Precision and focus spur Safaa’s success story in shooting events

By the time Safaa Al Doseri steps onto the shooting range, most of her day has already been mapped out.

Hours of repetition, silence and concentration precede the moment that decides medals in a sport where margins are measured in millimetres.

At the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2026), the Bahraini shooter defended her 10m air rifle title, claiming gold for the second consecutive edition. It was a result that confirmed her consistency at the top of the discipline, shaped as much by routine and sacrifice as by talent.

“Defending a title is never easy. The level was high, and every shot required full focus. There were experienced shooters in the competition, which added pressure, but I came to AWST with a clear objective. I knew maintaining my standard would demand the same control that carried me to gold in the previous edition.”

Her preparation reflects the demands of elite shooting. Al Doseri trains daily, spending up to eight hours on technical shooting work, followed by additional gym sessions focused on strength and conditioning. It is a schedule that leaves little room for anything outside of sport.

“Shooting, unlike many disciplines, offers no release through movement or physical contact. Success depends on stillness, repetition and mental stability, qualities that must be rebuilt every day. Focus and mental control are essential in shooting. You cannot afford lapses,” she says.

Away from the range, Al Doseri prioritises time with family, describing it as an important counterbalance to the intensity of training. That limited space, she says, helps her mentally reset before returning to the routine required by elite competition.

Al Doseri is a full-time athlete, unaffiliated with any other professional work. The decision to commit entirely to the sport has allowed her to refine her performance, but it also places responsibility squarely on results. Training begins early each morning and runs into the afternoon, forming a cycle that repeats year-round.

Beyond AWST 2026, Al Doseri continues to work towards higher-level competition, targeting Asian events as part of a longer-term international pathway. Progress, she says, comes through consistency rather than milestones, with each competition treated as part of a wider process.

The gold medal at AWST 2026 is a marker of that approach. It reflects a daily routine built on control, repetition and restraint, in a sport where success leaves little room for error and even less for glamour.