Dubai: UAE swimmer Obaid Ahmad Al Jasmi made it two medals in as many days when he was placed third on the second day of the first Asian Masters Swimming Championships being held in Nagoya, Japan.
On Friday, the 36-year-old Al Jasmi missed the top spot on the podium in the 50 metres butterfly after being pipped at the finish by Japan’s Taiji Jinsong and Keisuke Nakamura who went on to win the gold and silver medals respectively with an identical time of 27.67 seconds. Al Jasmi finished in third with a time of 27.68 seconds.
“I am really proud of what I have achieved so far. It is sad that I missed a gold medal so narrowly. But this can only add on to my experience as I see the possibility of peaking further,” he added.
The UAE swimmer had opened with a bronze medal on Thursday with a similar third-place finish in the 200 metres individual medley at the Nippon Gaishi Arena.
With two medals to his name already, the swimmer from Al Wahda Club was eagerly looking forward to the remaining three days of the competition.
“Growing up I always wondered when I would be rewarded in my career as a swimmer. After spending a major part of my life persisting in my sport I can now see the fruit. I have the experience to pursue my career and keep getting better by making use of my experience,” Al Jasmi told Gulf News from Japan on Friday.
The five-day competition targeting more than 1,000 swimmers from 19 Asian countries, is being co-hosted by the Asia Swimming Federation, Japan Masters Swimming Association and Japan Swimming Federation. As per the schedule each swimmer can participate in two events a day and ten races over the entire competition. Monday is the last day of the competition.
“I still have six races left and I hope to add on the medals,” Al Jasmi related.
“For me, swimming has become a lifetime sport. And by participating in the Masters events I have been able to re-enter the sport, develop friendships and still feed my need for competition,” he added.
Al Jasmi will be swimming in the 100 metres freestyle and 200 metres backstroke on Saturday. “There are several things that I can take away after the first two days of this competition. Even though I was in a weak heat today [Friday], I tried to push myself and see how fast I can go,” Al Jasmi said.
“I love the 100 metres freestyle and the 200 metres backstroke and this makes me look forward confidently for more medals,” he added.
