Doha: The UAE has always been ahead of the game when it comes to shooting. The country boasts its only ever Olympic gold medal — won by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Hashr Al Maktoum in Athens in 2004 — in the discipline.
More recently, Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum won gold at the ISSF World Cup final in the skeet event in October in Al Ain, while Saif Manie Al Shamsi won the Arab Double Trap Championship in Morocco in November.
In the last Arab Games in Cairo four years ago, Shama Al Muhairi won the gold medal for the ladies Pistol 25m, while Al Shamsi won a silver in the double trap, Adil Mohammad Al Mulla a bronze in the Pistol 50m and Khalid Hassan Malulla two bronze medals in the air rifle category for 10m and 50m.
"We are ready to better this record." Al Shamsi told Gulf News. "We have a group of the best shooters in the Arab world and I believe we are well prepared for the competition.
"Shaikh Saeed has a good chance to win the skeet after his brilliant performance in the ISSF World Cup Final, while the Mijrin brothers are regarded as top class.
"For myself, I am ready. After taking part in the Arab Championship in Morocco, I competed in the Asian Championship in Kuala Lumpur and reached the final…I won a silver in the last Games in Egypt and I am determined to achieve a better result this time in Doha. Our most serous competitors will be from Kuwait and Qatar, but I have confidence in our team and all we need is a little bit of good luck."
Team
The UAE shooting team:
Men: Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum, Saif Manie Al Shamsi, Mohammad Ahmad Dahi, Rashid Ahmad Bin Al Shaikh Mijrin, Hamad Ahmad Bin Al Shaikh Mijrin, Ahmad Mohammad Bin Al Shaikh Mijrin, Mohammad Hussain Ali, Al Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and Saif Khalifa Bin Futais.
