MUSCAT: Al Karitha were crowned champions of the Oman Shooting Club Shield Championship, which concluded at Active Oman Centre after 10 days of strong competition in pistol and rifle events.
The closing ceremony was held under the auspices of Sulaiman bin Abdullah al Rawahi, Director-General of the Oman Automobile Association, in the presence of officials, organisers and participating teams.
Al Karitha claimed first place in the overall standings through the efforts of Said bin Salim al Mashiqri, Mustafa bin Salim al Shamli, Mazin bin Mubarak al Nasri and Khalil bin Ahmed al Rashdi.
Al Failaq finished second with a team comprising Basim bin Humaid al Habsi, Azzan bin Abdullah al Saeedi, Waleed bin Abdullah al Saeedi, Jamal bin Said al Saeedi and Ahmed bin Rashid al Qiyoodhi. Black Falcon secured third place, represented by Mazin bin Saleh al Rajhi, Mohammed al Harthy and Mohammed al Harrasi.
Said bin Salim al Mashiqri of Al Karitha expressed his delight at winning the title, saying the competition was tough and exciting, with strong scores across the pistol and rifle events. He said the team handled the pressure well and secured the title through focus and teamwork.
Waleed bin Abdullah al Saeedi of Al Failaq said finishing second was the result of team effort, adding that the side would aim for first place in future events. He said the championship atmosphere was exciting, with most participants competing seriously for top positions rather than merely taking part.
The championship featured individual and team contests in pistol and rifle shooting, with the overall title decided through a combined points system. The format added further intensity to the competition, as every shooter’s result contributed to the team’s final score. The variety of distances and shooting positions, including one-handed pistol shooting and standing rifle shooting from 60 metres, tested the participants’ accuracy, stability and concentration.
GROWING INTEREST
Retired Colonel Nasser bin Ali al Amri, Director-General of Oman Shooting Club, said the championship formed part of the club’s annual calendar and reflected the growing interest in shooting sports.
He said the event witnessed strong turnout and high competitive spirit over 10 days, with participants competing in both pistol and rifle events at individual and team levels. Al Amri added that the success of the championship would encourage the club to continue organising more specialised competitions, including an upcoming small-bore rifle event expected to attract strong participation.
Retired Major Mohammed al Maamari said the 2026 edition of the Oman Shooting Club Shield witnessed impressive levels among the participating teams, each consisting of three to five shooters.
He said the competition, held from May 11 to 19, reflected the technical development of the shooters and the spirit of teamwork that marked the championship from start to finish. He added that the club organised the event according to high safety standards and used a modern electronic system to manage the competition and calculate results accurately and transparently.
Al Maamari said the success of the championship was not limited to the winning teams, but extended to all participants who showed discipline, consistency and team spirit. He also confirmed that the club is preparing for a new stage of competitions and challenges, including a 50-metre small-bore rifle open-sight event from the prone position, which will require high precision, stability and focus.
Nofal al Khanjari, General Manager of Active Oman, said the centre is an integrated sports and entertainment destination that includes shooting, bowling, billiards, snooker and golf, along with modern activities such as Gym Box, based on phygital technology combining movement and digital simulation.
He said the shooting championship was part of a series of events hosted by the centre throughout the year, adding that more sports and entertainment activities are planned.
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