By Yash Mudgal/Doha


Kazakhstan’s Vassiliy Struchayev and Qatar’s Mohamed al-Kuwari won the men’s senior and junior skeet gold medals respectively in the Qatar Open Shotgun Championships at the Losail Shooting Range yesterday.
In the men’s skeet final, Struchayev defeated Sweden’s Henrik Jansson 13-13 (7-6 shoot-off) to win the gold medal, while Saeed Abusharib of Qatar claimed the bronze. Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah finished fifth after he lost in a shoot-off.
Saeed Abusharib eventually won the bronze medal while Qatar’s Rashid Hamad Saleh finished fourth.
“I am quite happy shooting 120-125 without any training. I am taking part in the event after a long time and considering the championship is being played with new rules I think I performed well today,” al-Attiyah told Gulf Times.
“The clay targets were not very good and conditions were very windy, but it was ok… as it was same for everybody. I will soon start training for the World Cup which will be held next month in Al Ain and the World Championships which is in September in Italy,” he said.
Jansson, who lost a close final to Struchayev in windy conditions said: “It was tough conditions here and tough opponents here. Vassiliy was shooting superbly today, but I am not disappointed with my performance also.”
Mohamed al-Kuwari, initiated into the sport by his father-cum-coach Ahmed al-Kuwari and inspired by Nasser al-Attiyah’s exploits, was delighted with his first gold medal in the junior section of the event.
“I had to fight hard with other shooters from not only from Qatar but also from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Great Britain. I had a good start of 50 out of 50 and then I just hung on to make sure I have the best total.
“I tried to do my best and I’m very delighted to win the title here,” added the 19-year-old al-Kuwari, who has been the Asian junior and Arab junior champion.
Al-Kuwari, who is aiming to pursue his career in the skeet and wishes to be world champion one day, says the guidance from his father and inspiration from the
2012 London Games bronze medallist Al-Attiyah are motivating him to raise his
level.
“My father is the coach in the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association. Of course, he has been advising me from time to time. Nasser is a big hero for all the young shooters here. We all just dream to be like him one day,” added the Qatar University first year student.
David Pochivalov won the junior men’s silver medal and Niyaz Aghazada took the bronze. On Friday, Albina Shakirova and Olga Panarina won women’s skeet gold and silver medals respectively, while Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit claimed bronze.
In the women’s junior section, Hajar Mohamed and Sevda Mustafayeva claimed the gold and silver medal respectively, while Olga Khailova grabbed the bronze.