Sheikh Ahmed |
He said that he is well prepared for the Asian event. "From the beginning of the year I participated in four World Cups held in Australia, China, Germany, Finland and Dominican Republic.
"I didn't achieve good results although I finished seventh twice and qualified for the finals, but I came fifth. However it was a long and tough season," Sheikh Ahmed told Gulf News from Dragon Hotel in Changwon yesterday.
Ahmed carried the UAE flag in the opening ceremony last Sunday. He added: "I was very proud and happy to carry my country's flag in this dazzling Asian ceremony."
Sheikh Ahmed said that he wished he would like to see tournaments held in the UAE during the period in which there are no international tournaments.
"When we finish participation in an external tournaments and return to the UAE, there would be a long time separating us from the coming international tournament. If there were local tournaments or league championship shooters could keep their form without losing fitness or stay long time without competitions."
Sheikh Ahmed said that the World Champion Kuwaiti shooter Khalid Al Mudhef will be the top favourite to win the title in Busan.
"Khalid Al Mudhef beat this year the Sydney Olympic Games gold medalist two times. Also he beat the other World Champions. China also have excellent shooters as well as Korea and Japan. I think with all these champions, it could be a mini World Cup in the Asian Games. And no one could say who will win."
Sheikh Ahmed said that any thing could happen on the range on at it in Changwon because the world champions couldn't match with the range.
The UAE double trap shooter said that he is shooting with Bretta gun. He had signed a contract with Bretta three years ago to provide him with Bretta guns during training and tournaments.
Sheikh Ahmed used to play basketball for Al Wasl club in Dubai. He was also a squash player before he took to shooting. He said that he started to love shooting much before taking up squash.
"I began with shooting in the early eighties. But I started playing squash in 1985 and it lasted until 1995. Then I began shooting because it was my first love."
Sheikh Ahmed said shooting is not widespread in the UAE because there are not enough clubs.
"How can we make the shooting popular and have a strong base in the UAE if there are not enough clubs. There is only one club in Jebel Ali. There is a big shortage in shooting clubs. Also the cost of practicing shooting is high and few people could pay for it. I know there are many UAE youth who would like to practice shooting but they are not getting the chance."
Sheikh Ahmed said the local football clubs in the UAE could start practicing shooting if they want with the air pressure rifles which need only 10 meters to practice and doesn't require license.
The UAE top shooter said next year he will start preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens by participating in five World Cups and the Asian Championships which lead to qualification for the Olympics. "I wish we can achieve excellent results to qualify for the Olympic Games in Athens 2004. "
Sheikh Ahmed pointed out that no international shooting tournaments were held in the UAE in the last two years. "How can they ask us to achieve fine results and win gold medals without hosting international tournaments in our country. The last tournament held in the UAE was in 1997."
Sheikh Ahmed hoped the shooting association will play a big part in spreading the game in the country.
"We hope the UAE shooting association will double their efforts to spread the shooting in the UAE and could help us in developing our standard. We, as shooters, have to do every effort to promote our standard, and the association have to co-operate with us.
"So we can qualify for the Olympics. I hope if they are going to invite us for a meeting with them to discuss any problems which could face the association, we will help them. We are far from each other. I hope we could sit with them to plan for a bright future for shooting in the UAE."
However Sheikh Ahmed said the main problem which is facing the association is financial. "They need financial support for two things. First to establish their own shooting club, and second to organise tournaments and both these things need financial support."
He added that the association have to look for additional financial support from outside like sponsors as many associations are doing.
