YILAN (TVBS News) — Olympic shooting bronze medalist Lee Meng-yuan (李孟遠) returned to the Ssu Fan Lin Shooting Range (四方林靶場) in Yilan on Tuesday (Aug. 13) with his medal, humbly stating that he will continue to strive for excellence.
Lee, who has trained at the range for nearly six years, emphasized his dedication to improving his skills. "I will keep striving. I can’t participate in the Olympics by just wishing for it; I must earn qualifying points abroad. So, I have to continue working hard," said Lee.
The Ssu Fan Lin Shooting Range, now managed by the National Property Administration (國產署), had faced scrutiny over alleged illegal use of buildings while it was under the Yilan County Shooting Promotion Association (宜蘭縣射擊推廣協會).
As a result, the National Property Administration reclaimed the land in July. However, the Yilan County Government’s Education Department has suggested leasing the land to private groups to continue nurturing shooting talent.
As the only national-standard live ammunition range in northern Taiwan, the Ssu Fan Lin Shooting Range is crucial for training athletes. If it becomes unavailable, athletes in the north would face significant inconvenience traveling to southern Taiwan for practice. Therefore, stakeholders are working diligently to keep the range operational.
Tsai Shih-ming (蔡世銘), chairman of the Yilan County Shooting Promotion Association, confirmed that the association could still use the range following negotiations.
These ongoing efforts reflect a broader commitment to supporting Taiwan’s athletes. The range’s future remains a key topic of discussion, with many hoping for a resolution that benefits the country’s shooting sports.