Sharjah:The UAE Shooting Federation recently concluded the UAE Open 10-metre air rifle and air pistol championship at Sharjah Club, spanning from October 9th to 11th, 2026. This event marked the second of eight rounds in the domestic 2026-2027 season.
According to Emirates News Agency, the championship saw 280 entries in its junior and beginner events, with beginners making up the majority of the participants. Specifically, 153 girls and 30 boys entered the beginner air rifle category, while 52 girls and 22 boys competed in the air pistol category. The participants represented schools, clubs, academies, and other sporting bodies, highlighting the inclusive and diverse nature of the competition.
The second round aimed to broaden access for young shooters, offering various competition levels within a single program. This approach allows technical staff to identify and nurture promising talent, providing them opportunities for development in subsequent rounds.
Saturday's competition focused on the junior categories. In the junior girls' air rifle event, Fatima Obaid Al Suwaidi claimed the top spot with 413.5 points, followed by Malak Ali Al Bashar and Khawla Badr Al Raeesi. Layla Basim Al Naqbi won the junior girls' air pistol title. In the junior boys' air pistol, Mohammed Al Hassan Jaafar emerged victorious, while Abdulrazzaq Al Shardoub led the junior boys' air rifle.
The championship concluded on Sunday with the beginner categories. Alia Abdullah Al Shamsi triumphed in the girls' air rifle, and Fatima Aref Mohammed topped the girls' air pistol. Among the boys, Asad Ali Yassin won the air rifle event, and Rayan Mohammed Kusaiba led the air pistol standings.
The involvement of schools in the competition was emphasized by Mohammed Suhail Al Neyadi, President of the UAE Shooting Federation, as it widens the talent pool and integrates the school environment into the sport. Al Neyadi stressed the importance of identifying new talent and supporting their progression beyond initial discovery, with schools and academies serving as gateways for developing shooters.
The ongoing series aims to build a robust base for Emirati shooting, creating pathways for athletes from initial participation to more specialized levels. By linking the championship rounds, the federation seeks to establish a continuous development path for the sport and the national teams.