Skeet Competition Heats Up on Day Two of HH the Amir Grand Prix Shotgun Championship

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February 7, 2026
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7-February-2026

Skeet Competition Heats Up on Day Two of HH the Amir Grand Prix Shotgun Championship

Doha, 07 February (QNA) – Competitions at the third edition of the HH the Amir Grand Prix Shotgun Championship continued for a second consecutive day at the Lusail Shooting Ranges, as the championship runs through 13 February with the participation of 315 male and female shooters representing 38 countries.

A total of 144 shooters are competing in the Skeet event, while 198 shooters are taking part in the Trap competition. The Qatari national team is represented by 52 shooters.

The second day of competition delivered strong and competitive performances, marking the start of the Skeet event across the four categories—men, women, juniors, and youth. Shooters competed over 75 targets distributed across three rounds, with 25 targets per round.

In the men’s category, France’s Rémy Cloître claimed first place, followed by Ireland’s Jack Fairclough in second, while Egypt’s Azmy Mehelba finished third. In the women’s category, France’s Lucie Anastasio topped the standings ahead of Mexico’s Gabriela Rodríguez, with Slovakia’s Vanessa Hocková placing third.

Cyprus’ Markos Kontopoulos secured first place in the juniors’ category, followed by Georgia’s Arabuli Giorgi in second and Britain’s Charles Worl in third. In the youth women’s category, Britain’s Bethany Norton led the competition, ahead of Kazakhstan’s Lidiya Basharova in second and Ukraine’s Lelizaveta Pivovarova in third.

The Skeet competition will conclude on Sunday with two additional rounds of 50 targets (25 targets per round) across all four categories. The top eight shooters will advance to the final round to compete for the top three positions, followed by the medal ceremony.

Following the conclusion of the Skeet event, the Trap competition will begin across five ranges in the four categories (men, women, juniors, and youth). Unofficial training sessions will take place on Monday, followed by official training on Tuesday. The competition will be held on Wednesday, with shooters contesting 125 targets over two days—75 targets on the first day across three rounds, and 50 targets on the second day across two rounds. The top eight shooters will qualify for the final round to determine the top three finishers. The championship will conclude with the Trap medal ceremony on Thursday.

A total of 12 referees are officiating the championship, including seven Qatari referees and five referees from sister countries. The total prize money amounts to USD 122,000, with USD 9,000 awarded to first place, USD 7,000 to second place, and USD 5,000 to third place in each competition, in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Organized by the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation at the start of the season, the HH the Amir Grand Prix Shotgun Championship serves as an important preparatory event for Qatar’s national team shooters ahead of upcoming competitions. The championship also holds a prominent place on the international shooting calendar, featuring world champions, elite competitors, and Olympic medallists.

Mr. Ahmed Yahya Al-Nuaimi, Assistant Secretary General of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation and Deputy Championship Director, praised the high technical standards displayed by the shooters during the opening days of the Skeet competition, noting that the strong start reflects the championship’s growing stature on the international calendar.

Al-Nuaimi said that the participation of 315 shooters from 38 countries, including world and Olympic champions, has transformed the Lusail Shooting Ranges into a “mini world championship” gathering the world’s elite shooters. He added that the competition has been highly competitive, with results often decided only in the final targets of the decisive rounds.

He also expressed pride in the widespread praise received for Qatar’s organization of the championship, noting the positive feedback from heads of delegations and international federations regarding the professional organization and advanced technical facilities. Al-Nuaimi concluded by emphasizing the organizing committee’s commitment to delivering an outstanding edition worthy of the championship’s name, while providing an ideal competitive environment that reflects Qatar’s reputation as a leading host of major international sporting events.