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23 Feb’ 2026
Qatar to host International Cricket Council Meetings in March
Doha: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled that Doha is set to host the ICC's Board of Directors and its Committees from March 25-27, 2026, in a move that demonstrates the State of Qatar's growing standing on the global sports stage.
In a statement, the council highlighted that opting for Doha comes in recognition of the rapid growth of cricket sports in Qatar, as the participation rate has recorded an upsurge of 447 percent since 2020, the highest growth rate at the level of the member states.
This remarkable evolution comes by dint of a series of both school and societal initiatives that helped broaden the practitioners' base, attract a variety of age groups, as well as reinforce the talent exploration program and upgrade sports infrastructure.
The meetings are projected to debate a raft of strategic matters related to advancing this kind of game on the global stage, alongside going over expansion plans and fostering partnerships amid the increasing interest in cricket sports in the Gulf region.
Hosting these meetings in Doha manifests the global confidence in its organizational capabilities, thereby strengthening Doha's presence as a regional hub for hosting major sporting events and forums.
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QOC Elects H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani as Vice-President and Completes Board Formation
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) held its 2026 Extraordinary General Assembly today, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.The meeting finalised the composition of the QOC Board of Directors, alongside a review of the performance of Qatar’s national teams and preparations for upcoming sporting events.The General Assembly elected H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani as Vice-President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, while H.E. Mohammed bin Yousuf Al Mana was also appointed Vice-President, following the decision of H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari to step down from his position.The Qatar Olympic Committee expressed its sincere appreciation to H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari for his valuable efforts and contributions during his tenure, and wished him continued success.The General Assembly also reviewed the results of Qatar’s national teams at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, including the medals and achievements secured across various competitions, as well as preparations for Qatar’s participation in upcoming multi-sport events.H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani commended the achievements of Qatari athletes and national teams throughout the year, particularly their performances at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. He also praised the efforts of national sports federations, committees, and technical and administrative teams in preparing athletes and supporting their participation in international competitions.The Qatar Olympic Committee reaffirmed its commitment to developing Qatari sporting talent and expanding opportunities for athletes to compete, further strengthening Qatar’s sporting presence and competitiveness in future events.
Spain Complete Historic Double at FIP World Cup Qatar 2026
Doha : Spain completed a memorable double at the FIP World Cup Qatar 2026 on Saturday, claiming both the men's and women's titles after defeating arch-rivals Argentina in two thrilling finals at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.The Spanish men's team reclaimed the world crown with a 2-1 victory over defending champions Argentina, avenging their defeat in the 2024 final in Doha, while the women's team extended their remarkable dominance by securing a seventh consecutive world title with a 2-0 triumph over the same opponents.In the men's final, Spain made a strong comeback in the opening encounter as Juan Lebron and World Cup debutant Aimar Goñi recovered from a set down to defeat Argentina's Martin Di Nenno and Leandro Augsburger 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.The Argentine pair took the opening set and appeared to be in control after establishing a 4-2 lead in the second. However, Lebron and Goñi fought back to level the contest before taking the second set 7-5.The Spanish duo carried their momentum into the deciding set, securing an early break and eventually sealing a crucial victory to give Spain a 1-0 lead.Argentina responded in the second match through Agustin Tapia and Federico Chingotto, who delivered a commanding performance to defeat Paquito Navarro and Jon Sanz 6-1, 6-2 in just 55 minutes, levelling the final at 1-1.With the world title at stake, Arturo Coello and Coki Nieto rose to the occasion in the decisive encounter against Argentina's Tino Libaak and Gonzalo Alfonso.The Spanish pair produced an impressive display to secure a 6-3, 6-2 victory, sparking celebrations among their teammates and supporters as Spain regained the men's world title.The victory marked a significant turnaround for Spain, who had lost the men's final to Argentina by the same 2-1 scoreline at the previous edition in Doha two years earlier.
