Doha: The world’s elite shooters will be seen in action at the Qatar Open Shotgun Championship which begins at the Losail Shooting Complex today, informed Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation (QSAF) officials.
Addressing a press conference here yesterday, QSAF disclosed that 170 shooters from 25 countries will vie for top honours in the Double Trap, Skeet and Trap events of the $1,23,000 championship.
“Shooters from Algeria, Australia, Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Norway, Oman, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Thailand, turkey, UAE, Ukraine and USA, besides hosts Qatar will be taking part in the eight-day tournament,” informed Abdullah Al Mutawa Al Hammadi, General Secretary of QSAF and Technical Expert for the championship.
The hosts challenge at the championship will be led by Olympic bronze medalist at the 2012 London Games, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah.
“Qatar will have 60 shooters competing in the event. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Olympic bronze medal winner at the 2012 London Games will be competing, his events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday,” Abdullah added.
The Qatar Championship he said will help shooters from Qatar to develop their skills.
“The hosting of such tournaments will help shooters from Qatar and from the GCC region to gain a lot of experience and help develop the shooting sport in the entire region,” the QSAF official said.
The Qatar event, which will kick open the international shooting season, will be graced by six Olympic bronze medalists, two silver medalists, several top shooters, informed the organisers.
Antonella Bartolomei, Tournament Director said the number of shooters taking part in the championship has doubled this year compared to last year.
“Most of the shooters who took part in the London Olympic Games will be here. Prize money is one of the attractions which has drawn most of the stars to Doha. Compared to golf or tennis, shooting is not offering huge prize money as it is not a rich sport, but Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation is offering handsome cash prizes, an example which others will hopefully follow and increase the prize money in other events,” said Bartolomei, as QSAF gears up to host the third edition of the championship. THE PENINSULA
