By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK – Namibia’s top Olympic trap shooter Gaby Ahrens will on Saturday get her first taste of what the new year has in store during the first round of national trials at the Luiperdsvallei Military Base shooting range south of Windhoek.
Between 10 and 15 shooters are expected to battle it out at the state-of-the-art range with Ahrens being one of the favourites after winning the season opening event last year. The 33-year old athlete from Windhoek also participated in last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, giving her a competitive edge over her local rivals.
However, Ahrens is expected to be among male-only competition this weekend. It will be the first national trial shoot of five, which are spread out throughout the year. All Namibians have to shoot a minimum qualification score (MQS) at three of the events to be able to represent the country at various upcoming international competitions lined up for this year.
“I have trained a lot over the last month and I feel good,” the two-time Olympic athlete explained. She continued that her aim is to achieve the minimum qualification score so that she can continue representing her country abroad. “I will do my best and I’m confident I can make the MQS,” she stated.
Gaby is once again supported this year by Hyundai Namibia, Wecke & Voigts and her gun supplier, Krieghoff, in her quest for excellence on the local shooting range as well as at international events.
The first competition of the season will give Gaby, a 2010 Commonwealth bronze medal winner,
a good indication of her current form. This will be vital as she plans to compete at two world cups this year, this first scheduled for May in Cyprus.
Ahrens’ season highlight will be the African Championships end of November, where she aims to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.