By Sports Reporter/Doha

Qatar ace Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah will spearhead the country’s challenge in the fifth edition of Qatar Open Shotgun tournament which begins today with a host of Olympic and world champions taking part.
About 250 shooters from 33 countries are competing in the championships which got off to a soft start yesterday during which shooters trained at the Losail Shooting Range. At a press conference,
Qatar Shooting and Archery Association General Secretary Abdulla Ali al-Hammadi said that the event’s importance has assumed greater significance because many of the participants will be using it as a springboard for qualification to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year.
“After the tournament in Qatar, the shooters will go to Mexico for the World Cup book their Olympic quota places. Because of that we expect to see a very high level of competition.”
Current double trap record holder Peter Wilson of Great Britain, QSAA Board Member Fatima
al-Jusaimaan, Tournament Director Antonella Bartolomei and Competition Manager Saud al-Qahtani were also present at the press conference.
 “Nasser al-Attiyah is heading a big contingent of Qatari shooters. This is a good opportunity for our shooters to compare compete against the best in the world. They have undergone some intensive training, so I am confident they will do well,” added al-Hammadi.
Al- Attiyah has been also included in the International Shooting Sport Federation Athletes Committee for the 2014 to 2018 term.
Total prize money for the tournament is $132,600. The men’s trap, double trap and skeet winners will earn $7,000 each, while the women’s skeet and trap champions will take home $6,000 apiece.