KUWAIT CITY, Oct 4: Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Muhammad Al-Aiban, expressed his pride at the remarkable accomplishments of Kuwaiti athletes at the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Kuwait have clinched six medals, comprising two gold, three silver, and one bronze.

Minister Al-Aiban, while speaking to reporters upon the return of the Kuwaiti medalists in shooting and athletics, commended the dedication of these Kuwaiti sports heroes and heroines. He emphasized that their victories were the outcome of their unwavering commitment to realize the directives of His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad, who had personally motivated and encouraged them to excel and elevate Kuwait's reputation on the international stage.

Furthermore, Minister Al-Aiban lauded the exceptional efforts of Duaij Al-Otaibi, the President of the Kuwait Shooting Federation, and the entire Federation's team, which played a pivotal role in securing four out of the six medals for Kuwait. He also expressed his admiration for both male and female athletes who have brought immense joy and pride to Kuwait, touching the hearts of officials and fans alike.

In his remarks, Duaij Al-Otaibi, the President of the Shooting Federation, expressed deep appreciation for the generous support provided by Kuwait's political leadership to sports and athletes, recognizing its substantial contribution to the substantial medal count. He extended heartfelt gratitude to Minister Al-Aiban and the Authority's officials for their unwavering backing of Kuwaiti athletes throughout the tournament. Al-Otaibi further conveyed the Shooting Federation's commitment to continuing its pursuit of sporting excellence in major international competitions, with a particular focus on securing qualifications for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, building on the success of shooter Khaled Al-Mudhaf's qualification.

Yousef Al-Youha, a member of the Kuwaiti athletics team who secured the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles competition, shared his overwhelming joy at this significant victory. He highlighted the intense competition he faced from Japanese and Chinese athletes in the final and dedicated this triumph to the people of Kuwait.

Shooter Talal Al-Tarqi, a two-time silver medalist in the Trapp competition (individual and team events), attributed these victories to relentless training and thorough preparation. He expressed his belief that these remarkable achievements by Kuwaiti shooters in the tournament will serve as motivation to secure even more victories in future competitions.
The sports delegation, which also included shooters Khaled Al-Mudhaf and Abdul-Rahman Al-Faihan, winners of the silver shooting team (skeet team), received a warm welcome upon their return by Yousef Al-Baidan, the Director General of the General Sports Authority, along with numerous sports officials and the families of the players.