Dahi clinches trap title in shoot-off

Dubai: Experience triumphed over youth as Obaid Dahi clinched the top spot in a shoot-off against Rashid Mejren in the 1st UAE Open Trap Shooting Championships held at the Nad Al Sheba Shooting Club on Saturday.

With both shooters tied at the top spot with 90 hits each, the very first shot in the shoot-off proved crucial with Mejren missing it and Dahi hitting the target.

"It was my experience that helped me today. I can't understand why a youngster should get nervous when he is in a situation like a shoot-off," Dahi told Gulf News.

Salem Obaid Salem Al Suwaidi of sponsors Suwaidi Gulf General Transport Establishment was the chief guest and presented the winner's trophy and cheque to Dahi in the presence of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Dalmook Bin Juma Al Maktoum.

Three qualifying rounds

Each of the 25 shooters who participated in the championships got the chance to visit the range three times after which the six best made it to the final based on their performance during these qualifying rounds. Leading the bunch after 75 targets was Mejren with a tally of 70 followed by Dahi with 69 and Radwan Fahd of Syria with a total of 68. Daher Al Aryani and Eisa Al Muhairi came in fourth and fifth with an identical tally of 66, while Ahmad Mejren won the three-man shoot-off to become the sixth and last finalist.

In the final, Dahi made a dismal start, missing his first two targets. But he recovered well to gain ground on the younger Mejren to be tied with 90 hits apiece. Mejren shot 20 and Dahi had 21 at the end of the final 25 targets.

"This is one of the best things happening for shooting in the UAE. Initially, we have had laments that there are no competitions taking place. It is no longer the case now, so the arrival of sponsors is more than welcome," noted Rafael Mohammad Yarrow, the national team coach. "A score of 90 is good enough," he added.

"This competition has been a great opportunity for the young shooters from our team," said Loay Hassan Al Naim, public relations manager for the Fazza Shooting Team formed under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

Asian championships: Al Aryani to fly UAE flag

Walid Al Aryani will be the lone UAE representative in the trap discipline at the Asian Shooting Championships to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, next week.

However, the youngster from Ras Al Khaimah will be joined by the trio of Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Mohammad Dahi and Daher Al Aryani in the double trap discipline at the same competition.

The trap competition will be held on March 28 while the double trap will be held on April 1. Also accompanying the squad will be Shaikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum, the UAE's Olympic gold medallist and coach Rafael Mohammad Yarrow. The squad is expected to leave Dubai on March 25.