In a significant advancement aimed at fostering collaboration to broaden the reach of shooting sports and discover new talents, representatives from the UAE Shooting Federation, the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation, and the Sharjah Sports Club recently convened to discuss the launch of a series of promotional tournaments for beginners and talented youngsters under 18 years old. This initiative, targeting participants from across the nation, will provide them with a structured competitive pathway to enhance their skills and identify promising talents in the sport of shooting, aligning with the strategic objectives of the UAE Shooting Federation and local sports institutions to discover, nurture, and develop talent.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Hassan bin Hadiyah Al Shahi, Secretary-General of the UAE Shooting Federation, Engineer Suleiman Al Hajri, Board Member of the Sharjah Sports Club and Head of Individual Sports, and Mai Al Ameri, Deputy Manager of Sharjah Women’s Sports Club. They deliberated on the organisational and technical aspects of the initiative, including its implementation and monitoring processes, which are vital for activating these objectives through the identification and support of talent in the sport.
The initiative will feature the organisation of eight tournaments throughout the entire season, commencing in September, with four tournaments scheduled to run until the end of 2026, followed by an additional four in the new year. The Sharjah Sports Club will host the events, while the UAE Shooting Federation and the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation will oversee the organisation.
Competitions will take place in the disciplines of pistol and air rifle in accordance with the officially recognised shooting regulations and standards, particularly focusing on the under 18 age category. Participation will be open to clubs, academies, and practitioners from various Emirates, thus providing a wider range of beginners and talented individuals the chance to engage in regular competitive environments.
From Practice to Competition and Talent Discovery
This initiative goes beyond merely organising separate tournaments; it aims to create a continuous competitive pathway that allows for the tracking of participants’ progression from one stage to another. After each tournament, talents demonstrating promising skills will be identified and monitored, facilitating their training in accordance with proper technical standards while providing them with greater opportunities for development and continued participation in the sport.
This strategy is based on the belief that expanding the base of participants is crucial for building a sustainable competitive sport. The more opportunities there are for individuals to discover, practice, and compete in shooting, the more effective talent identification becomes, thereby increasing the chances of developing capable individuals who can advance to higher levels and contribute to national teams in the future.
His Excellency Hassan bin Hadiyah Al Shahi affirmed that this initiative is a continuation of collaborative efforts with the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation and Sharjah Women’s Sports Club to promote the sport and scout for new talents. He praised the cooperation of the sporting entities in Sharjah for hosting the competitions and providing opportunities for participants from all over the UAE.
He stated, “Interest in Olympic sports begins with expanding the base of its practitioners and nurturing talents from their early stages. Hence, the idea of hosting a series of tournaments for beginners and talented individuals emerged, ensuring not only opportunities for participation but also the identification and monitoring of talent after each level, leading to appropriate technical training, ultimately building a wider base that can supply national teams with new and qualified members in the future.”
He added that staging eight tournaments throughout the season offers participants the opportunity for continuous progression rather than limiting their competitive experience to just one event, enabling a better assessment of their development and the identification of those with the potential to continue in the sport.
Competition as a Core Element of Player Development
Engineer Suleiman Al Hajri emphasised that hosting the tournaments at Sharjah Sports Club stems from a belief in the importance of partnerships and collaboration among sports institutions to enhance game development and expand participation. He remarked, “At Sharjah Sports Club, we are convinced that sports development does not arise from individual efforts but through partnerships and integrated roles. This initiative exemplifies this vision through cooperation with the UAE Shooting Federation and the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation, creating a competitive space where talents can be discovered and developed.”
He further noted, “An athlete can train consistently, but competition offers a unique experience that training alone cannot provide. In a tournament, they genuinely assess their level, learn how to handle pressure and the psychological state of competition, gradually overcoming the intimidation of participation. Thus, we view these tournaments as particularly significant for beginners as they allow them to transition step by step from training to competition, moving from initial practice to more advanced levels.”
Al Hajri urged clubs, sports academies, and practitioners from all over the UAE to take advantage of this initiative and participate in the competitions, emphasising that the value of participation extends beyond merely winning; it includes evaluating one’s level, gaining experience, and understanding the necessary areas for development.
A New Step in Collaborative Efforts
This initiative represents a continuation of discussions held between the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation and the UAE Shooting Federation in recent months, focusing on opportunities to expand the base of shooting practice and reach out to talents at an early age, while utilising existing sports programmes and pathways to showcase and guide capabilities toward more specialised levels. The previous meeting especially highlighted leveraging school pathways implemented by the Foundation to engage with students and broaden practice participation.
Transitioning to a series of regular competitions is a practical extension of this approach, incorporating competition and continuous monitoring into talent discovery pathways, thereby allowing beginners and talented individuals from various regions across the UAE to test and develop their abilities within an organised environment. This will enhance the prospects of building a broader base for UAE shooting and provide a gradual path for identifying promising individuals and tracking their progress towards higher competitive levels.