KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Annual International Grand Prix organized by Kuwait Shooting Sports Club, with the participation of about 220 shooters, in addition to the accompanying administrative and technical staff from 18 Arab and foreign countries, continues its competitions today, by holding the qualifiers of the Skeet (50 plate) competition for men and women, starting at 9:00 am at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Ranges Complex. The final of the competition will be held at 2:00 pm for women and 3:00 pm for men.

The tournament was inaugurated on Saturday evening, where the Governor of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Sheikh Sabah Bader Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah announced the opening, amid the official presence of the governors of a number of governorates of the country. Representatives of the International Shooting Federation and a number of heads of the continental and national associations participating in the tournament, wishing success to all shooters participating in this international sports gathering for the sport of archery.

In a statement to reporters after opening the tournament, Duaij Al-Otaibi, President of the Club and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Grand Prix, expressed his honor and pride and all members of the club in organizing the championship of His Highness the Amir, which enjoys wide participation from the most prominent shooters of the world, extending sincere thanks to His Highness for this patronage, which contributed to the development of Kuwaiti shooting.

Al-Otaibi said that HH the Amir’s patronage of the tournament, which brings together brothers and friends in an honorable sporting competition, reflects his fatherly support for Kuwaiti shooting sports at all local, continental and international levels, noting the efforts of all state agencies in providing all support for the success of the tournament.

He stressed that the Grand Prix is witnessing the participation of a large number of the world’s best shooters from brotherly and friendly countries, which will have an impact on seeing strong competitions, thanking all the attendees from the official and sports delegations participating in the opening ceremony of the tournament.

For his part, the Acting Director of Public Authority for Sport, Bashar Abdullah, praised in a similar statement the distinguished opening ceremony of the Grand Prix, which reflects the continuous success of Kuwait Shooting Sport Club Board of Directors, whether organizing championships or make Olympic, world and continental achievements on the sports level.

He stressed that PAS was keen to provide all aspects of support for the tournament and harness the capabilities to show it in the best way, indicating that PAS pays care and attention to the clubs and federations that have achieved, especially the shooting club, in order to continue to achieve more victories for Kuwait sports.

In turn, Secretary General of the International Shooting Sport Federation, Alessandro Giacomo, emphasized in his speech at the opening ceremony that this important tournament, which is held annually with the generous support of HH the Amir, has an important role in the development of international shooting sports through the participation of a number of international champions. Giacomo praised the role of the Kuwait Shooting Federation, headed by Al-Otaibi and members of the Board of Directors, in promoting the sport of shooting in the region by organizing the most important international, continental and regional forums.

He wished for the continued development and prosperity of Kuwait shooting sports. The opening ceremony, which was also attended by a number of sports officials, ambassadors of the participating countries, members of the participating delegations and the board of directors of the club, included a review of the parade of the participating teams, in addition to a short film about the history of the tournament and its important role in the development of Kuwait shooting sport.