Team Qatar Gears Up to Take On Zimbabwe in Monday Test Match

DOHA - The Qatar national football team will take on Zimbabwe on Monday at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in a friendly match forming part of Qatar's preparations for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar, which Doha will host from December 1 to 18, 2025.The match also fits into Qatar's long-term preparation plan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Qatar secured its spot in the tournament after topping Group A of the Asian playoff competition held in Doha last month, finishing ahead of the UAE and Oman.Head coach Julen Lopetegui aims to evaluate several players before finalizing the 23-man squad for the FIFA Arab Cup, in accordance with FIFA regulations.The squad for the Zimbabwe match excludes several key players who have been central to the team in recent years, including Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Karim Boudiaf, and Abdulaziz Hatem. Striker Almoez Ali is also absent after undergoing surgery. The move is intended to give these players time to rest and recover following a demanding schedule with club and national team duties.The current squad features a mix of youth and experience and includes 26 players, among them three goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, and Shehab Al Lithi. The squad also comprises Ahmed Al Janahi, Ahmed Al Rawi, Ahmed Suhail, Ahmed Fathy, Ahmed Alaa, Al Hashimi Al Hussain, Ayoub Mohammed, Tahsin Mohammed, Jassim Gaber, Khalid Ali, Khaled Mohammed, Sultan Al Brek, Tarek Salman, Assim Madibo, Lucas Mendes, Mohammed Khaled, Mohammed Muntari, Mohammed Waad, Mustafa Tarek, Nabil Irfan, Homam Al Amin, and Yousef Ayman.This international window marks Qatar’s final preparation phase before the Arab Cup. The host nation will open the tournament on December 1 at Al Bayt Stadium against the winner of the Palestine-Libya playoff.Qatar is placed in Group A with Tunisia and the winner of the Syria-South Sudan playoff.Zimbabwe, ranked 129th in the October FIFA rankings, recently played a friendly against Algeria in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where it lost 3-1.The Zimbabwean team is preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host from December 21. Zimbabwe will begin its campaign against Egypt on December 22 in Agadir in Group B, which also features South Africa and Angola.  

Qatar Clinch Silver in Show Jumping at 6th Islamic Solidarity Games

Riyadh - Qatar clinched the silver medal in show jumping at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, until Nov. 21. Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al‑Thani claimed the silver medal in the show‑jumping competition, finishing second in the decisive round at Riyadh’s Janadriyah Equestrian Field with a time of 34.62 seconds aboard Marco Moniet.Saudi rider Khalid Al Mubti clinched the gold, while another Saudi, Abdullah Al Sharbatly, completed the podium in third.Meanwhile, Qatari rider Ghanem Nasser Al Qadi ended his campaign in 13th place riding Chiddington Blue, and fellow Qatari Mohammed Khalifa Al Baker finished 17th aboard Dukhon 3.This result raised Qatar’s medal tally in the Games to five, including three golds, won by weightlifter Wissam Ikhlas Yakhlef, and two silvers, the first earned by swimmer Ali Tamer and the second by Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al‑Thani himself.President of the Qatar Equestrian & Modern Pentathlon Federation, Badr bin Mohammed Al Darwish, expressed his delight at Sheikh Ali’s achievement, emphasizing that this well-deserved success is the result of continuous preparation and dedicated investment in Qatar’s equestrian talent.Sheikh Ali performed well to earn this silver, with his performance reflecting his long-standing expertise in this sport. This milestone adds to Qatar’s record and underscores its presence in major sporting forums like the Games, Al Darwish highlighted.Qatar's squad is seeking its second victory, which would secure the top spot in Group A and guarantee progression to the semifinals ahead of its final group match against the Maldives on Tuesday.The Games feature over 3,000 athletes from 57 countries, competing across 23 disciplines: athletics, fencing, 3×3 basketball, swimming, handball, table tennis, camel racing, volleyball, karate, Muay Thai, judo, weightlifting, futsal, wrestling, taekwondo, e‑sports, wushu, boxing, show jumping, duathlon, jujitsu, para‑athletics, and para‑weightlifting. 

Team Qatar defeat Cuba in Beach Volleyball World Championship Opener

Canberra - Team Qatar opened its Beach Volleyball World Championship campaign in Adelaide, Australia with a commanding victory, defeating Cuba in straight sets in their first match today.The Qatari duo prevailed 21–18 and 21–14, taking full control of the match and setting a strong tone for the days ahead. Qatar is competing in the tournament running until November 23 among 48 teams placed in 12 groups, and has been drawn into Group 10 alongside Austria, Switzerland, and Cuba.The match proved intense from the start, with the Cuban pair pushing hard at the net. However, Qatar’s seasoned stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan displayed their trademark composure and international experience, allowing them to secure the first set before accelerating their dominance in the second. Their tactical precision and consistency left the Cuban duo, Gómez and Viranes, unable to keep pace as Qatar sealed its opening victory in confident fashion.Qatar will next face Switzerland tomorrow, Sunday, in its second group-stage match, before meeting Austria on Monday in what promises to be another key encounter.Mohammed Salem Al-Kuwari, Board Member of the Qatar Volleyball Association and Chairman of the Beach Volleyball Committee, praised the team’s strong start, highlighting the high level demonstrated by both sides. He emphasized that Qatar succeeded in imposing its rhythm and fully deserved the win.Al-Kuwari noted that the championship brings together the world’s elite teams and top-tier players with exceptional skills, adding that Qatar aspires to continue winning through each stage of the tournament and ultimately reach the podium.Qatar’s beach volleyball team continues to build on its international success. Over the years, the team has raised the nation’s profile on the world stage—most notably by securing the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and finishing fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympics.This season alone, Qatar has captured eight gold medals across various international competitions, reflecting the remarkable progress and sustained excellence of Qatari beach volleyball in recent years. 

