Asian Shooting Confederation General Assembly in progress.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 1(KUNA):  Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi inaugurated the Kuwait Asian Shooting Championship at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Shooting Complex, with participation from 17 countries. The prestigious regional event will continue until November 8.

In a press statement, Minister Al-Mutairi extended his best wishes to all participating teams and athletes, expressing confidence that the championship would further enhance cooperation and sporting excellence across Asia.

The opening ceremony was attended by International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President Luciano Rossi, Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) President Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, and Chairman of the Organising Committee and President of the Kuwaiti and Arab Shooting Federations, Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi, along with heads of delegations, members of the Kuwaiti Shooting Federation, and distinguished guests.

In his remarks, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud commended the wise political leadership for its continuous support of the continental federation, noting that Kuwait has proudly hosted the ASC headquarters for 21 years. He expressed gratitude to Minister Al-Mutairi and the Public Authority for Sport for their valuable backing of this major sporting event.

Sheikh Salman highlighted the remarkable progress of Asian shooting sports, which was clearly demonstrated by the 21 medals won out of a possible 45 at the Paris Olympics last year, surpassing all other continental federations. He also welcomed the presence of the ISSF President and praised the strong organisational efforts that contributed to the success of the championship.

ISSF President Luciano Rossi lauded the growing strength of Asian and Kuwaiti shooting, crediting the achievements to the dedication and professionalism of the Kuwaiti Shooting Federation under its leadership. Rossi emphasised that Asia has become one of the most competitive regions in the sport, with its athletes securing over 20 medals at the Paris Olympics. He expressed appreciation to Kuwait for hosting the tournament and praised the nation’s ongoing role in promoting peace and international cooperation.

Meanwhile, Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi shed light on the continuous development of Kuwaiti shooting sports and the federation’s ongoing ambitions. He confirmed that preparations are already underway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, intending to secure the maximum number of qualification spots.

Al-Otaibi concluded by extending his gratitude to Minister Al-Mutairi for his strong and consistent support and to ISSF President Luciano Rossi for his continued cooperation with the Asian and continental federations.

The Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) held its General Assembly in Kuwait under the chairmanship of Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, with the attendance of Rossi.

In a press statement, Al-Otaibi described the meeting as successful, noting that it produced several key resolutions aimed at advancing the sport of shooting across the Asian continent.

Al-Otaibi explained that the assembly approved decisions regarding the allocation of qualification slots for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, following the outstanding performances of Asian shooters in the past two Olympic editions. The meeting also reviewed preparations for the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place next year in Nagoya, Japan, and discussed the readiness of the upcoming championship host nations, including China and Qatar.

The assembly further resolved to send a message of gratitude and appreciation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in recognition of his generous support for shooting sports in Asia, which has significantly contributed to the sport’s growth and success.

For his part, Rossi stated that his attendance reflected the importance of continued coordination between the international and Asian shooting bodies to promote the sport’s development. He commended the strong progress made by Asian shooters, describing them as a “formidable force” thanks to the dedication of national federations. Rossi also praised the Kuwait Shooting Federation for its leading role in supporting and hosting the Asian body.

Earlier, the ASC Executive Committee held its 42nd meeting. The meeting was attended by the deputy chairman and committee members representing national federations from across Asia.

According to Sheikh Salman, the session discussed a series of topics aimed at developing shooting sports throughout the continent and enhancing the confederation’s role in supporting both male and female athletes. The committee also reviewed initiatives designed to increase the number of Asian shooters qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, following the remarkable performances of Asian teams at the Paris 2024 Games.

Sheikh Salman concluded by expressing his appreciation to Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi and the Public Authority for Sport for their unwavering support of the confederation and its ongoing efforts to promote the sport.