JEDDAH — Maryam Khedher Almathami has won a bronze medal at the Target Shooting State Championship for Junior Supported 10m Air Rifle that was held last week in Queensland, Australia.
The 11-year-old Saudi girl from Mudhalif in the Tihama plains of the Makkah region has been practicing target shooting since February this year and was the youngest competitor at the Australian National Championships held in April.
Maryam is now moving into training in styles required for international and Olympic competitions. She hopes to inspire other Saudi girls to participate in target shooting in the Kingdom.
However, she is fully aware of the limitations of this sport. “Sport options for Saudi kids are very limited outside of football, particularly in remote regions. I am not sure how to have Saudi girls get access to this sport in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia,” she pointed out.
Maryam wants the newly reconstituted Saudi Shooting Federation and other sporting bodies to prioritize governorates and remote regions when considering allocation of development funds for clubs.
Nevertheless, Maryam pins hope on the enhanced entrepreneurial enthusiasm of Saudis, expressing confidence that more sporting clubs would be established with community participation.
Referring to her feat in this sport, Maryam was modest in her appraisal. “Having fun comes first” she said, explaining that she enjoys the social and personal benefits of the sport.
Maryam stated that target shooting in Australia is ‘super-inclusive.’ “This is the only sport I know in which one can participate alongside people with all levels of skill. From those who are totally new to veterans, Olympians and Para-Olympians,” she said.
Target shooting demands pinpoint accuracy over multiple shots, requiring competitors to have not only strength but also excellent self-discipline and technical skills. It is a sport where often one’s greatest rival is oneself.
On his part, Dr. Khedher Yahya Almathami, father of Maryam, expressed his delight over the outstanding accomplishment of his daughter, saying, “I am glad my daughter has found this sport, and is enjoying and improving herself. Medals are only an added bonus.”
He pointed out that Maryam’s character has benefited during the training. Coaching for her has included tools for setting goals, measuring progress and improving performance that he feels can be applied in everyday life. “Every child can benefit from sport, particularly when its focus is on fun and wellbeing,” he remarked.