Assistant Secretary of the Qatar Shooting, Bow and Arrow Federation Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti said that the federation had prepared a special program for shooter Rashid Saleh Al Athba, who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after claiming third place and bronze medal in the Shooting World Championship Shotgun in Osijek, Croatia, last October. Following a strong competition with the world champions, Al Athba is the first among Qatari shooters to qualify for the Olympics.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency , Al Sulaiti noted that Al Athba, who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, is participating in the Shotgun World Cup competitions in Cyprus, adding that the federation has set a special preparatory schedule for him by attending indoor and outdoor camps to ensure full readiness and preparation, physically and mentally, for the Olympics.
He hoped that Al Athba will achieve a positive result during the Olympics, and that a number of his colleagues will join him and win qualification cards for the 2024 Paris Olympics and will take part in the schedule and the special preparatory program.
Talking about the upcoming plans of the Qatar Shooting, Bow and Arrow Federation, Al Sulaiti said all current plans are directed towards the 2024 Olympics, and the federation is trying to prepare the largest number of shooters to participate in the external tournaments to qualify for the Olympics, indicating that more than 40 shooters from Qatar will participate in the nineteenth Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023. He said: "We are fully prepared and ready for this session." Al Sulaiti pointed out that many Qatari shooters are expected to participate in foreign tournaments at the end of this month. About 20 male and female shooters from Qatar will participate in the World Cup Shotgun to be held in Egypt immediately after Eid Al-Fitr, during the period from April 25 to May 5. 15 male and female shooters from Qatar will participate in the World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 8 to 15, and 15 male and female shooters from Qatar will participate in the Arab bow and arrow championship in Tunisia from April 25 to 30. He said that they are working to provide the best atmosphere for the shooters to prepare for foreign participation and provide all requirements for them to achieve positive results, maintain a strong level, and honorably represent the federation and the State of Qatar.
He pointed out that Qatar's shooters are fully prepared to participate in these external tournaments by undergoing intensive morning training throughout the month of Ramadan at the Lusail Shooting Complex.
With regard to Qatar Shooting Federation's excellence in hosting many tournaments this season, most notably the World Cup Shotgun, Al Sulaiti affirmed that the Olympic Committee and the International Federation are confident in the federation's ability to host the largest tournaments. The World Cup Shotgun achieved great success from an organizational and technical point of view, as recognized by all the guests of the tournament and officials of the International Federation.
He noted the federation's hosting of the Neshan Ooredoo Ramadan Shooting Tournament, noting that it started with a rifle and pistol competition for the junior category (from 10 to 15 years), and will continue this week with men's and women's competitions in air pistol, air rifle, archery and shotgun events.
Source: Qatar News Agency