Abu Dhabi Medhat Wahdan, the Vice-President of the Internatioanl Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), has advised the Arab countries to learn from the Kuwaiti example in order to spread and improve the shooting game.
“Shooting is one of the most important games in the world,” Wahdan told Gulf News.
“In the Olympic Games, it offers the third largest number of medals behind athletics and swimming because there are 15 different competitions in the three categories of shotgun, rifle and pistol and air rifle and air pistol which proves its importance for countries to achieve international recognition and Olympic glory,” Wahdan said during the ISSF Shotgun World Cup final in Al Ain organised by the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Gulf Club (AESGC).
“In 1998, the Kuwaiti officials started a two-year plan to spread and improve shooting. They announced that all those interested in learning shooting are welcome to the official facilities and were provided with the equipment and trainers who found the raw talent and started polishing it. They call the plan the Shooter of 2000.
Expensive
“Mostly shooting is not a cheap sport, so many interested people who can not afford the costs came forward and joined and there are now many good shooters in Kuwait who have achieved big international victories for their country.” Wahdan added.
“It is a sad fact that the Arab countries have only three shooters in the ISSF World Cup final: Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Saif Al Shamsi, both from the UAE and Abdullah Al Rashidi from Kuwait. I do hope that one of them will win his competition.”
Wahdan expressed his delight with the preparations of the AESGC and said: “The burden is heavy upon their shoulders. It is always difficult when you host such a championship for the first time.
Distraction
“It needs many preparations regarding not only the fields of competition but accommodation, telecommunication, transportation, air bookings and many other things but the early signs are that the AESGC will achieve unprecedented success.
“My heart is with Saif Al Shamsi who is shouldering double responsibilities as an organiser and as a competitor which distracts his concentration and pile pressures on him despite the fact that he is an excellent shooter.”
