Fiji’s Glenn Kabel dominated the second round of the Pacific Games shooting competition at the Tafaigata Shooting Range last week.

And while he managed to beat Samoan gold medallist Franco Caffarelli after a shoot-off for the single barrel event in the shotgun category in the Individuals’ event, he has become one of the many fans of the 19-year-old Samoan who beat him in the first round in a shoot-off.

He told the Samoa Observer in an interview that he cannot get over the shooting prowess of the young Samoan shooter. 

"I’m just blown away with the ability of the Samoan young shooter Franco and he’s actually very well and it’s a pleasure to see someone coming through the Oceania Region showing so much promise to shooting,” he said.

“It would please me now and we can develop him into shooting for the Olympics’ disciplines and that he goes on and represents Samoa in the Olympics Games. It’s my first time against Franco and I’ve been shooting for Fiji roughly since 2000 and this is my fifth Pacific Games.”

The Fijian is currently ranked in the world top five and he has his eyes set on the Oceania titles in November this year, in order to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. 

“I’ve already shot the qualifying scores for Tokyo but I need to get the quote of position to go,” he added. 

Kabel said he is enjoying the hospitality of Samoa and it was great that Samoa hosted the Games again after 2007. 

“I’m enjoying Samoa and I’m fortunate and glad that Samoa’s hosting the Games again and they’ve also done a great job in the past year and all credits to them,” he said.

“They’ve fostered possibly another rival event that we can look at in the future and it’s promising signs in relation to the sports where it’s going and how it’s going to develop.”