By Abdellatif Sharaa

KUWAIT: "Kuwait Shooting Sport Community is honored and proud to start its season with the HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah third annual shooting championship," said the President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federation Duaij Al-Otaibi during a press conference on Monday. He said the tournament includes all Olympic competitions in skeet, trap, 10m air rifle and pistol, 25m rapid pistol, and 50m rifle and archery for men, women and juniors.

Otaibi said the tournament, which has around 300 participants including shooters from Qatar and UAE, evaluates shooters' levels for national teams, as there are important upcoming events around the world, some of which will decide who qualifies for the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said Kuwait Shooting Sport Club is working on having the largest possible number of athletes qualify for the Olympics. He said the presence of Gulf shooters will add to the technical level as well-known and established shooters will compete against each other.

Otaibi said the organizing committee decided to allow juniors to participate, and the first competition was at the KSSC branch in Jahra in the 10m air rifle. Otaibi spoke about the achievements of the last season, including winning 76 medals (26 gold, 26 silver and 24 bronze at all levels). "We are proud of the performance of our shooters at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Turkey in August," he said.

Otaibi said the Asian Shooting Confederation issued its ranking for August, and Kuwait's Abdelaziz Al-Saad was on top. Meanwhile trap shooter from Kuwait Nasser Al-Miqlid was first, while among women, Sarah Abdulrahman Al-Hawal was first in trap. Otaibi appreciated the support of the leadership and Information Minister and State Minister for Youth Affairs Abdelrahman Al-Mutairi, as well as the Public Authority for Sport.

Otaibi said such support enabled officials to prepare everything necessary to hold this event that has a name that is dear to all athletes in Kuwait. Meanwhile, Secretary General of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Obaid Manahi Al-Osaimi said Kuwait is proud to organize the tournament of HH the Crown Prince to start the shooting season.