Shooters steal show in Baku

SHOOTERS did Qatar proud as they bagged five of the country’s six medals at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku last week.

Aldana Saad Al Mubarak hogged the limelight by claiming women’s 25M pistol gold while Ahmed Sayed Al Shammari won men’s 25M standard fire pistol silver.

Nasser Ali Al Hemaidi (men’s trap), Kholoud Hassan Al Khalaf (women’s trap), Kholoud/Mohammed Khejaimi (mixed team trap) all clinched bronze medals.

Qatar’s only other medal came in artistic gymnastics when Ahmed Al Dayyani bagged men’s pommel horse bronze.

A 75-member team is representing Qatar at the event’s fourth edition, which was officially opened by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at a spectacular ceremony at the Baku Olympic Stadium. The show revolved around the theme of togetherness in the Islamic world.

A total of 3,500 athletes from 57 countries are fighting it out at the Games, which will conclude on May 22.