Kuwait Shooting Team Returns from Nagoya with 5 Medals Despite Setbacks and Difficult Conditions

The Kuwaiti shooting delegation returned to the country yesterday (Friday) from Japan after a grueling 37-hour flight, and was greeted by Al-Jarida, following their achievement of five medals—two gold, one silver, and two bronze—at the 26th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

The Shooting Club is scheduled to host a ceremony to honor the delegation, in appreciation of their efforts and dedication, and the fighting spirit and determination they displayed in representing the country with distinction and adding further achievements to the record of Kuwaiti shooting.

Duaig Al-Otaibi, President of the Kuwaiti and Arab Shooting Federations and President of the Kuwaiti Shooting Club, affirmed that the achievements of Kuwaiti shooters at the Asian Games reflect their distinguished status at both the continental and international levels. He noted that these results were achieved despite the exceptional circumstances the country has endured, which led to the suspension of training and sports activities for more than five months.

In a statement to Al-Jarida, Al-Otaibi said that the Asian Games, held every four years in conjunction with the Summer Olympic Games, hold great importance due to the inclusion of Olympic-recognized sports, with shooting being among the foremost. He emphasized that Kuwait is among the advanced countries in this sport and possesses a record rich in Olympic and world achievements. He added that these combined games have a special character, and Kuwaiti shooters always make a distinctive presence during them.

He stressed that Kuwaiti shooting relies on young talents as a fundamental pillar to ensure the continuity of achievements and preserve the gains made over the past years, confirming that investing in young talents is a priority for the club’s board of directors and the technical committee.

He praised the level of performance displayed by the shooters during the Asian Games, affirming that they are talented and outstanding athletes who possess a fighting spirit and a strong ability to overcome difficulties and challenges. He explained that the club’s technical committee decided to give talented shooter Khaled Al-Mudhaf a greater opportunity to regain his activity and focus after he failed to achieve a result in the recent Gulf Games, and that he demonstrated considerable competence during his Asian participation.

Al-Otaibi expressed the pride and satisfaction of the club’s board of directors with the high level achieved by Kuwaiti shooting in recent months, despite the suspension of training and sports activities for more than five months due to the Iranian bombardment of Kuwait. He affirmed that what has been achieved reflects the determination of the shooters and the technical and administrative staff to continue the path of achievements and raise the Kuwaiti flag at international forums.

He said, “On behalf of all participating shooters and administrators, we dedicate these achievements to the Amir of the State, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, and the Kuwaiti people, in appreciation of the high patronage and substantial support that shooting receives from the political leadership, the government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Public Authority for Sports.”

Al-Otaibi extended his thanks to all officials and entities that supported Kuwaiti shooting and contributed to creating a suitable environment for achieving results, despite the challenges faced by Kuwaiti sports in recent months.

He clarified that Kuwaiti shooting enjoys a distinguished administrative and sports status, through its presidency of the Asian and Arab Shooting Federations, along with its membership in the International Shooting Sport Federation, which reflects the level of trust and appreciation it enjoys among international federations.

He revealed the club’s aspiration to establish a specialized shooting center in Kuwait that would contribute to developing the sport at the Arab level, providing a suitable environment for nurturing talents and elevating technical standards, thereby enhancing Kuwait’s position as a regional hub for the development of this sport.

For his part, Khalid Al-Mudhaf Al-Rami, who won two gold medals in individual clay target and team events alongside his teammates Abdulrahman Al-Faihan and Talal Al-Rashidi, expressed his happiness at the achievement attained by Kuwaiti shooters at the Asian Games.

Al-Mudhaf told Al-Jarida that his ambitions do not stop at this accomplishment, as he aims to secure more titles and medals at the World Championship in Qatar, as well as at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

He emphasized that winning two gold medals at the Asian Games represents an achievement for Kuwait as a whole, and for Kuwaiti shooting in particular, rather than a personal one. He noted that he led the individual competition from the start, in addition to excelling in the team events, and affirmed that the two gold medals were earned through merit and deserving performance.

For her part, shooter Hajar Abdulmalik expressed her pride in winning two bronze medals in the individual clay target and team events. She stressed that her joy was doubled by securing Kuwaiti women’s first-ever shooting medal, along with the team bronze she won alongside her teammates Shahd and Sara Al-Hawal.

In a special statement to Al-Jarida upon the delegation’s arrival in Kuwait, Abdulmalik added that she is strongly aiming to achieve a new milestone at the World Championship hosted by Qatar next month. She emphasized that her next goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and compete for the gold medal, thereby contributing further achievements to the record of Kuwaiti shooting on the Olympic stage.

Abdulmalik extended her gratitude to the Kuwait Shooting Club and its coaches for providing opportunities for intense training, as well as to her family, which remains her greatest supporter throughout her sporting career.