Qatar shooter al-Athba fails to qualify

GOOD SHOW: Qatar’s Rashid al-Athba competes in the men’s double trap qualification

London: Qatari shooter Rashid al-Athba yesterday failed to qualify for the finals of the men’s double trap competition in under heavy rain at the Royal Artillery Barracks (RAB).  Al-Athba, trying to become the second shooter to win a medal after compatriot Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah’s heroics two days ago, missed the cut by one spot, finishing in seventh place. The top six shooters qualified for the finals.  Al-Athba, 31, fired rounds of 43, 46 and 47 for an overall tally of 136 after making an edgy start in the qualifying.  “Yes, there was pressure on me,” al-Athba said. “Maybe I created the pressure on myself trying to win a medal after watching Nasser do it (two days ago),” he added.  “If I had done slightly better in the first round, I would have made the cut but I missed a couple of crucial birds,” he said as rain lashed RAB range yesterday.  The Qatari will take part in the men’s trap competition on Sunday.  “I can’t say how I would fare in that event because this (double trap) is my pet event. I generally train for this one but I am going for two events in London,” he added.  Today, Qatar swimmer Nada Arakji will take part in women’s 50m Freestyle, heat 3, at the Aquatics Centre inside Olympic Park. Another Qatari swimming Ahmed Ghithe failed to go past Heat 1 in the men’s 400m Individual Medley last week.  Qatari athletes Noor al-Malki (women’s 100m Preliminary Round - Heat 3), Mohamed al-Garni (men’s 1500m round - heat 2) and Hamza Driouch (men’s round 1 - heat 2) will be seen in action at the imposing Olympic Stadium.