Paralympic hot shots target Dubai for the World Archery Para Championships

Paralympic champions from around the globe will assemble for the Dubai 2022 World Archery Para Championships held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.

The event - from February 22 to 27 - will be the biggest para-sport competition since Dubai hosted the World Para Athletics Championships in 2019 at the same venue. The Fazza Archery Championships in February will also serve as the final qualifier for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

“We are delighted in hosting the first World Archery Para Championships and also to host the final qualifying round of the 2024 Paris Paralympics,” said Mohamed Abdulkareem Julfar, vice chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, at the launch ceremony on Wednesday.

“We are very proud that Dubai is set to achieve yet another milestone with the successful hosting of this championships. Archery is relatively a new sport in the country and staging a world championships will surely create a big impact to develop the sport further."

Majed Al Usaimi, director of the championships, said Dubai has set benchmarks when hosting several World para events under the Fazza Championships, despite the challenging times of a pandemic.

“This time as well, we are confident of hosting a successful competition with all the safety and precautionary Covid protocols in place,” he added.

“I am sure our archers are all excited to compete at this platform alongside Paralympic and World champions. It will definitely boost their confidence. My best wishes to everyone.”

The championships in Dubai has drawn 223 para-archers from 40 countries and the Emirati trio, Mohammed Al Shehhi, Gholam Khorsheed and Habib Al Baloushi, will be rubbing shoulders with the elite.

“This is biggest stage for our archers to compete