DOHA (Qatar): 2002 Asian Games gold medalist Masoud Saleh Hamad had a perfect score on day one of the Skeet event at the Amir Cup 2020 Shooting & Archery Championship at the Losail Shooting Range on Friday.
Masoud, who turned 48 last month, hit the bull’s eye with scores of 25 each in the three rounds shooting down each and every clay pigeon which came in his directions.
Saeed Hamad Abu Sharib, missed one target in the first round but then had perfect scores in the next two rounds to go into the final two rounds of the qualification battle in the second place.
Two-time Olympian, Rashid Saleh Hamad was also in top form notching a perfect score in the first and third round but missed two targets in the second round and giving company to Rashid in the third spot is Hassen Ali Essa AL Mannai.
Ace rally driver and six-time Olympian Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah was in the fourth place along with Rashed Mohammed Al Hajri, both having missed the target mark on four occasions.
Nasser, a three-time Dakar Rally champion is bidding to make it to the Tokyo Olympic Games and is keen to perform at his best form in both local and international events in the run up to the multi sports event which has been postponed to 2021 on account of the coronavirus Pandemic.
Nasser, who will turn 50 on December 21, won his only Olympic medal, a bronze one at the 2012 London Games.
Rashid, who represented Qatar at two Olympic Games (2008 and 2016) is also keen to do well in the season ahead and qualify for the Tokyo Games.
On Saturday, two more qualifying rounds will be held with the top ten making it to the final round.
The event is the first shooting event held in Qatar after all sporting events came to a standstill in March on account of Coronavirus pandemic.
The event, organized by Qatar Shooting & Archery Association, will end on November 28.
In the women’s section, Hajar Ghulam Mohammed aleads the field at the end of the three rounds followed by Amal Ahmed Al Rafeea, Reem Gholome Al Sharshani, Hanan Ali Haji and Yasmin Gholome Al Sharshani.
Like in the men’s section, the women too will compete in the two qualifying rounds followed by the final round.
In the women’s junior, Aisha Ahmed Al Ansari and Fatma Ali Al Shiravi are competing for the top prize.