APF President Welcomes OCA Decision to Include Padel in 2026 Asian Games

KUWAIT  – President of the Asian Padel Federation (APF) and Secretary-General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation, Tariq Zainal, has praised the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for officially recognizing the APF and including padel in the 2026 Asian Games.In a statement on Wednesday, Zainal described the OCA’s decision as a historic milestone for the sport in Asia, marking a new era for its growth and visibility across the continent.He highlighted that the sport’s inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games will offer athletes an exceptional platform to showcase their talent and compete at the highest levels, reflecting the rapid development and rising popularity of padel in recent years.Zainal added that this achievement opens a new chapter in the sport’s journey in Asia and reaffirmed the APF’s commitment to working closely with the International Padel Federation (FIP) to expand opportunities for men, women, and junior players alike, while establishing padel as one of the most dynamic and forward-moving sports in the region.He also noted Qatar’s pioneering role in promoting padel across the Middle East, pointing out that Doha has successfully hosted both Gulf and Asian Padel Championships at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, as well as the annual Premier Padel World Tour.The International Padel Federation recently announced that the OCA’s adoption of padel as an official sport at the 2026 Asian Games represents a major step toward global recognition, paving the way for its potential inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Australia.

Historic Triple Gold for Team Qatar’s Ouisal Ikhlef at the Islamic Solidarity Games

Riyadh - Team Qatar’s weightlifter Ouisal Ikhlef achieved a historic milestone by clinching three gold medals in the women’s +86kg category at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, until November 21.Ikhlef dominated the competition, winning the snatch gold with a lift of 117kg, ahead of Kazakhstan’s Lyubov Kovaltchuk, who took silver after lifting the same weight on her third attempt, while Uzbekistan’s Tursunoy Jabborova earned bronze with 116kg.She went on to capture her second gold in the clean & jerk event, lifting 160kg, followed by Kovaltchuk (150kg) and Jabborova (137kg). Ikhlef completed her sweep with the third gold medal in the total category, achieving a combined weight of 277kg. Kovaltchuk placed second with 267kg, and Jabborova finished third with 254kg.The medals were presented by H.E. Mohammed bin Youssef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation.H.E. Mohammed bin Youssef Al Mana congratulated Ouisal Ikhlef for her remarkable achievement, describing it as a historic milestone for Qatari sport.“We congratulate Ouisal Ikhlef on this historic accomplishment, which adds to Qatar’s growing list of sporting achievements. Her success is the result of continuous work, precise planning, and the strategic support of the QOC and the Weightlifting Federation,” said Al Mana.He emphasized that Ouisal’s triple gold reflects the unlimited support Qatari sport enjoys under the leadership of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, whose vision focuses on empowering athletes and providing them with every opportunity to succeed.“This victory also highlights the growing role of Qatari women in sport and their ability to compete at both continental and international levels. These three medals will surely inspire all Team Qatar athletes to continue striving for excellence and to represent our nation proudly in future competitions,” he added.Expressing her pride and joy, Ouisal Ikhlef said: “I’m proud to dedicate these three gold medals to the State of Qatar. I want to thank the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Weightlifting Federation for their constant support and confidence in me.”She added: “The competition was very strong, but my preparation and determination to win made all the difference. I dedicate these medals to everyone who supported me and promise to continue working hard to raise Qatar’s flag high in upcoming championships.”The Qatari delegation held a celebration for Ouisal Ikhlef at the Athletes’ Village to mark her historic triple-gold achievement. The event was attended by H.E. Mohammed bin Youssef Al Mana, Khalifa Jaber Al Nuaimi, Deputy Director of the Qatari Delegation, and several Qatari athletes participating in the Games.Team Qatar’s volleyball team lost 3–1 to Bahrain in their final first-round match at the Islamic Solidarity Games, finishing fourth in the group standings with six points, behind Iran (13 points), Turkey (12), and Bahrain (10).According to the competition format, the top two teams advance to the gold-medal match, while the third and fourth-placed teams play for bronze. As a result, Qatar will face Bahrain again today for third place.Following the match, Saeed Jumaa Al-Hitmi, Board Member of the Qatar Volleyball Association, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back:“Our team performed well for most of the match, but we were unlucky in some decisive moments. This is a young, talented squad that has proven its readiness and fighting spirit. We’ll work with the technical staff to fix our mistakes and prepare strongly for the bronze-medal match.”He added: “We have full confidence in our players to achieve a positive result and conclude the tournament in a manner that reflects the strength of Qatari volleyball.”

Qatar's Abeer Al Buainain Named Vice-President of Arab Gymnastics Federation

Amman - Secretary-General of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), Abeer Al Buainain, was named Vice-President of the Arab Gymnastics Federation (AGF) during the AGF's General Assembly held in Amman, Jordan.The move is a culmination of the energized efforts undertaken by QGF to enhance the stature of Qatari gymnastics on the regional and global stages, demonstrating the profound confidence of the Arab sporting community in Qatar's national competencies.It also underscores the significant capabilities of Qatari talents across Arab and international forums and embodies Qatar's iron-clad commitment to backing Arab sports, particularly this sport.A meeting of the AGF's General Assembly witnessed the election of the new board of directors amid aspirations for further advancement of this sport on the Arab, regional, and global stages in the coming period.