London: Shaikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum, the UAE’s lone Olympic gold medalist, has described Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmouk Al Maktoum’s Games debut as “the entry of a calf among the lions” even as he tipped the double-trap shooter as his true successor.
Shaikh Juma will bid to emulate his teacher when he competes from 10.30am BST (1.30pm UAE) today alongside Qatar’s Rashid Al Athba, Filipe Fuzaro of Italy, Hu Binyuan of China, Hakan Dahlby of Sweden and Jose Torres Laboy of Paraguay.
A relative newcomer to the sport, Shaikh Juma won a silver medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games at the end of 2010 and since then has worked tirelessly to qualify for the London Games.
“Shaikh Juma is the only athlete who has always listened to any advice that I have given him, and that is the reason for his success in the double trap. But when he goes out to shoot here, he will be like a calf among the lions,” Shaikh Ahmad told Gulf News as his student prepared for his Olympic debut.
“When I told people that Shaikh Juma would make it to the Olympics, they all laughed at me. But with his qualifying Shaikh Juma has proved all of them wrong. And the reason he has succeeded is because he listened.
“And he has the talent for shooting and due to these two factors he has achieved so much so far. Qualifying to the Olympics is an achievement for him, and anything more than this will be a huge bonus.”
Shaikh Ahmad was also quick to lend a consoling word to skeet shooter Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum after his disappointing 13th place on Tuesday. “What can I say? It’s plain hard luck. This is not the end of the world for us,” Shaikh Ahmad said.
“That’s what this sport is all about. His first round on Monday was a result of the pressure he had put on himself. I did expect something better from Shaikh Saeed, but it’s no big deal. The Games are not yet over.
“Ultimately, a gold medal at the Olympics is a mind game. And anyone who can deal with his mind puts himself in a better position to go after his goal and win that piece of metal.”