Arab Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships Continue in Doha
DOHA - Competition continued at the 45th Arab Men’s Golf Championship and the 17th Arab Women’s Golf Championship, hosted by Qatar for the first time at Doha Golf Club, with 72 male and female golfers representing 14 countries. The championships have witnessed intense and closely contested battles for the individual and team titles as the competitions enter their decisive stages.In the second round of the men’s individual competition, Morocco’s Reda El Hali maintained his position at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 139 strokes, seven under par. The UAE’s Jonathan Selfrage followed in second place at five under par, also with a total of 139 strokes, while compatriot Sam Mullaney finished third with 144 strokes, at par.Morocco’s Hugo Trommeter took fourth place at one over par with 145 strokes, while Qatar’s Saleh Al Kaabi moved up to fifth, sharing the position with Bahrain’s Khalifa Al Marisi and the UAE’s Mohammed Shaik. All three recorded two over par, with 146 strokes each. Qatar’s rising talent Daniel Sokolov finished seventh at three over par with 147 strokes.Among the other Qatari golfers, Ali Al Shahrani finished 17th at 11 over par, while Fahad Mir placed 28th at 17 over par.In the women’s individual competition, Morocco’s Reem Emni claimed the lead after recording four under par, with a total of 142 strokes. The UAE’s Intisar Rish finished second with 146 strokes, while Morocco’s Maria Harroush and the UAE’s Lara Al Shuaibi shared third place at two over par, each recording 148 strokes. Morocco’s Malak Bouraida finished fifth at three over par.Among the Qatari participants, Nada Mir finished 13th at 20 over par, while Mouza Al Thani placed 17th at 45 over par.In the men’s team competition, the UAE topped the standings with 429 strokes, three under par, holding a one-stroke advantage over Morocco, which finished second with 430 strokes. Qatar took third place with 448 strokes, 16 over par, followed by Bahrain in fourth at 23 over par and Saudi Arabia in fifth at 34 over par.In the women’s team competition, Morocco topped the standings with 289 strokes, three under par, followed by the UAE in second place with 294 strokes, two over par. Tunisia finished third at 33 over par, followed by Egypt at 43 over par, while Qatar placed fifth with 357 strokes, 65 over par.
Qatar’s Dana Salem Wins Bronze in Women's 100m at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
DAKAR – Qatar's Dana Salem secured a new Olympic achievement for her country by winning the bronze medal in the women's 100m on Sunday at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, following an impressive performance in a highly competitive race against some of the world's leading young sprinters.Salem clocked 11.48 seconds to finish third and claim the bronze medal. Arwa Ali of the United Arab Emirates took silver in 11.41 seconds, while Nigeria's Rosemary Nwankwo won gold with a time of 11.16 seconds.Following her achievement, Salem dedicated her medal to Qatar's wise leadership, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), and the country's Olympic and sporting community. She expressed her pride in representing Qatar and raising its flag at an international Olympic event that brings together some of the world's most promising young athletes.For his part, Mr Naji Al Amri, Head of the Qatari delegation, congratulated Salem on winning the bronze medal, praising her impressive performance. He noted that her achievement would serve as a strong motivation for the other members of the delegation to continue striving for success and achieve positive results that reflect Qatar's sporting ambitions."We are proud of Dana's achievement and look forward to seeing our athletes deliver strong performances and achieve positive results. This participation also provides them with a valuable opportunity to gain experience and compete against some of the world's best young athletes," he said.Qatar's participation in the Games continues, with sprinter Abu Bakr Idris set to compete in the 110m event on Monday, while Adham Al Deeb will begin his campaign in the men's individual foil fencing competition. Both athletes will be looking to deliver strong performances and achieve positive results in their respective events.Team Qatar is represented at the Games by four athletes: Adam Morsy in swimming, Dana Salem and Abu Bakr Idris in athletics, and Adham Al Deeb in foil fencing. Their participation aims to strengthen Qatar's presence on the international sporting stage while giving its young talents valuable experience in Olympic competition.The Games are being held across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly over 15 days, bringing together around 2,700 athletes competing in 25 sports and 153 medal events, alongside 10 interactive sports that do not award medals. The event provides a global platform for emerging sporting talents from across the continents.Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Games primarily target athletes aged between 15 and 17. Senegal's hosting of the event marks a historic milestone, as it becomes the first African country to host the Youth Olympic Games, opening new horizons for the development of the Olympic movement and sport across the continent.