DOHA (Qatar): It was a double delight for Hamad brothers in the skeet event of 2020 Amir Cup Shooting & Archery Championships after they won the gold and silver at the Losail Shooting Range on Saturday.
Elder brother Masoud Saleh, 2002 Asian Games gold medalist, took the gold with younger one Rashid Saleh, a two-time Olympian having to settle for the silver while Saeed Hamad Abu Sharib took the bronze.
In the women’s skeet event, Hajar Mohammed overcame her close friend Reem Al Sharshani to clinch the top place. Amal Al Rafeea bagged the bronze medal.
Masoud, who turned 48 last month, was delighted with the win.
“It is a nice feeling to win the title and take part in the such a prestigious competitor like the Amir Cup. We are ready for any competition,” Masoud told KHEL UPDATES.
The veteran shooter, who has taken part in various World Cup’s and World Championships, also won a silver at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
A tough field…
Masoud said that the field boasted of several top stars, and hence the competition level was high.
“The competition was a tough one with the likes of Nasser (Saleh Al Attiyah) , Rashid (Saleh Hamad), Saeed Hamad (Abu Sharib). They are all experienced shooters who have represented Qatar over the years and part of the big shooting family. So, it was a touch and go right from the qualification stage,” added the soft-spoken shooter.
Masoud also said that the tough competition and the emergence of new talents augurs well for Qatari shooting, and added fighting for the top place with his younger brother was a different experience but a not a new one.
“We have taken part in the various competitions over the years and competing for the first two places was not something new. We help each other and pin point each other’s shortcomings over the years,” he disclosed.
Rashid, 34, who took to shooting inspired by his elder brother said he went into the gold medal shootout with a relaxed mind.
“I took shooting because of my elder brother. He has won many medals at the Asian level. I have learnt a lot over the years from him. He has passed a lot of trick on to me,” said Rashid, who represented Qatar at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and 2016 Rio Games.
Nasser Al Attiyah fails to make it to final round
In the men’s event, Masoud, who had a perfect score in the each of the three rounds on Friday, continued from where he left on Saturday and qualified for the final round along with five others.
Joining Masoud were Saeed Hassen Ali Essa AL Mannai, Mohammed Ahmed Al Kuwari and Rashid, but six-time Olympian Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah could not make it to the final round.
The 2012 London Games bronze medalist, who is also a three-time Dakar Rally winner, finished tenth leaving the field to the likes of Masoud and Rashid to have a go at the top prize.
In the final round, Rashid who qualified in the sixth spot, raised the bar by several notches and got a perfect score in the first round of 25 targets but could not maintain the same level of consistency in the remaining targets.
Masoud on the other hand missed one target in the first round of 25 targets in the first round and thereon it was a three-way contest between Saeed Hamad and younger brother Rashid.
The trio set the pace which the other three found hot to handle and one by one they made an exit leaving Rashid, Masoud and Saeed Hamad to have a got at the top prize.
Saeed Hamad also missed a few targets and had to settle for the bronze leaving the Hamad brothers to fight for the top prize.
The two brothers were in no mood to give the title on a platter and with the scores tied the tiebreaker had to come into play to break the deadlock.
In the end, the more experienced of the two, emerged on top as Rashid missed a target and Masoud shot the clay pigeon which came in his direction.
