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HIGHLIGHTS

  • Abdullah Al-Rashidi won the skeet men’s bronze at Tokyo Games
  • At 57, Al-Rashidi won his 2nd Olympic medal in his 7th Games appearance
  • Al-Rashidi competed as an Independent athlete in Rio in 2016

On a day when a 13-year-old from Japan won the skateboarding gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, a 57-year-old shooter won his second Olympic medal as the Games continued to offer fascinating fairytale stories.

Abdullah Al-Rashidi, 57, won a bronze medal for Kuwait in the skeet shooting event for men at the Tokyo Games on July 26. It was Al-Rashidi’s 2nd Olympic medal but first for his country.

In 2016, Al-Rashidi competed as an individual Olympic athlete after Kuwait was handed a ban by the International Olympic Committee.

Tokyo Olympics, Day 3 Live Updates

In fact, the then 52-year-old shooter helped raise quite a few eyebrows by sporting an Arsenal jersey for the skeet final. The Gunners shirt proved to be his lucky charm as he had ended his wait for an Olympic medal in his 6th Games appearance.

On Monday, Al-Rashidi was sporting Kuwait colours as he won the bronze, finishing third with 46 points. USA’s Vincent Hancock set a new Olympic record of 59 to claim gold while Jesper Hansen of Denmark secured silver with 55.

India’s Olympic medal-winning rifle shooter Gagan Narang took to social media to express his awe for the 57-year-old Kuwait shooter.

“Al rashidi winning skeet bronze at 57 years of age .. Take a Bow… Age is just a number.,” Gagan Narang wrote.

Al-Rashidi’s story is a perfect example for grit and perseverance. After going empty-handed in 5 Olympic appearances, the 3-time world champion finished on the podium in Rio. However, in his 7th Games stint, the Kuwait shooter was able to stand on the podium while representing his country.

On his Games debut Al-Rashidi had finished 42nd at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He finished 14th at Sydney 2000, 9th at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and 21st at London 2012.

Meanwhile, USA’s Hancock also made history by becoming the first skeet shooter to win three golds. Two shotgun events, two American golds, one sweet skeet sweep.

The United States’ shooting showing in Tokyo got off a strong start with 20-year-old William Shaner’s gold in 10-meter air rifle on Sunday.

Author

India today

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