Doha: Changing to a new gun brought in a change in fortunes to Qatar’s veteran shooter Saleh Masoud Hamad Al Athba at the 11th Arab Shooting Championship.
The 39-year-old, a double gold medalist at the 2002 Busan Asian Games, clinched two medals, both silver, in individual and team event in the Skeet competition at the Losail Shooting Range here yesterday.
The Qatari lost the gold medal shoot out to Kuwait’s Zaid Al Mutairi.
Another Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Rashidi came third. Al Mutairi went on to complete a double as Kuwait won the gold in the Skeet team event. Hosts Qatar took the silver. Saudi Arabia bagged the bronze medal.
Qatar’s Al Athba was delighted with the twin medals he won in the Skeet competition.“For the last two months I have been practising with this new gun and changing to a new gun seem to be a wise decision,” the silver medallist said.
The shooter who drew a blank in the last Asian Games in Incheon South Korea said the competition was tough.
“It was tough and go. We have several Asian, Olympic and World champions taking part. So winning a silver medal was worth it in such high level and tough competition,” said Al Athba, who lost the final 15-11 to the Kuwaiti.
“In South Korea Asian Games I had the old gun with me and I took the decision to change to a new gun after the results in Incheon as I failed to get a medal,” said Al Athba, who also won a silver medal at the Asian Games in 2010.
Al Athba later teamed up to clinch the silver for Qatar.“I am happy for the young shooters who are coming through the ranks,” added Al Athba. On Friday, Qatar won two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.In the women’s section, Sarah Mohamed won the skeet gold while Matara Al Aseiri clinched the Rifle Prone gold ahead of compatriot Aisha Al Mutawa for the host.
In the men’s section on Friday, Qatar’s Ali Al clinched the 50m Rifle Prone bronze medal. Al Qahtani also led the host to the team event bronze.
On Wednesday, Qatar men’s Double Trap team – gold medal winners at the Incheon Asian Games also won the gold medal while the women’s team won silver in the 10m Air Rifle.
Around 250 shooters from the Arab world are taking part in the championship. Apart from host Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and Sudan are taking part in the nine-day event which will conclude on November 19.THE PENINSULA
