DOHA (Qatar): Two-time Olympian Rashid Saleh Hamad continued his impressive run at the 2020 Amir Cup Shooting and Archery Championships after he won a gold in the Mixed Skeet event on the concluding day of the ten-day event.
At the Losail Shooting range on Saturday, Rashid teamed up Reem Al Sharshani to outshine Saeed Abusharib and Amal Al Rafea in the gold medal shoot-out 37-27.
The 34-year-old, who is eyeing third Olympics berth after having represented Qatar at the 2008 and 2016 Games, has been in top-notch form in the first competition after a six-month break due to coronavirus restrictions.
For Rashid and Reem, this was their second medal after winning a silver in men’s and women’s skeet event respectively.
In the men’s skeet, Rashid finished second behind his brother Masoud Saleh Hamad while Reem came second.
“Overall, it was a good tournament. Nice to be back at the shooting range and taking part in the competition and winning medals. Ideal preparation for the season ahead,” said the soft-spoken Rashid, who comes from a family of shooters.
Besides Rashid, six more shooters from his family are active in the sport in Qatar.
Rashid lauded the move of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSSA) for introducing the Mixed Skeet event.
“It’s a good move to have this type of events (Mixed Skeet) in the Amir Cup. It will help our national team cause and help us take part in the mixed team events at the Asian and World level,” added Rashid.
Complimenting his partner Reem, Rashid said she has improved leaps and bounds.
‘Reem is a keen learner’
“She is a keen learner and always asking for tips to improve. It was good that such promising shooters are coming through the ranks and QSAA is supporting them with the required technical inputs.”
Reem said it was a privilege for young women shooters to be part of the competition in which legends Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, Masoud and Rashid are taking part.
“We learnt a lot from them,” said Reem, who wants to compete in the Asian and Olympic Games.
Talking about her association with Rashid she said it was team work which got them the gold.
“We complimented each other as a team when I had a bad score Rashid raised his level to neutralize the low targets count, the so it was a great team effort.”
Masoud wins bronze
Earlier, Masoud won a bronze after a shootout with six-time Olympian Nasser and Hajar Mohammed.
Masoud incidentally is also a shooting legend and an idol for his younger brother Rashid.
The elder of the Hamad brothers has represented Qatar in four Asian Games and won one gold and silver at the continental competition, with his gold coming at the 2002 Busan Games and silver eight years later in Guangzhou.
