In an exceptional event for both participation and technical level, the curtain was drawn on the Fazaa Sketti Shooting Championship at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Centre for Heritage, in the shooting range area of Al Ruwayyah in Dubai. The championship saw significant participation with over 1,800 shooters from 55 nationalities, who presented strong levels of performance. This led to the breaking of records and very close results across different categories, reflecting the growth and status the championship has achieved on the map of traditional shooting competitions. The finals began with the men's target shooting event, which was dominated by the Sultanate of Oman, as it secured the top three spots. Shooter Mohamed Mohad Al Qasimi took first place, followed by Ahmed Ali Al Qasimi in second, and Mohamed Mubarak Al Shashi in third. In the clay pigeon shooting event, where competitors run to their weapons to aim at targets, the duo of Aof Khaled Al Aoufi and Younes Hamd Al Sayabi claimed first place. Second place was shared by Hazza Salem Al Kalbani and Majid Said Al Kalbani, while the third place went to brothers Mohamed and Maan Said Al Sayabi. Eight shooters achieved a perfect score (80), a first in the championship's history, a scene that reflects the remarkable rise in technical skill and the intensity of competition. The leadership was only decided by fine details, either through 'X' marks or tie-breaking rounds. The top winners were honored in the presence of the President of the UAE Shooting Federation, Mohamed Suhail Al Neyadi; the CEO of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Centre for Heritage, Abdullah Hamdan Al Dalmaq; the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Colonel (M) Mohamed Obaid Al Muhairi; the Director of the Competitions Department at the centre, Rashid Harb Al Hakqoni; and several members of the Organizing Committee. Al Neyadi confirmed that the Fazaa Sketti Shooting Championship is one of the most prominent traditional competitions at the state and regional level, achieving a great competitive momentum and providing an ideal environment that combines professionalism, high organization, and diverse participation. He stated that attracting more than 1,800 shooters of various nationalities and age groups is a significant gain for the sport of shooting in the UAE, noting that this scale of participation constitutes a real treasure for discovering talents and an important opportunity to identify promising capable athletes who can represent the national teams in various categories in the future. He added: 'The Federation gives this special championship great attention, driven by its conviction in the importance of integration between sports and heritage institutions,' pointing out that the Federation is working to build a strategic and sustainable partnership with the Hamdan bin Mohammed Centre for Heritage, contributing to the development of the shooting system, enhancing its competitive presence, and linking it with its authentic heritage roots. Abdullah Al Dalmaq affirmed that the Fazaa Sketti Shooting Championship represents a successful model for the integration of sports and heritage, and a strategic platform for discovering talents and honing skills in a framework that preserves the authenticity of this sport and keeps pace with its professional development. He explained that the championship is not limited to the competitive aspect alone but offers a comprehensive experience that combines training, discipline, discovering new potentials, and instilling the values of fair competition. He indicated that the Hamdan bin Mohammed Centre for Heritage will continue to develop this platform in partnership with the relevant parties to ensure the sustainability of the shooting sport and enhance its position within the national heritage system. The CEO of the centre also extended an open invitation to all citizens of the country to participate in the activities and tournaments organized by the centre, noting that these events not only contribute to preserving traditional sports but also form a vital space for community interaction, reflecting the values of unity and belonging, and embodying the spirit of pride in a rich national heritage that forms one of the pillars of Emirati identity. Best Time The clay pigeon shooting event in the championship recorded the best time of the championship, reaching 5.5 seconds, confirming that differences are now measured in fractions of a second, and competition has peaked in one of the most exciting and precise categories of the championship. Mohamed Al Neyadi: • The scale of participation is an important opportunity to identify promising talents capable of representing our teams. Abdullah Al Dalmaq: • The championship is a successful model that does not limit itself to the competitive aspect, but offers a comprehensive experience.
