KUWAIT: President of Kuwait Shooting Federation (KSF), Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the 13th Asian Championship Eng. Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi said the championship will be held on time, and the right to distribute the qualifying places was guaranteed for the State of Kuwait during the selection of the host country which took place four years ago during the general assembly of ASC. He said the KSF reserves the right to distribute the qualifying places during this championship.

Al-Otaibi said the Higher Organizing Committee of the 13th Asian Championship rejects the unfair decision taken by the International Olympic Committee IOC and the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) 24 hours before the start of the championship after the HOC had taken all necessary preparations to hold it.

He said that there are 500 athletes representing 20 countries already in Kuwait, while 16 countries had made airline and hotel bookings to participate, which makes it a total of 36 countries and 1200 shooters and officials.

Al-Otaibi said it is not realistic to take such decision in Washington during the IOC & ANOC meetings with ISSF president, with the representative of State of Kuwait not defending the rights of Kuwait athletes.

He said those attempts by The IOC and ISSF are known to all and are an extension to the interferences by the ISSF since its elections in 2014 with collusion from Kuwait Olympic Committee to influence Kuwait shooting.

Al-Otaibi said the HOC holds IOC and ISSF responsible for the repercussions of this unfair and illegal decision, and will take all legal measures to safeguard the rights of athletes participating in the 13th Asian Shooting Championship, it will also take ISSF and IOC with its president Thomas Bach responsible for their actions.