300 shooters from 30 countries participate in the Abu Dhabi International Shotgun Championship

The Abu Dhabi International Shotgun Championship competitions began today, Monday, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain region, and will continue until the fourth of December, at the Al Ain Equestrian and Shooting Club.

The tournament, which is organized by the Weapons and Dangerous Materials Office in cooperation with the Emirates Shooting Federation and the International Hunting Sports Weapons Shooting Federation, witnesses the participation of more than 300 male and female shooters from 30 countries, including 40 participants from the UAE, and its prizes are 400 thousand dollars – more than one and a half million dirhams – while the final program includes the “Abu Dhabi Silver Award”, the prizes of which are 100 thousand dirhams.

The first day witnessed strong competitions in 6 categories: junior, women, master, open, senior, and veteran, on 8 designated fields that were equipped according to the latest international specifications, providing a fair and safe competitive environment for all participants, and meeting the best organizational and technical standards approved in international tournaments.

Director General of the Weapons and Dangerous Materials Office and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee, Mohammed Suhail Al Neyadi, confirmed that the Abu Dhabi International Shotgun Championship, the first of its kind in the region and the most expensive in the world in the sport of shotgun, was launched in a distinctive manner and within the program prepared in advance, with the technical and organizational level that distinguished the first day.

Al Neyadi said that the first day began with competitions in 3 stations for each shooter with a total of 75 dishes, with the competitions continuing with 75 dishes on the second day, and 50 on the third day, according to precise schedules, specific dates, and fully equipped fields.

He added that the competitions witnessed great interaction from the shooters and referees, and a high level of competition from the first hours, hoping for success for all participants in the remaining days of the tournament.

The Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee pointed out that the participation of more than 40 shooters from the UAE is a positive indicator of the expansion of the base for practicing shooting sports in the country, and an important opportunity to gain experience from international shooters and world champions, which contributes to raising the level of shooting locally and enhancing its presence globally.

Al Neyadi revealed a future plan to launch more tournaments, including a shotgun tournament next January in Al Ain, dedicated to dirt and skeet competitions, which is different from sporting, expecting it to witness a global presence and great interaction.