KUWAIT: His Highness The Crown Prince Shooting Tournament and 13th Gulf Shooting Championship concluded Saturday evening at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex. Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al- Ahmad, Hawally Governor, told Journalists following the closing ceremony that the championship had a special meaning for Kuwait and GCC shooters. He said competitions were close, and results were high by most shooters who shared the various medals, adding that the real victory is the gathering of GCC athletes in a loving atmosphere and fair competition. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf congratulated the winners and wished all success in future competitions.

He lauded the great efforts exerted by Kuwait Shooting Sports Club president and board members in order to bring out the championship in a fitting fashion that reflected the Gulf brotherhood relations between the region’s shooters and expressed hope that such events continue to contribute to the development of the sport of shooting. President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Eng. Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi welcomed representative of HH The Crown Prince, sports personalities, fans and media. Al-Otaibi lauded the unlimited support of HH The Crown Prince to the sport of shooting and his contribution to motivate shooters to continue making their achievements in various arenas regionally, internationally and at the Olympic levels. He said KSSC look forward to organize such tournaments, adding that Kuwait shooters were honored this year by receiving GCC countries shooters which witnessed wide ranging participation of more than 250 shooters.

Al-Otaibi said the competitions included Olympic skeet, trap, double trap, pistol, rifle and archery, adding that competition was fierce as all wanted to win the prestigious cup. Al-Otaibi said that he was honored ever since its start with the patronizing of an annual tournament in the name of HH The Crown Prince in support and encouragement for the shooters and declared the start of KSSC season. He said the distinguished achievements of Kuwait shooting was by qualifying for two spots at the Brazil 2016 Olympics by Khalid Al-Mudhaf and Ahmad Al- Afasi.

Al-Otaibi spoke about the Arab and Asian achievements that Kuwait shooting had made most notably the Grand Prix that was held in Azerbaijan where Kuwait won one gold, two silver and four bronze, in addition to the Arab championship that was held in Morocco where Kuwait bagged 11 various medals. He said those achievements are the result of the generous support Kuwait shooting is receiving from HH The Amir, HH The Crown Prince, and HH The Premier, adding that KSSC is proud of such support. Al-Otaibi also lauded the role of PAYS Chairman of the Board Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Sabah and his deputies, as well as all state establishments that backs sport of shooting. He thanked the committees involved in the organization of HH The Crown Prince tournament as well as the technical and administrative department for their contributions. Results of the last day of competition are as follows:

In Archery:

Recurve Men Team:

1- Kuwait

2- Saudi Arabia

3- UAE

Recurve Men Individual:

1- Abdulelah bin Ali - KSA

2- Otaib Arafat - KSA

3- Abdullah Taha - KWT

Compound Men Team:

1- Kuwait

2- Qatar

3- KSA

Compound Man Individual:

1- Abdulaziz Al-Roudhan - KSA

2- Ahmad Alabadi - QAT

3- Ahmad Al-Shatti - KWT

Trap Men Team:

1- Fuhaid Al-Daihani - KWT

2 - Dhaher Alaryani - UAE

3- Talal Al-Rashidi - KWT

Skeet Team Men:

1- Kuwait

2- Qatar

3- Bahrain

Skeet Men Individual

1- Abdullah Alrashidi - KWT

2- Abdelaziz Al-Saad - KWT

3- Khalid Al-Muhannadi - QAT

50 Meter Pistol Men Team

1- KSA

2- Kuwait

3- Oman

50 Meter Pistol Men Individual

1- Atallah Alenzi - KSA

2- Hammad Alnmshan - KWT

3- Aqeel Albdrani - KSA

By Abdellatif Sharaa