Pilot Competition for Special Needs between Kuwait Shooting Federation and National Rifle Association of Japan

The official and sideline competitions of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Annual International Shooting Grand Prix 2022 got underway at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex on Monday.
On the occasion of 60th anniversary of Kuwait Japan diplomatic relationship, an online pilot competition for special needs was organized between both countries. This competition was initiated through a proposal made by the Vice-President of ASC and the President of National Rifle Association of Japan, H.E. Kiichiro Matsumaru to ASC President H.E Sheikh Salman Al Sabah. The ASC President welcomed the idea and requested the Kuwait Shooting Federation to include this event as a sideline competition in H.H Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawal Al Sabah International Grand Prix 2022.

The friendship tournament was organized by the Asian Shooting Confederation between Kuwait Shooting Federation and National Rifle Association of Japan opened as a sideline with four teams from each side are taking part, said Mr. Obaid Al-Osaimi, director of the Grand Prix and Secretary of Kuwait Shooting Club. The objective is to arrange mixed events between athletes and special needs athletes and to extend more technical support to federations in Asia to athletes with special needs through their Paralympic federations. Moreover, the purpose of this event is to encourage federations to work closely with their Paralympic federations to elevate the skills of special needs athletes and include them in shooting competitions, allowing them to participate with other athletes.

The online competition was successfully organized and the performance of the athletes was fascinating. The athletes performed outstandingly and competed professionally with each other. Four teams was formed for each federation, totaling eight teams with two athletes from both genders in each team. The scores were recorded by licensed jury from both federations. The 1st place and Gold Medal were JPN Team 2, Mizuta Mika and Matsumoto Takayuki. and 2nd place Silver Medal went to JPN Team 1. Sega Akiko and Okada Naoya, and 3rd place Bronze Medal was achieved by JPN Team 3, Nakaguchi Haruka and Okada Kazuya. The winners were honored by their federation President. A statement was made by H.E Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi and H.E Mr. Kiichiro Matsumaru thanking the organizers, wishing to have more competition for special needs in the future, and encouraging other federations to organize special needs competitions. Moreover, Mr. Obaid Al-Osaimi thanked Kuwait Paralympic Committee for promoting the shooting sport among persons with special needs.