Azmi Mehelba took the skeet bronze medal at the World Shooting Championships, the first Egyptian to win all three medals in the same tournament but at different times. He had won the gold medal in Osijek, Croatia, in 2022, and the bronze medal in Granada, Spain, in 2014, reports Inas Mazhar.
At the Baku World Championship, which runs from 14 August to 1 September, Mehelba proved himself from the first day by qualifying for the final after finishing first in the qualification with a score of 125, equaling the world record. Greek Mitas Efthimios won the gold medal and Finnish Kallioinen Eetu claimed the silver. Fourth place was taken by American Hancock Vincent.
The World Championships is seeing fierce competition with the participation of 1,249 shooters representing 101 countries currently competing in various disciplines with the aim of not only reaching the podium but also having a chance to represent their country at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
During the events, 16 quota places per discipline will be distributed totaling 48 quota places in 15 Olympic finals. For the Egyptian champion, the goal in Baku was not the Olympic qualification since he had already obtained his Olympic ticket after winning the gold medal at the World Championships in Osijek in 2022.
Indeed, last year was a turning point for the Egyptian shooter, who started the season well by winning the gold medal at the Nicosia World Cup in Cyprus in March. Then, he confirmed his level by winning the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Algeria in July. These two meetings were of a very high level since the best shooters in the world had taken part in them. He closed the season by claiming the title of the world champion in Croatia.
“Making achievements for my country fills me with satisfaction, in addition to the fact of me being the first Egyptian to secure the Olympic ticket two years before Paris. Registering my name in the history of Egyptian sport fills me with glory,” says Mehelba.
“Qualifying for the Olympics very early is rather an advantage and a privilege. I would have plenty of time to reduce stress and plan a long-term preparation programme. I will draw up a detailed plan with my technical director Diego Gasperini who has been leading me for a long time. We have time to work on all the details concerning good preparation. The main goal of this programme will be the Olympic podium.”
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be the fourth Games in a row for Mehelba after London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He is hoping that at 33, he will be ready to climb the Olympic podium.
Mehelba is currently second in the world ranking. His record includes the bronze medal in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2023, gold in Osijek in 2022 and the bronze medal in Granada in 2014.
His first participation in the Olympic Games was in London 2012 where he came 36th, then 11th in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and 19th at Tokyo 2020. In the World Cups, he won the silver medal in 2014 and the bronze medal twice in 2016 and 2019.
He also has an impressive record in the World Championships, including the silver medal in Rabat 2023, gold in Nicosia 2022, gold in Lonato 2021, the bronze medal in Nicosia 2020, bronze in Lahti 2019, silver in Siggiewi 2018, and the silver medal in Baku 2016.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 August, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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