Paris – In her first Olympic appearance at the Paris Games, Shahd Mohamed recorded a personal best, finishing seventh in the third preliminary heats of the women’s 100m at the Stade de France on Friday. The 20-year-old sprinter clocked 12.53 seconds, securing the 25th spot out of 36 competitors. The top three in each heat, along with the next five fastest qualifiers, advance to the next round.
Specializing in the 400m race, Shahd was pleased with her performance and the valuable experience gained. She expressed her determination to return stronger in future competitions. Shahd previously won a bronze medal in the West Asian Championship in Iraq and a silver in the mixed relay at the same event. She also had the honor of carrying the Qatari flag alongside Olympic high jump champion Mutaz Barshim during the opening ceremony last week.
Meanwhile, Rashid al-Athba’s medal hopes dimmed after the Qatari shooter placed 23rd in the men’s skeet qualification at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre on Friday. Al-Athba shot scores of 24, 22, and 23 out of 25 targets in the three rounds.
The final two series are scheduled for today, with the top six shooters advancing to the final. American Vincent Hancock leads the qualification with a perfect score of 75 out of 75, followed by his compatriot Conner Prince with 74.
The skeet competition featured significant Arab participation. Kuwaiti Mohamed al-Daihani ranked 20th, Egyptian Azmi Mehelba 15th, Palestinian George Salhi 29th, and Egyptian shooter Omar Ibrahim 30th.
Despite the setbacks, the participation of these athletes highlights the growing presence and competitiveness of Arab nations in the Olympic Games. Shahd Mohamed’s performance, in particular, showcases the potential and promise of young athletes representing their countries on the global stage.
