on television.
Taibi is ranked 47th in the world and won two golds at the Southeast Asian Games in 10-meter air rifle and 50-meter rifle in November. She finished fifth in 10-meter rifle at the Asian Championships in January to earn a spot on Malaysia’s Olympic team.
Taibi also reached qualified for the 50-meter three-position event, but she decided against competing in two Olympic events.
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Associated Press Writer Sean Yoong in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
