Dubai: The UAE's Olympic champion Shaikh Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum popped the biggest surprise on the final day of the Dubai Calibre 2005 by not turning up to defend his world title.
Shaikh Ahmad had been preparing for this competition and when he did not turn up at the Jebel Ali Shooting Club yesterday, everyone was taken by surprise.
A day earlier, Shaikh Ahmad had brooded on the apathy of the shooting officials in taking the sport to a higher level here. "I do not want to comment on why I did not come for the competition," Shaikh Ahmad told Gulf News yesterday.
"Anyone who is aware of what is happening to the sport here will know why I skipped defending my double trap final at the ISSF World Cup Final," Shaikh Ahmad stated.
"I do not want to give any further explanation on this," he added.
As a build-up to this prestigious competition, Shaikh Ahmad attended the official training for shooters held at the Jebel Ali range on Wednesday. He looked sharp as he totalled a score of 147 after three rounds.
