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3. Ralph Aaraj, Master of Clay Targets in the Lebanese Trap Championship

Ralph Aaraj shone brilliantly in the fifth stage of the Lebanese Trap Championship, Category (A). This competition, held at the Safra Shooting and Hunting Club, brought together the country’s top marksmen.

The Safra Shooting and Hunting Club hosted the fifth stage of the prestigious Lebanese Trap Championship in the Olympic Trap category, Category “A.” Organized by the Lebanese Shooting and Hunting Federation, the event gathered Lebanon's best shooters, delivering an intense and thrilling spectacle for shooting enthusiasts. Thirteen competitors participated, including Dr. Pierre Jalkh, president of the Safra Club, the Lebanese Olympic Committee and the Lebanese Shooting and Hunting Federation, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to promoting this sport.

A Premier Category: What Sets Category (A) Apart?

In sports shooting competitions, Category (A) represents the pinnacle of performance. Shooters in this category are celebrated for their technical mastery, precision and experience. In contrast, Categories (B) and (C) allow less experienced or developing shooters to hone their skills before competing at the elite level. This hierarchical system ensures fair competition while encouraging gradual skill advancement.

In Category (A), participants use specialized firearms and adhere to standardized conditions according to international regulations, such as regulated distances between shooters and targets and predefined trajectories for the clay targets. This demands a perfect balance of technique, speed and concentration.

Qualifying Rounds: Impressive Figures

The qualifications involved 125 clay targets—a challenging format where every mistake can be costly. The six top shooters emerged and secured their spots in the final phase. The qualifying results were:

• Ralph Aaraj: 108/125
• Pierre Jalkh: 98/125
• Sami Bou Habib: 97/125
• André Abi Khalil: 95/125
• Tarek Yachouh: 92/125
• Wadih Farah: 91/125

Ralph Aaraj's exceptional score of 108 hits out of 125 set a high standard, solidifying his position as the favorite early on.

A Demanding and Strategic Final System

Under the new regulations of the International Shooting Federation, the competition unfolded in several decisive stages:

1. Semi-final: The top six shooters competed in a series of 25 targets. Every shot was critical, and the smallest mistake could prove decisive.
2. Final phase: Scores from the semi-finals were combined with additional series to determine the top three places. After each series of five targets, the shooter with the lowest score was eliminated. This process continued until only two competitors remained for the ultimate series of 10 targets.

This method added considerable pressure on the shooters, emphasizing stress management as much as precision.

Final Rankings: Ralph Aaraj at the Top

After intense shooting phases, the final results were as follows:

• 1^st place: Ralph Aaraj with 38 targets out of 50, confirming his status as the favorite.
• 2^nd place: Wadih Farah, delivering an impressive performance with 34 hits out of 50.
• 3^rd place: Sami Bou Habib with 25 targets out of 40.
• 4^th place: Tarek Yachouh with 21 targets out of 35.
• 5^th place: André Abi Khalil with 17 targets out of 30.
• 6^th place: Pierre Jalkh with 11 targets out of 25.

A Competition Showcasing Lebanese Excellence

This fifth stage highlighted the discipline and passion of Lebanese shooters for this demanding sport. The elite Category (A) demonstrated the excellence of this discipline, where every shot results from meticulous preparation and unwavering focus.

Beyond individual performances, this event underscored Lebanon's central role in promoting sports shooting in the Middle East. As the competition progresses, all eyes are on the upcoming stages of the championship, where Ralph Aaraj, now leading, must defend his title against challengers eager to dethrone the king of clay targets.