NAIROBI, Kenya, April 4 – Sixty-two-year-old Muktar Omar was on a mission to find a self-fulfilling hobby that would give him enjoyment and peace but had been unsuccessful for a while.
He tried out his hand at golf but had to quit the sport due to its physically-exerting nature noting that the game, albeit played on lush and serene environment, was quite hectic to come to grips with.
Little did he know that the answer to his quest had been with him all along – sports shooting.
Being a longtime gun owner, Omar’s destiny – unbeknown to him – lay in shooting, a sport synonymous with gunshots in the air and smell of gunpowder and bullets.
Ironically, it is in the midst of this ‘chaos’ that he finds solace.
“I have been a firearm owner for many years but it is only recently that I took an interest in shooting. I was looking for a pastime activity that would allow me to relax and reinvigorate myself and I found it in this game. I tried out golf before but I could not swing properly so I gave up because it was physically demanding…too much for my liking considering my age,” Omar recounts.
He enlisted as a member of the National Gun Owners Association (NGAO) Kenya Federation and immediately took to the sport as a fish to water – quickly learning the tricks of the trade.
Almost three years since he first trained at the Kirigiti Shooting Range, Omar is on the cusp of making history as the oldest competitor at the IDPA Africa Championships, which commenced on Tuesday at the same venue.
Pregnant with expectations
This will be the second time competing at the continental showpiece following his debut at the tournament when Kenya hosted it for the first time at the same venue.
Omar is pregnant with expectations and is eager to show his challengers in the Piston Caliber Carbine (PCC) division that old dogs can really learn new tricks.
“Two weeks ago, I graduated to a higher level, which is the sharpshooter. What this shows is that I have really improved my skills from the last time I competed at the Africa Championships. I am looking forward to the competition and it won’t be as easy for my challengers this time round,” he says.
Omar has been a regular competitor in local competitions – either IDPA or International Practice Shooting Confederation (IPSC)-sanctioned – and believes these have contributed immensely to the growth of sports shooting in the country.
“I have participated in the local club matches, whether it is by IDPA or IPSC, including the Chairman’s Cup. The different clubs have been really integral in the growth of shooting especially with these regular competitions and trainings on safety,” Omar explains.
He expounds: “I think one thing about the shooting fraternity is that we are very unique…we share and care very much about each other. I have had other experienced shooters who have helped me a lot in my career and this is what is required. I also look forward to passing the skills and knowledge acquired in my time in the industry to other younger shooters.”
Future is bright
He is a sharpshooter indeed, being precise when it comes to the prospects of sports shooting in the country.
Key to Kenya establishing itself as a top destination for major sports shooting competitions in the world is the support of the government as well as collaboration between the different stakeholders.
“A very big thank you to the government and the Firearms Licensing Board for embracing this sport and developing a positive attitude towards it. The fact that we are hosting the Africa Champs for the second time says a lot about us as a country. Compared to other countries in Europe, shooting in Kenya still has a long way to go but we are getting there,” he says.
Moreover, Omar is a dreamer and believes Kenya is already home to talented shooters who can go on and earn the country a plentiful harvest of medals at major international events, including the Olympics.
“We have so many talented shooters in the country who have been representing us at international competitions and winning medals. So, yes of course, we can go on and win medals at the Olympics as well,” he says.
As the guns go off at the IDPA Africa Championships, Omar’s participation will be one of the highlights of the weeklong competition.
He will be focused on another milestone in his short career in sports shooting whereas his younger peers will be looking to draw inspiration from his feat.
