Qatar’s Rashid Saleh al-Athba made history by winning the country’s first-ever individual gold medal at an ISSF World Cup, producing a near-flawless display to claim the men’s skeet title at the Hangzhou World Cup on Thursday.
Al-Athba edged Spain's Jose Maria Mielgo Moneo in a thrilling final, hitting 35 of his 36 targets to secure the gold and etch his name into Qatar's sporting history with a landmark victory in Hangzhou.
In Hangzhou, al-Athba showcased exceptional consistency throughout the contest, hitting 35 of his 36 targets to clinch the title. The Qatari shooter carried a perfect score deep into the final before missing only his final target, by which time the gold medal had already been secured.
The battle for the top step of the podium remained intense, with Mielgo Moneo matching al-Athba for much of the contest. The Spaniard finished with 34 hits, missing just two targets to settle for the silver medal after an outstanding performance.
China's Lyu Jianlin delighted the home crowd by claiming the bronze medal with 29 hits. Lyu remained firmly in medal contention throughout the final before securing another podium finish for the host nation.
Peru’s Nicolas Pacheco Espinosa narrowly missed out on the medals, finishing fourth with 25 hits. Japan’s Shotaro Toguchi placed fifth after prevailing in a tie-break against India’s Gurjoat Khangura, with both shooters ending on 19 hits.
Italy’s Niccolo Sodi finished seventh, while France’s Nicolas Le Jeune placed eighth after both were eliminated with eight hits.
The victory marks another major international success for al-Athba, whose composure and precision under pressure earned him the biggest prize in a final featuring athletes from seven nations and further underlined Qatar’s growing stature in world shooting.
Dr. Meshaal Ibrahim al-Nasr, President of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, hailed al-Athba's gold medal-winning performance at the ISSF World Cup, describing it as a proud moment for Qatari sport.
“This historic achievement reflects the tremendous and unwavering support that Qatari sport, particularly shooting, continues to receive," al-Nasr said. “That support has played a vital role in enabling our athletes to compete at the highest level and consistently reach the podium at major international championships.”
He added that al-Athba's success was the result of years of hard work, careful preparation and the federation’s continued commitment to developing world-class shooters capable of excelling on the global stage.
The World Cup continues on Friday with more rifle, pistol and shotgun medals to be decided as the competition enters its closing stages.
