World Championship is one of best stages for athletes to perform, says Sheeraz Sheikh
Indian shooter Sheeraz Sheikh has said that the shooting World Championship is one of the best stages for an athlete to put up his best performance. Sheikh also said that the Indian shotgun team is professional and hardworking and they are getting good support from the national federation and SAI.
Sheeraz Sheikh has been a consistent performer among the Indian skeet shooters in the World Cup but things have not gone well for the Indian as far as the final product is concerned. In the three World Cups in Acapulco, Al Ain and Changwon, he has been shooting 119 from 125 but failing to make it to the finals as 122 is the score for making a cut. He is yet to earn an Olympic quota and is now training hard for the World Championship which will be played in Lonato, Italy.
Although the World Championship doesnât offer an Olympic quota, according to Sheikh, it is one of the best stages for a shooter to perform.
âIt is the World Championship, one of the best stages for an athlete to perform at his best. There is no Olympic quota, but we have other things to fight for, like the medals, world rankings, and qualification for World Cup Finals,â Sheikh told Sportstar.
âSince, a lot of young shooters are in the team like Anant Naruka, Kartikki Shaktawat, Areeba Khan, it will be an amazing experience for them before they start for the last World Cup in Finland, where we have two Olympic quota places.â
Other Indian shotgun shooters Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Kynan Chenai and Prithviraj Tondaiman are also getting closer to qualify for the final rounds but missing out on those as well. The Asian Championship which will be held in Doha, Qatar will have Olympic quotas up for grabs.
âPost Finland, we have two very important selection trials for the Asian quota qualifierâ, mentioned Sheeraz.
ââWe are getting close and missing. Shotgun team is now professional and hard working. I hope good things will happen for us, especially with so much good support from the national federation and Sports Authority of India.â
