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Mairaj targets LA 2028 Olympics after fourth place in Doha

The 51-year-old Indian shooter says age is just a number as he sets his sights on Los Angeles.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

Mairaj Ahmad Khan
Mairaj Ahmad Khan (file photo) Photo: U.S. Army / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Raiza Dhillon finished fourth in the Skeet Mixed Team final at the ISSF World Shooting Championship in Doha. RevSportz reported that India scored 19 in the final after qualifying third with 146.

Key takeaways

  • Mairaj and Raiza finished fourth in the Skeet Mixed Team final
  • India qualified third with a combined score of 146
  • India scored 19 in the final, with Mairaj contributing 12 points
  • Mairaj is 51 years old and targeting LA 2028
  • Raiza scored seven points in the final

Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Raiza Dhillon finished fourth in the Skeet Mixed Team final at the ISSF World Shooting Championship in Doha, RevSportz reported. The Indian pair qualified for the final in third place after shooting a combined score of 146 in the qualification round.

Peru, China and India all finished with 146, with a shoot-off determining their respective bib numbers. In the final, India finished with a score of 19. Mairaj contributed 12 points, while Raiza scored seven.

Mairaj on missing out on a medal

Speaking exclusively to RevSportz after the final, Mairaj admitted that missing out on a medal was disappointing but said that reaching the final was another sign of his consistency at the highest level.

“Of course, missing out on a medal is disappointing because that’s always the goal,” said Mairaj. “But reaching the final shows that I’m consistently competing at the highest level, and that’s something positive to take away.

There were a lot of good moments in my performance, and I’ll focus on building on those. ”

Fight until the last target

Reflecting on his performance, Mairaj emphasised the importance of staying in the fight until the final target and focusing on the process rather than the result. ” he said. “I always believe in two things. Firstly, never give up! Fight until the last target.

Secondly, follow your process and leave the results to Almighty Allah! ”

Partnership with Raiza

Mairaj also praised his partnership with Raiza, highlighting the mutual respect and encouragement between the two shooters. “Raiza is a wonderful teammate, and we share a lot of mutual respect.

We kept encouraging each other throughout the competition, and I think that positive energy really helped us. Shooting may be an individual sport, but when you’re representing India, you always feel like you’re competing together. ”

LA 2028 and age

With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in his sights, Mairaj is focused on taking the journey one competition at a time. “Absolutely. LA 2028 is a big dream, but the journey starts with the next competition,” said Mairaj.

“My approach is to stay focused on the process, keep improving every day and take one championship at a time. If I keep doing the right things consistently, the bigger goals will take care of themselves.

” For the 51-year-old Mairaj, the motivation to continue competing comes from his love for the sport and his desire to stand on the Olympic podium. “Passion is what keeps me motivated,” said Mairaj.

“I still love the sport as much as I did when I first started. Every time I step on to the range, I feel there’s something new to learn and another challenge to overcome. Age is just a number in shooting.

What matters most is experience, discipline and the hunger to improve. As long as I have that desire to compete and represent India, I’ll continue to give my best. ”

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