Officials attend the opening ceremony of the Crown Prince Shooting Championship.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: The annual His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Shooting Championship officially opened, attracting a strong contingent of shooters from 15 Gulf and Arab countries. The competition will run until November 15 at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Range Complex.

Farwaniya Governor Sheikh Athbi Nasser Al-Sabah marked the opening of the event, highlighting the growing significance of the championship, which this year sees participation from top Arab shooters. The championship will feature a range of events, including shotgun (skeet and trap) shooting, lead weapons (pistol and rifle), and archery (mounted and Olympic).

Sheikh Athbi Al-Sabah expressed pride in attending the opening ceremony of the "precious championship," commending its continued development and success over the years. He praised the excellent organization of the Kuwait Shooting Club and wished all participants the best of luck in this prestigious Arab sports gathering.

Duaij Al-Otaibi, Chairman of the Shooting Club and the Organizing Committee emphasized that the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince symbolizes unwavering support for Kuwaiti shooting at all levels. He also acknowledged the support of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince for Kuwaiti shooters' continued growth. Al-Otaibi also spoke of the upcoming His Highness the Amir's Grand International Championship in April, which will further showcase Kuwait's leadership in shooting sports.

Al-Otaibi reaffirmed the readiness of Kuwaiti shooters, whose exceptional performance at the recent Asian Championship has set high expectations for the upcoming competition. He extended a warm welcome to all Arab delegations, emphasizing that Kuwait is honoured to host them.

Obaid Al-Osaimi, Director of the Championship and Secretary of the Kuwait Shooting Club announced that the championship would begin with qualifying rounds for the trap shooting competition, with other events continuing until Friday. He also noted the Arab Championship for Shotgun Weapons (Skeet and Trap) would feature high-level technical competition among both men and women.

Today's events will include the finals of the "Trap" competition for both men and women, as well as the 10-meter air pistol competition. Both finals are set to take place in the evening.

Dr Mishaal Al-Nasr, President of the Qatari Shooting Federation, praised the modern and impressive opening ceremony and shared Qatar's enthusiasm for the competition. Qatar is participating in both the Skeet and Trap shooting events for men and women, with hopes for strong results. He credited the leadership of Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, President of the Asian Shooting Federation, and Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi for their contributions to the development of shooting in the Arab world and internationally.

Muhand Al-Fadil, President of the Sudanese Shooting Federation, also commended the professionalism of Al-Otaibi and Al-Osaimi, announcing that the Arab Federations have re-elected them for the next four years, recognizing their tireless efforts to elevate the sport across the Arab region.