Promising Start for Shooting and Athletics

Nagoya – The Kuwaiti national shooting team began its participation in the individual and team clay events at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games with a promising start and encouraging results on the first day of the three-day competition.

Shooters Khaled Al-Mutairi, Talal Al-Rashidi, and Abdulrahman Al-Faihan displayed strong performances in the men’s events, with Al-Mutairi hitting 49 out of 50 targets, Al-Rashidi 48, and Al-Faihan 46. In the women’s events, Hajar Abdulmalik hit 45 out of 50 targets, Sara Al-Hawal 43, and Shatha Al-Hawal 42.

Competition resumes today with two additional rounds of 50 targets each, and will conclude on the third day with a final round of 25 targets, bringing the total to 125 targets, which will determine who advances to the final.

In athletics, Ibrahim Al-Dafiri of the national team secured his place in the 800m final with a well-deserved performance. His qualification followed a tactical and physical masterclass in the heats, where he clocked 1:47.62, confirming his high level of readiness. Meanwhile, Bader Al-Suwaidan will compete in the 1500m final today with high ambitions, after earning his spot and setting a new personal best of 3:45.89 in yesterday’s heats. Additionally, Abdulrahman Al-Azmi will feature in the javelin throw final today, with great expectations for a strong performance and a bid for top positions.

In sailing, player Amina Shah begins her campaign at the Games today, aiming to leave a distinctive mark and achieve a positive result to add to her sporting record, following her historic participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics as the first Kuwaiti and Gulf athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games in this sport.

For his part, Major General (Retired) Mohammed Al-Khalafan, Director General of the Kuwait Olympic Committee and Head of the Delegation at the Asian Games, stated that the results and medals won by Kuwaiti athletes so far are the fruit of intensive planning and preparation that lasted for nearly a full year. He praised the extensive and unlimited support provided by Olympic Committee President Sheikh Fahad Al-Nasser, describing him as the primary backer of the preparation and readiness plan for the Games. He also commended the vital role played by the Public Authority for Youth and Sports in providing training camps.

Al-Khalafan clarified that the plan is proceeding in the right direction, despite some events not yielding the desired outcomes, such as certain rounds in athletics or the handball team’s exit in the quarter-finals, despite ambitions to reach the final stages.

The national badminton team launches its competition amid intensive preparations and high morale among its players.