National Shooting Championship 2026 Set to Begin; Para Shooters to Compete for First Time

The countdown is on for the National Shooting Sport Association Championship 2026, which is scheduled to begin on the 7th of this month. According to the Shooting Association of Maldives, this year's open competition has drawn great enthusiasm from athletes across the country. Preparations are well underway at the shooting range established at the Hulhumale Sports Complex, where association coaches are actively training athletes. Young shooters from the national team are also at the range to assist newcomers. Speaking to PSM News, Head Coach of the Shooting Association, Hassan Abdulfathur, stated that preparations are progressing smoothly. He noted that extra time has been given to first-time competitors, and all athletes are ready for the event on Friday. "The national championship preparations are ongoing. The biggest challenge we faced was needing to dedicate significant time to preparing the new children. Therefore, they are moving forward," the coach said. A historic highlight of this year's championship is the inclusion of the Paralympic category for the first time. Coach Hassan confirmed that para shooters will compete this year, adding that their preparation began early last month. He acknowledged unforeseen difficulties, particularly the lack of adequate space in the range for wheelchair athletes, but assured that solutions would be implemented in the future to further develop the para category. The competition features participants from various age groups, with the youngest being 12 years old. Categories include the Professional Category, Junior Category, Youth Category, Amateur Category, and the new Paralympic Category. Events will include air rifle and air pistol competitions across women's, men's, and mixed teams, as well as individual events in all age groups.