Malaysian pistol shooter Wahidah Ismail is taking inspiration from London Olympian Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi as she bids to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games despite being four months pregnant.

Her compatriot Nur Suryani became one of the headlines of the London Games three years ago when she competed for Malaysia in the 10 metre air rifle despite being more than seven months pregnant.

Wahidah is eyeing selection for the Asian Championships – the last qualifier for Rio – in Kuwait from November 1-12 and was optimistic of making her first Games.

“I’m only four months pregnant ... so, I shouldn’t have any problem competing in the Asian meet to qualify for the Rio Olympics,” she was quoted as saying yesterday.

“Anyway, the pistol weighs only 1.26 kilogrammes, which is lighter compared to a rifle.”

Wahidah, 25, has had the experience of competing while pregnant after finishing 13th in the 10 metre air pistol event at the World University Games in South Korea in July.

She, along with Nur Suryani, won silver medals in team events at the Southeast Asian Games in June and has shot for Malaysia for almost a decade but never appeared at an Olympics.