No worries over Malaysian Olympian mum-to-be

Malaysia's shooting team leader Thursday said she had no concerns about mum-to-be Nur Suryani Mohamad Taibi, just days before the heavily pregnant markswoman sets her sights on Olympic glory.

Muzli Mustakim said the 29-year-old, who is more than eight months' pregnant and needed special permission to board the plane to London, had not shown any adverse effects.

"She's just like any other athlete. She's acting like normal," said Mustakim. "She says the baby has been wonderful, doesn't stop her at all so far.

"It's a good baby because she's also very calm and she's mentally focused on her shoot so that helps a lot."

Navy logistics officer Nur Suryani is due to give birth to her first child in September.

The Malaysian, who won a shooting gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is competing in the women's 10m air rifle competition at London's Royal Artillery Barracks on Saturday.

When asked whether she felt tired after the long flight, she told AFP: "I feel normal. I'm still good. The problem is when I go back to Malaysia."

"I'm feeling confident with my condition," added Nur Suryani. "I'm always relaxed and good."

She was speaking shortly before a date with Malaysia's king on Thursday -- along with the country's other athletes.

Shooting requires an extremely steady hand and body and a key concern will be whether her unborn child -- a girl, whom she will name Dayana Widyan -- kicks at the wrong time.

Nur Suryani recites verses from the Koran -- Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country -- to calm the unborn girl, she said in an earlier interview.

But the confident Malaysian, who won Asian Games bronze in 2010, insists she is as fit as ever and that her scores have remained consistent in training even as her pregnancy has advanced.

She has adjusted her stance slightly to accommodate the physical changes, but says the extra weight has given her better stability.

Nur Suryani, bidding to win Malaysia's first ever Olympic gold, is due to fly back to Malaysia on July 31. She will be hoping she has to find room in her luggage for a medal.