After clinching an individual silver medal in double trap shooting at the 16th Asian Games, the UAE's Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmook set his sights for a qualification for the London Olympic Games in 2012.
"This is the first step for our shooting team. The next will be to try and qualify for London in two years' time," Shaikh Juma told Gulf News in an exclusive interview before flying out from the Guangzhou International Airport late on Sunday.
Shaikh Juma shot a total of 182, four shots behind Indian gold medallist Ronjan Sodhi while Qatar's Hamad Al Merri — leader at the end of qualifying — had to stay content with the bronze at the Guangzhou Shotgun Centre here on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier the UAE trio of Dahi Abdullah, Saif Al Shamsi and Shaikh Juma had done well to come within a whisker of bagging the bronze in the teams' competition that was won by the hosts ahead of Kuwait.
"At the beginning I thought we were in contention for a team medal, but God wanted it to be this way and I am very happy, not just for myself, but for my country and its Rulers," Shaikh Juma said.
Dedicated
He immediately dedicated the medal 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.
"And the most important person is Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Executive Council and Dubai Sports Council, for his vision in leading the country's sports programme," Shaikh Juma said.
"I am confident that with their support we will be able to achieve the targets that we have set for ourselves and our country," he added.
With London 2012 firmly on his mind, Shaikh Juma promised that there will be no rest for them over the next two years.
Also a keen endurance rider, Shaikh Juma admitted that he will have to temporarily put his passion on hold till the aim is realised. "We have at least seven to eight ISSF World Cups and we hope to attend all these and see how we fare to qualify for the Olympic Games," he said.
"The feeling that comes in winning a medal at this stage can never be described. You put in so much of hard work and then suddenly you see your reward.
"It's an amazing feeling deep inside. I came to the Asian Games looking for a medal because I had worked hard before coming here," he said.
"Our task is now half done. The Asian Games were the first step..." he said.
