Qatar News Agency
Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) has revealed the details of HH the Amir Shooting and Archery Cup, which will be launched on October 15 in various competitions (shotgun, pistol, rifle, bow, and arrow) and will last until October 29 at Lusail Shooting Complex, according to QSAA press conference.
The conference was attended by the president of the national shooting teams and tournament director Hamad Ali Al Athba, HE president of the tournament's media committee Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al-Thani, Mohammed Abdulmohsen Abu Tuaima, representative of the shooters in the championship, and Amina Al Jarman, representative of the Qatar women's national team.
During the press conference, the president of the national archery teams and director of the championship Hamad Ali Al Athba stressed that HH the Amir Shooting and Archery Cup is important and rich in definition and will be exceptional this season and unique as it will accompany the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Al Athba said that the championship will start with amateur competitions in various competitions on the 15th of this month, preceded by the training and preparation period, which will be held starting on October 11, 4 days before the start of the official competitions, provided that the professionals competitions, which are the players of the Qatari national team, will begin on the 20th of the same month in all categories, men, women, young men and women in the shotgun, pistol, rifle and bow, and arrow competitions.
The tournament director pointed out that in conjunction with the State of Qatar's embrace of the World Cup, an accompanying festival will be organized at the QSAA, including many events, and the festival will be in line with the FIFA Qatar 2022 World Cup and within the agenda of events accompanying the championship.
He explained that the aim of organizing HH the Amir Shooting and Archery Cup is to develop this sport, highlighting that the title of the championship is a very strong incentive for players to compete among themselves to climb the podiums.
Regarding the refereeing staff of the championship, Al Athba said that the QSAA has many local referees with important experience and the ability to manage various tournaments, adding that organizing the World Archery Cup will be next year so the QSAA will be fully prepared for this global event.
As for the preparations of the Qatari national team to participate in the Cup, the tournament director said that the preparations of the national team players have been excellent through their participation in foreign tournaments and winning many crowns recently.
For his part, HE president of the championship's media committee Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al-Thani confirmed that HH the Amir Shooting and Archery Cup for the current season will be in a new edition that is completely different from the previous editions, in terms of the categories of participants and the important value of the prizes to be announced later, indicating that the tournament will include new games for the amateur category.
HE president of the Media Committee said that HH the Amir Shooting and Archery Cup is always a successful tournament before it starts, adding that it is the most precious tournament of the season and the most popular tournament every year.
His Excellency pointed out that this tournament is divided for the first time into two categories: amateurs and professionals, as it was previously held in one category, which is professionals, and for the first time the amateur category is included this season, and the pistol and shotgun competitions are open to amateurs for the first time.
His Excellency said that all the players of the national team will participate in the championship competitions in the categories of men, women, and youth, specifically about 167 male and female shooters.
The Media Committee president underlined that the awards of the championship have been increased in value 10 times compared to the awards of previous tournaments, and the first place will be worth 10 times compared to its previous counterpart, clarifying that the tournament set valuable prizes for the amateur category in all games and it is the only tournament that has been allowed to be held in this period, as various tournaments have been postponed in all federations, but this tournament has remained because this season this precious tournament was not organized and approvals were taken to hold it and it will be in a new suit for the first time.
Regarding the events for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, His Excellency commented that the fan zone will be launched before the World Cup competitions, and the QSAA will determine the date of its holding with the sponsors during the World Cup period, the program of these events will be announced, adding that during these events the federation will organize an archery tournament for World Cup fans that includes prizes and souvenirs, so fans can participate through a special application for Fan Zone events for the World Cup.
For his part, Mohammed Abdulmohsen Abu Tuaima, the representative of the shooters, and a member of the Qatar national team, formerly ranked 9th in the world in the air rifle competition, stressed that the tournament is one of the strongest championships that shooters aspire to participate in due to its high value and the important points obtained by the participant, which is the highest throughout the season.
In conclusion, Abu Tuaima said that HH the Amir Shooting and Archery Cup is one of the most competitive tournaments for players to win first place in various competitions.
At the end of the press conference, a video of the official announcement of the championship was broadcast.