Five years ago, ahead of the Rio Games, skeet shooter Abdullah Al-Rashidi had declared that the 2016 Games will be his last appearance at the Olympics since at 52, he was ‘getting old’.
He wasn’t happy to participate as an Independent Athlete as Kuwait was banned by the International Olympic Committee ahead of the Games. The veteran of five Olympics then, was so disheartened that he shot the match wearing an Arsenal Jersey, as he wasn’t allowed to sport the official Kuwaiti kit.
Nonetheless, he won a bronze in the men’s skeet competition. But he didn’t rejoice.
Retirement had to wait.
On Monday in Tokyo, Al-Rashidi won another bronze, and this time it was to his liking. He wrapped one Kuwaiti flag over his shoulder and saw another unfurl in front of him during the medal ceremony.
“The whole experience of him not being able to see his country’s flag at Rio made him stronger. He was upset, but he didn’t lose hope and worked hard for this day,” gold medallist in double trap at Rio and Al-Rashidi’s former teammate, Fehaid Al-Deehani, told TOI.
Al-Rashidi is not new to hard work. The shooter, who has been participating at the Olympics since 1996, was troubled by the Covid-forced restrictions, but he didn’t budge.
“It was a tough time for all the shooters, but Abdullah didn’t want to make this an excuse. The fire in him to win a medal for his country was burning so high that he kept on training hard,” Al-Deehani said.
At 57, the three-time world champion shooter was the oldest in the field of 30 shooters in Tokyo. But it was never about age for him.
“I didn't like seeing the Olympic flag at Rio. I needed to see the Kuwaiti flag,” he said after winning his match.
Al-Rashidi is accompanied by his trap shooter son Talal in Tokyo. “It is a great day for us and our country. We have been waiting for this day,” Talal told TOI, as he informed his father wanted to rest after he got emotionally and physically drained.
Al-Rashidi qualified for the final after getting tied with the score of 122. In the shoot-off, he did well to finish fifth, as the top-6 make it to the final.
In the final, American double gold medallist Vincent Hancock (London & Rio) showed why he was the best, as he shot 59/60 to take his third consecutive gold. The silver went to Denmark’s Jesper Hansen (55/60), while Al-Rashidi shot 46 for bronze.
India’s entry, Angad Vir Bajwa and Mairaj Khan couldn’t even come closer to the qualifying bracket and finished 18th and 26th respectively. While Angad shot 120/125 targets in the qualification, Mairaj couldn’t go beyond 117.
