Abu Dhabi: It was always going to be tough for UAE’s lone female swimmer Nada Al Bedwawi competing in the 50m freestyle and she couldn’t make much of an impact.

She finished the heats on 78th spot clocking 33.42sec but was quick to reveal that her aim has been achieved.

“My main goal is to break down these barriers; these gender barriers, and pave the way for other female swimmers,” said Al Bedwawi adding, “Especially in our country, people are reluctant to start something new. So when they see there is already a female swimmer who has been to the Olympics they will be much more encouraged to do so.”

There was disappointment for UAE shooters with five-time Emirati Olympian Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum also failing to qualify for the Skeet Shooting semis despite his best efforts.

Shaikh Saeed had an aggregate score of 93 going into the final round on Saturday but despite shooting a brilliant 25 out of 25, he couldn’t confirm a semis berth. His aggregate total of 118 was not good enough to see him through. Shaikh Saeed had shot 23, 24, 23, 23 in his first four rounds before finishing without missing a single shot in the final round.

UAE’s Saif Bin Futtais Al Mansoori, after a forgettable first round, also had come roaring back in the penultimate round with a score of 23 for an aggregate score of 91 on Friday. On Saturday, he managed to shoot 23 to finish with a total of 114 but clearly his first round effort of 21 had hurt him the most. With most shooters at the top of their game, Al Mansoori’s efforts too proved below par to see him through to the semis.

Abdullah Al Rashidi representing Independent Olympic Athletes and Marcus Svensson of Sweden having achieved incredible scores of 99 after four rounds, shot a brilliant 24 respectively in the final round to finish at the top tied on aggregate score of 123. Svensson’s compatriot Stefan Nillsson was blocked on third spot with Ukranian Mikola Milchev. There were five shooters including India’s Ahmad Mairaj Khan tied at 121 each and a shootout was imminent. Italian Gabriele Rossetti and Jesper Hansen of Denmark came up triumphs in that test and completed the top six for semis.