Hungarian's nerves stand test of thrilling shoot-off

One of the most thrilling moments of the Chengdu FISU World University Games on Tuesday occurred at the shooting range, where spectators witnessed four shoot-offs in the women's 25-meter pistol final between Hungary's Sara Fabian and China's Xiong Yaxuan.

They remained tied in three consecutive rounds until Fabian scored a four in the fourth round and eventually claimed a silver medal.

"I was very nervous at the beginning, and my heart was racing so much. After the second round, I felt a bit worn-out, but I knew that I had to concentrate in order to have the best possible score," the 21-year-old Hungarian said.

"My team also helped me a lot as I heard them cheering for me, so I was able to remain focused, and the results were good."

To spice up the event, pistol finals at the games are run in an elimination format, meaning that after the initial round, the lowest-scoring shooter following each series of shots will be knocked out.

Fabian competes at distances of 10 and 25 meters and has so far clinched two silvers in individual events.

"The finals have meant a lot to me. Now I can see that our hard work is starting to yield results, so I think that it has given me the motivation from now on to train harder and be prepared for team competitions next," she said.

Fabian majors in public management at the National University of Public Service in Budapest, capital of Hungary. She flew to China right after she competed in the International Shooting Sport Federation's Junior World Championships in South Korea last month.

Physical exhaustion and mental weariness, coupled with her introduction to a new environment in Chengdu, have made it difficult for her to stay focused.

But she said she has a toolbox of techniques to prime her for the game.

"Mental preparation has phases, and I can choose between different techniques based on what I need," she said. "I talk to my psychologists in Hungary, and relaxation is important before I go to sleep and after I wake up on a competition day.

"I also do a lot of mental training. I play the competition in my head and think about how I can make perfect shots. If you think about it, it's like you do it."

On the range, Fabian said it is important to not dwell on previous shots.

"You have to stay focused and always think about the next shot, not the previous shot. It can help a lot," she said.

At the athletes' village, Fabian has enjoyed working out at the gym, visiting exhibitions and participating in cultural activities and concerts at night as a means to further ease her anxiety.

"I really enjoy being in the village. Everyone is very kind," she said.

Due to her tight schedule, Fabian said she has not really had a chance to explore Chengdu.

"Monday was the first time that I had time to go visit the city, and I really enjoyed it. The people are very kind and welcoming," she said.

"I hope that I will have the chance to (travel around) on the last two days."

WANG XIAOYU in Chengdu

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn