Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum led the UAE men's team to the gold medal at the Asian Shooting Championship in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday. He also won the gold medal in the individual event to secure his place at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The UAE team, comprising Shaikh Juma, Saif Manee Al Shamsi and Mohammad Abdullah Dahi, collected 416 points ahead of silver medallists Kuwait, who scored 405 points. India won the bronze.
The three UAE marksmen achieved a place in the final shootout of the individual event, which featured the top six shooters from the team competition. Shaikh Juma finished first with 181 to win the gold medal and claim a place at the Double Trap competition in the Olympic Games, followed by Kuwaiti Fahd Al Daihani with 180. The UAE's Al Shamsi finished third with 178 to win the bronze and Dahi was fourth with 177.
Shaikh Juma said: "I dedicate this victory to the leaders of the UAE for their unstinting backing for the sport and young people, and I would like to stress that this victory would not have been achieved if it hadn't been for the support of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Dubai Sports Council.
"I am delighted with this achievement and I would like to express my gratitude to my coach, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Hasher Al Maktoum, and to my colleagues in the UAE team, who did their best in this championship.
"I hope that I will achieve another victory in the Olympic Games for my country as my coach Shaikh Ahmad did in Athens in 2004," Shaikh Juma added.
Shaikh Ahmad, the coach of the Double Trap team, expressed his delight with the two gold medals won by the UAE shooters and added: "I would like to congratulate the members of the teams for their brilliant performances and excellent results. Shaikh Juma, Saif and Mohammad have proved to be in a class of their own."
