Qatar’s Hamad Al Marri clinched the silver medal in the Men’s Double Trap of the Qatar Open Shotgun Championship to prevent an Italian one-two at the Losail Shooting Range yesterday.
The 42-year-old from Qatar, a gold medal winner in the Double Trap team event at the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea, finished behind Italian Alessandro Chianese and ahead of Marco Innocenti. Al Marri, who has been taking part in the Asian Games since 2002, carded 134, along with eventful winner Chianese, in the qualifying rounds to make it to the final round of six. In the final round, Chianese edged the local challenger to clinch the top spot. The Italian shot down 66 clay pigeons while Al Marri shot one less.
In the battle for the bronze medal, 38-year-old Innocenti warded off competition from Khaled Alkaabi of UAE to take the third place.
Qatar’s Masoud Ali Aladba came fifth followed by Saif Alshamsi of UAE.
Chianese was happy to top the field in Doha in the first competition of the year, but admitted the conditions were challenging yesterday.
"Tough day. Tough final. Tough weather. Everything was difficult today. This is my first time to be on the podium here. I've got a good feeling (about) how I shot today. Also I’m quite delighted with this form before going to New Delhi for the World Cup," said the Italian, who heads to India for the championship which begins on February 23.
Al Marri, who has competed all over the world, from China to America, winning gold and silver medals in competitions held in the Gulf and a finalist place in the 2014 World Cup in Kazakhstan, was happy with his performance.
"I am happy with my level. But I’d have wished to do better than what I got in the end. The level of shooters is quite high. So I'm delighted with my performance. It is like a mini world cup here. All the top shooters are present here. So feeling great to have won the silver medal here," said Al Marri, alumni of University of Derby.
About his participation in the World Cup in Delhi, Al Marri said he was yet to take a decision.
“I will sit down with my team and take a decision whether to take part in the World Cup in Delhi,” said the Qatari.
For Al Marri, this is second medal in quick succession this year at an international completion. At the beginning of the month, he won gold at the 13th Arab Shooting Championship in Kuwait in Double Trap.
