Doha Shines as West Asian Archery Championship Reaches Thrilling Final Stage

Doha, November 1 – The 2nd West Asian Archery Championship concluded its elimination rounds today at the Lusail Shooting Range Complex, setting the stage for an exciting finale that will determine the regional champions on Monday.The tournament, hosted by Qatar, features around 100 archers representing nine nations — Kuwait, the UAE, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, Syria, and the host nation Qatar — competing in recurve and compound bow events across individual, team, and mixed team categories.Day four of the competition delivered high-intensity matchups in both the men’s and women’s individual events.In the men’s Olympic recurve, Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al-Mousa advanced to face compatriot Mansour Alawi in the gold medal match, while Qatar’s Ahmed Al-Sada will meet the UAE’s Abdullah Al-Ketbi for bronze.In the women’s recurve, Qatar’s Maha Abdulhai reached the final, where she will compete against Kuwait’s Suad Al-Bahar for the gold, while Saudi Arabia’s Aya Filimban and the UAE’s Aisha Al-Ali will battle for bronze.In the men’s compound event, Saudi Arabia’s Ali Al-Baqmi will face Kuwait’s Abdullah Malallah for gold, while Saudi Bilar Al-Owaidi meets Iraq’s Abdullah Al-Shaibani for bronze.Meanwhile, Qatar’s Aisha Al-Saai will compete against the UAE’s Amina Al-Owaidi in the women’s compound final, with Syria’s Yolanda Galoul and Saudi Arabia’s Raghda Kaabi contesting the bronze medal.Qatar’s team includes 12 archers, among them Ahmed Al-Sada, Suleiman Bu Taima, Maha Abdulhai, Reem Al-Saai, Sharifa Al-Obaidly, Amina Al-Jarman, Farhan Abdurrahbah, Abdulaziz Al-Abadi, Hamad Al-Yafie, Omar Laram, Munira Al-Adsani, and Aisha Al-Saai.The championship will conclude on Monday, November 3, with the gold and bronze medal matches across all individual, team, and mixed events, followed by the closing ceremony and awards presentation.Adel Al-Hammadi, Chairman of the Media Committee of the West Asian Archery Federation, commended Qatar’s exceptional organization and the high technical level of the tournament, saying:“The Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation delivered an outstanding edition both technically and organizationally, providing world-class venues and facilities that elevated the event to an international standard.”He highlighted the strong participation and record-breaking performances achieved over the past four days, describing the championship as a testament to the sport’s growing prominence across the region.Al-Hammadi added that the Executive Committee of the West Asian Archery Federation will meet in Doha tomorrow to discuss future development plans — including coaching and refereeing courses — and confirm the hosts of the third and fourth editions.Abdullah Al-Nuwaiser, Executive Director of the Saudi Archery Federation, praised the tournament’s organization and technical standards, noting that eight national records had been broken so far.“This edition has been remarkable in every aspect — from the outstanding facilities to the professional organization. We thank the Qatar Federation for setting such a high benchmark,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia looks forward to hosting the Asian Archery Championship in December.

13 Arab Nations Marked Their Presence Across 19 Editions with 4 Notable Achievements in the FIFA U-17 World Cup

Doha:  Since the inaugural edition in China in 1985, a total of 84 national teams have appeared in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, whose 20th edition (FIFA Qatar 2025) will kick off on Monday at Aspire Zone, running until November 27, with the final to be played at Khalifa International Stadium.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will be the seventh edition hosted in Asia, following previous tournaments held in China (1985), Japan (1993), South Korea (2007), UAE (2013), India (2017), and Indonesia (2023).Throughout the tournament’s history, 13 Arab nations have qualified for the finals — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Algeria, Sudan, and the UAE.Arab teams from Asia have shone particularly in this age category, producing four standout achievements: Saudi Arabia won the 1989 title in Scotland, while Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain each reached the semifinals once.Qatar, the 1990 AFC U-17 champions, holds the record for most appearances by an Arab team, having qualified seven times for the World Cup — their last appearance being in 2005. The young Maroons will make their eighth World Cup appearance as hosts when they open the 2025 edition against Italy on Monday at Aspire Field 7.Qatar debuted alongside Saudi Arabia in the first edition and achieved their best result in Italy 1991, finishing fourth after losing to Argentina on penalties (1–4) in the third-place match.The greatest Arab achievement, however, came in 1989, when Saudi Arabia captured the FIFA U-17 World Cup title, becoming the first Arab and Asian nation ever to win a FIFA competition. The Saudis defeated Bahrain 1–0 in the semifinal and overcame hosts Scotland 5–4 on penalties in the final after a 2–2 draw.Saudi Arabia had advanced from the group stage with four points (draws with Portugal and Guinea, and a 1–0 win over Colombia) before eliminating Nigeria on penalties (2–0) in the quarterfinals.Meanwhile, Bahrain finished fourth after losing 0–3 to Portugal in the third-place playoff. The Bahrainis had topped their group with five points following wins over Cuba (3–0) and Ghana (1–0) and a draw with Scotland (1–1). They also stunned Brazil in the quarterfinals, winning 4–1 on penalties after a goalless draw.Oman also made a historic run in Ecuador 1995, finishing fourth after losing 0–2 to Argentina in the third-place match.In total, Arab nations have played 112 matches in previous U-17 World Cups, achieving 35 wins, 25 draws, and 52 losses, while scoring 137 goals. Among them, Algeria, which participated only once (Nigeria 2009), remains the only Arab team not to score a goal, having lost all three group matches.Tunisia, which has competed three times, has six wins and five losses, reaching the round of 16 twice and exiting the group stage once.The upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will feature six Arab teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.According to the draw:Qatar, hosts and 1991 semifinalists, head Group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia.Morocco, quarterfinalists in Indonesia 2023, are in Group B with Japan, New Caledonia, and Portugal.UAE, who reached the round of 16 in Nigeria 2009, compete in Group C with Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica.Tunisia are in Group D with Argentina, Belgium, and Fiji.Egypt, hosts of 1997, are in Group E with England, Venezuela, and Haiti.Saudi Arabia, 1989 champions, will play in Group L against Mali, New Zealand, and Austria.The Qatar 2025 tournament will feature a record 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the best eight third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32. Across 25 days, 104 matches will be held at eight Aspire Zone venues, culminating in the final at Khalifa International Stadium.This edition marks the first of five consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cups to be hosted by Qatar, as the tournament shifts from a biennial to an annual format, reaffirming Qatar’s position as a global hub for youth football development. 

