Participants at the hunting championship.
Doha, Qatar: The 14th Al Galayel Championship for Traditional Hunting for 2025 kicked off yesterday with the participation of 16 teams divided into four groups that will compete at Al Eraiq Reserve until February 25, 2025.
Annually held during February, the championship is one of the most significant and suspenseful events that showcases the precision marksmanship of Qatari hunters in conventional hunting methods.
This year’s championship is sponsored by the Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) under the umbrella of the cultural village of Katara. Based on the championship’s rules, contenders are required to hunt a substantial number of species such as antelopes, bustards and stone-curlews, with the organizing committee pledging that it will bring those birds to the site and release them within the designated area.
All game species are fitted with tracking chips inscribed with the designation of Al Galayel, and the scoring system for the game is delineated based on each species, whereby a team securing an antelope accrues 80 points, while the capture of every single bustard bestows 30 points, and the successful hunting of a stone-curlew yields 25 points.
The championship began with the first group of hunters, primarily includes four teams and will continue until Thursday to determine the team that will win to compete in the final during the period of February 22-25.
In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Al Galayel Tournament for Traditional Hunting Khalid bin Mohammed Al Maadeed said the championship is one of the foremost events that deepen the Qatari legacy and safeguards the heritage of forebears and bestows it upon the new generation, highlighting that the tournament aims at young people who are willing to practice hunting at natural reserves.
One of the championship’s primary objectives is to preserve the Qatari environment in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030, Al Maadeed underlined, stressing that this year’s event is as unique as the previous one, as it features the participation of horses, alongside camels, while hunting must be conducted using peregrine falcons.
Leader of Al Tahadi team Saeed Mohammed Al Somali Al Nabit, said the first group will feature strong participation from the teams making this year’s tournament more competitive, highlighting that his team is well-prepared to compete given the strength of other teams.
Leader of Al Dhaen team, Salm Idham Al Kuwari, said his team has prepared well for this year’s tournament, with focused efforts in falcon training and physical readiness, giving them confidence for a robust performance.
The team crowned first place will receive the tournament banner and a cash reward of QR1m with the second winner receiving QR700,000 and QR500,000 will go to the winner of the third place. Additionally, QR100,000 will be paid to each team that has been qualified for the final, as well as QR10,000 for local newspapers that provide the best coverage.
