KUWAIT: In an unexpected move Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah gave up his presidency of the Asian Shooting Confederation in favor of Bahrain candidate Sheikh Ali bin Abdallah Al Khalifa, who was elected by acclamation to be president for the next four years. The move took place during the ordinary general assembly meeting of ASC Friday, on the sidelines of the 13th Asian Shooting Championship being held in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Engineer Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi gave up his membership of ASC executive committee to other Asian candidates, as all those attending were taken by surprise by these moves.

The general assembly chose Sheikh Salman as honorary president of ASC, while Chinese Lee Fing was chosen honorary secretary and Engineer Duaij Al-Otaibi for honorary membership. The general assembly lauded the major role Kuwait had played in developing the sport of shooting, also laws of Kuwait Shooting Federation which agrees with the Olympic charter.

Information Minister, State Minister for Youth Affairs, Honorary President of the Asian Shooting Confederation Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah congratulated all winners for their new posts and congratulated Bahrain for having Sheikh Ali bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa President of ASC. He said the Asian community gives Kuwait total support in its current crises, and believe that Kuwait was treated unfairly, though local laws agree with the international ones. The general assembly said the ISSF decision for the Olympics is unfair, adding that there is a unanimous decision from ASC to ISSF asking it to reverse its decision in order to safeguard the rights of shooters.

Unfair

Sheikh Salman said he will not be away from the Asian shooting community and will continue supporting them in various events and activities. Meanwhile, President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Eng Duaij al-Otaibi said, his drop out of the elections had nothing to do with the decision to suspend Kuwait Sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He said he preferred to stay away to send a message to some who claim that we are looking for posts, and prove to them that the highest goal is Kuwait sports in general, and not the lies they are spreading.

Meanwhile, ASC President Sheikh Ali bin Ibrahim al Khalifa thanked Sheikh Salman and said he will continue the march of Sheikh Salman to fulfill the Asian ambitions. He said the issue of considering Asia's Championship in Kuwait not qualifying for the Olympics is the most important and considered it unfair and was made after intense preparations by all countries.

Results of Friday's competitions are as follows:

Skeet Men

1. Saud Habib - Kuwait

2. Saif bin Futais - UAE

3. Shuai Tang - China

Skeet Men Junior

1. Angad Vir Singh Bajwa - India

2. Naser Al-Mutairi - Kuwait

3. Anant Jeet Singh Naruka - India

Skeet Men Team

1. China

2. Kuwait

3. UAE

Skeet Men Team Junior

1. India

2. Kuwait

3. Qatar

10 M Air Pistol Women

1. Heena Sidhu - India

2. Gundegamaa Otryad - Mongolia

3. Jangmi Kim - Korea

10 M Air Pistol Women Junior

1. Shri Nivetha Paramanantham - India

2. Shinemurun Nyamdorj - Mongolia

3. Hessun Kim - Korea

10 M Air Pistol Women Junior Team

1. India

2. Mongolia

3. Korea

10 M Air Pistol Women Team

1. Korea

2. Chinese Taipei

3. China

10 M Air Pistol Women Youth

1. Soo Young Sim - Korea

2. Haniyeh Rostaiyan - Iran

3. Jeoungmin Min - Korea

10 M Air Pistol Women Youth Team

1. India

2. Korea

3. Iran

25 M Pistol Men Junior

1. Shivam Shukla - India

2. Jung Woo Park - Korea

3. Lee Jaek Yoon - Korea

25 M Pistol Men Junior Team

1. Korea

2. India

3. Thailand

50 M Rifle 3 positions Women Junior Team

1. Iran

2. Mongolia

3. Korea

50 M Rifle 3 positions Women Junior

1. Najmeh Khedmati - Iran

2. Fatemeh Karamzadeh - Iran

3. Meng Yao shi - China

The medal situation as of Friday is as follows:

India now tops the medals table with 12 gold, 8 silver and 8 bronze, while China dropped to second place with 11 gold, 8 silver and bronze. Korea 9 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze, Iran 5 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze. Kuwait 3 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze, Kazakhstan 2 gold, Tajikstan 1 gold, Mongolia 4 silver, 1 bronze, Malaysia and UAE 1 silver and 1 bronze each, Singapore and Taiwan 1 silver each and Vietnam 2 bronze.

By Abdellatif Sharaa, Staff Writer