Tribune News Network
Doha/Paris
Qatar shooter Saeed Abusharib impressed on his Olympics debut but didn’t have enough luck as he missed the cut to make the final in the men’s trap event on Tuesday.
Abusharib, who had a total of 70 after the first three rounds on Monday, began with a telling round four on Tuesday getting a flawless 25 but he missed two birds in the fifth and final round. His total therefore being 118 out of possible 125. So tight was the competition that eventual winner Nathan Hales of Britain and silver medallist ing Qi of China, who topped the qualification, had finished with a total of 123.
A five-point difference placed Abusharib as 23rd. It, however, doesn’t reflect how creditable his performance was.
Abusharib later said, “I was hoping to reach the final, but God willing, the best is yet to come. I and thinking and preparing from now on for the upcoming events in order to achieve the best.”
The competition was very strong in light of the struggle between the best shooters in the world to qualify for the final stage which comprised the top six.
Among other Arab participants, Moroccan Idriss Al Hafari was the closest to reaching the final, as he scored 122 but he missed in the decisive round in the third shot 10th out of the 30. Kuwaiti Khaled Al Mudhaf ended 7th (120), and Oman’s Saeed Al Khatri, a wild card entrant, was 13th place (114).
