(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) There are some sportspersons who prefer not to dwell in the past . let bygones be bygones they would say. While there are some who prefer to go down memory lane only to abstract positives from it which they feel have helped them achieve success over the years.
One such person is Tim Kneale. The 35-year-old dabbled in cricket and rugby during school. As a teenager he was leading the Man of Isle's U-19 rugby team when tragedy struck by way of an ankle injury and compelled him to try his hand at shooting.
"That (leg injury) stopped me from playing rugby. It came as a big shock, I was disappointed at that time, but then looking back I would not have achieved in rugby what I have achieved in shooting. I guess all these things happen for a reason," said the Double Trap world record holder at an event hosted by RL360 at the Jebel Ali Shooting Club on Thursday.
"I then got involved with shooting. We formed a team and worked towards getting to the 2002 Commonwealth Games. We didn't qualify though for it but qualified for the World Championship with the Great Britain team and we won a team bronze medal in 2010.
Kneale feels there aren't many shooters for Double Trap in Britain. "I guess because it's very difficult or then I think we lack consistency.
"Everybody wants to win a medal and consistently want to be in the leaderboard"
After a poor fourth placing at the Rio Olympics, Tim feels the British Shooting Federation has pumped in a lot of money to get more consistent and competitive athletes.
Meanwhile, IOC's goal of 50 per cent female participation for the Tokyo Olympics has unsettled Tim's plans. The change would mean men and women could be competing against each other in up to three events, which also meant scrapping the men's 50-metre free pistol, 50-metre rifle prone and the Double Trap events in favour of introducing three mixed events, one in each discipline.
"I think it's disappointing that they have removed an event that was so popular and easy to understand from a spectator's point of view. I think bringing in the mixed pairs event is great but it's just disappointing it's not my event."
Tim has his sights firmly set on the Double Trap event in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, should he be selected to represent the Isle of Man in Australia's Gold Coast in April. And he is also tackling a brand new challenge, with the aim of securing a place with Team GB at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"The aim would be to bring back a medal for the Isle of Man and Double Trap would be my best chance."
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