Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum did his country proud by winning the men's skeet title in the ongoing ISSF World Cup Shotgun Final at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club (AESGC) yesterday.
Shaikh Saeed, a regular representative for the UAE in the regional, continental and international shooting competitions, has donned the UAE colours in three Olympic Games (2000, 2004 and 2008).
He won the gold medal in the Pan Arab Games in Egypt in 2007, gold medal at the Arab Championship in Kuwait in 2010 and the top honours of the Asian Championship in 2006 in addition to a silver medal at the Asian Games.
"I am overjoyed to have registered my first international victory at home. I have been waiting for this for a long time and now I am happy. It is the fruit of hard work and dedication," he said.
Strong field
Shaikh Saeed beat a strong field of 12 other competitors, which included rivals from Norway, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Kuwait, Russia, Denmark and Italy. He scored a total of 143 points in the skeet competition. He was followed by Tore Brobold from Norway who was three points adrift.
Incidentally, Brovold was the silver medalist in Beijing Olympics in 2008 and boasts of a gold medal in the team event in the skeet in the 2005 World Championship and two bronze medals in the skeet men and skeet team events in the 2006 World Championship in Zagreb. Spaniard Juan Jose Aramburu finished third with a total of 141.
Shaikh Saeed dedicated his victory to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and the people of the UAE.
Shaikh Saeed added that he will now focus on the Asian Championship in Doha next January to win a qualifying berth for the 2012 London Olympics.
"I hope I will repeat this feat in Doha," he said.
"Now I hope that Saif [Al Shamsi] will achieve a good result in the Double Trap." Shaikh Saaed said.
Saif Al Shamsi is the other representative of the UAE in the high profile championship.
