NEW DELHI, Oct 3 Facilities for Commonwealth Games shooters in tiny Niue are so scarce that they are forced to use pigeons and fruit bats for practice.

The Pacific nation has no clay targets and no shooting ranges, and there are even difficulties getting ammunition and guns.

But veteran Sione Belle Togiavalu, who has competed at three Games, is unfazed.

“We lack everything,” he said. “It's hard to get clay targets. It is hard to get ammunition, even the right shotgun. Regular competition and a proper shooting range are items we don't have. We are here to gain experience.”

Togiavalu isn't expecting miracles here after a poor build-up.

“We only have one trap machine back home. While training for Skeet, we shoot the target and then aim for the fragments in the second round,” he said.

“When the targets run out, importing fresh ones is a problem. That has a lot to do with Niue's geographic isolation, so shooters turn to nature for assistance.

“During the shooting season, the team gains experience by shooting birds, pigeons and fruit bats. We then use everything that we shoot.” —AFP