The current title holder of the Samoa Shooting Federation’s National Championship for 2020 and 2022 has paid tribute to his grandfather for his shooting prowess.

Ralph Pereira, 18, was crowned the overall winner of the 2022 Samoa Shooting Federation National Championship tournament on 15 January.

He told the Samoa Observer that he drew his support throughout the tournament from his parents and grandparents as well as family’s support.

“Nothing made me more happier and competitive than seeing my grandparents/parents and my whole entire family’s endless support, their never ending cheer and push,” Mr Pereira said. 

“It really motivated me to pursue my interest in the sport further and did my best to be the best.” 

He is the grandson of proud grandparents Ray ereiraP and Menime Pereira with the 2022 title now making him the 2020 and 2022 overall winner.

A graduate of the Pesega College, the shooting novice told this newspaper that his grandfather is his coach and biggest supporter. 

“I would like to thank my grandfather as he is both my coach and biggest supporter,” he said.

“I am so grateful for him in olding me to the young man I am today. 

“I can only hope to continue his legacy as the shooting sport is something we both share interest in, he has also trained me from a very young age until this very day.”

Mr Pereira joined the sport in 2016 when he was a Year 8 student and went on to participate in his first national championship in 2017 as a junior shooter with the junior-division, where he came third overall in the Samoa Shooting Federation Tournament. 

His interest in the sport continued into 2018 when he moved up to the intermediate-division and came second overall in the tournament.

It was not long before he qualified for the regional tournaments and was one of the selected participants to represent Samoa in the Oceania Games. 

As a representative of the Samoa’s Shooting Federations who played for the junior-division he then participated in the Oceania Games in New Zealand in 2019.

Four years after his first introduction to the sport, he made the A-division. It was also the same year when he came first place overall winner in the National Championship Tournament where he took home the title and the cup for the A-Divisions Championship Tournament.

The tournament was supposed to continue last year 2021 but due to complications it was postponed and after much anticipation the tournament finally took place on 15 January.