Second West Asian Archery Championship Enters Decisive Stage

Doha :  The second edition of the West Asian Archery Championship entered its decisive phase today as competitions continued for the third consecutive day at the Lusail Shooting Range Complex. The event runs until November 3, featuring around 100 male and female archers representing nine countries: Qatar (host), Kuwait, UAE, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, and Syria.The championship features events in both the Olympic recurve and compound bow categories across individual, team, and mixed team competitions.Today’s contests were particularly intense and exciting, highlighted by the elimination rounds for the men’s, women’s, and mixed team events in both bow categories.In the men’s Olympic team competition, Saudi Arabia advanced to the gold medal match where they will face the UAE.In the women’s Olympic team competition, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia qualified for the gold medal match, while Qatar’s women’s team — composed of Reem Al-Saai, Amina Al-Jarman, and Maha Abdulhai — will compete against the UAE for the bronze medal.In the mixed team Olympic recurve event, the UAE booked their place in the gold medal match against Saudi Arabia, while Qatar’s duo, Ahmed Al-Sada and Maha Abdulhai, advanced to face Kuwait in the bronze medal match. 

Qatar to Face Spain for U-17 Handball World Championship Bronze Medal

Rabat:  Qatar’s U-17 handball team will meet Spain tomorrow (Saturday) in the third-place playoff for the bronze medal at the inaugural edition of the U-17 World Championship, currently taking place in Morocco.Qatar fell to Germany in the semifinals (22–39), while Spain lost their semifinal clash to Egypt (28–31).The young Qatari team is seeking to achieve a historic milestone by claiming the bronze medal, but faces a tough challenge against the Spanish side, which boasts strong capabilities. The two teams previously met in the group stage, where Spain won 41–23.Qatar advanced to the semifinals as the best runner-up from the group stage after finishing second in Group B, earning victories over Tunisia (38–30) and South Korea (45–24), with their only defeat coming against Spain.Reaching the semifinals represents a remarkable continuation of Qatar’s proud record in world handball, highlighted by their silver medal at the 2015 World Championship held in Doha.Following the bronze medal match between Qatar and Spain, the final will see Egypt take on Germany to conclude the tournament. 

BOMA, the Desert Owl takes flight as the official mascot of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025

Doha: The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 and FIFA today unveiled BOMA the Desert Owl as the official tournament mascot – a character inspired by the legendary Serbian coach Velibor “Bora” Milutinović, the only manager in football history to lead five different national teams in five consecutive FIFA World Cup™tournaments.The name “Boma,” is derived from the Arabic word for owl – regarded as a symbol of wisdom, vision, and mentorship, and is a playful nod to Bora, whose career as both coach and talent scout has profoundly influenced football development in Qatar and across the world.For a tournament that celebrates the emergence of new talent, BOMA embodies the pivotal role of a football scout – one who sees potential where others may not and helps young players spread their wings on the global stage.Known affectionately as Coach Bora, Milutinović guided Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States, Nigeria, and China at five successive World Cups between 1986 and 2002 – a unique achievement unmatched in football history. He went on to coach Al Sadd SC of the Qatar Stars League in 2004, leading them to win the Amir Cup in the same year, and contributed to the country’s football development programmes, making him a fitting inspiration for this tournament’s mascot.Speaking to the LOC, Bora highlights the passion he holds for nurturing future footballers and the importance of the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 in celebrating tomorrow’s stars.“When it comes to discovering young talent, my greatest satisfaction as a coach has always been to promote emerging players – to show them that they must have the right attitude, believe in their dreams, and aim for the national team,” said Coach Bora. “I really like the idea behind the mascot and want to thank everyone who came up with it.” he added.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 marks a historic milestone as the first edition to feature 48 national teams, underscoring the tournament’s growing global reach.“The World Cup is something truly special. When you’re young, you dream of playing at the highest level – and the U-17 team is the first step on that journey. It’s very important for young players to face the best in the world and see where they stand,”said Coach Bora.“The team that scores more goals will win – it is as simple as that. But with young players, the outcome of matches often depends on inspiration, talent, and spirit. Most importantly, I hope everyone enjoys this World Cup. Enjoying the game is what truly matters, especially at the U-17 level, because that experience helps you grow both as a person and as an athlete,” he added.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, taking place at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex at Aspire Zone, will see as many as eight matches a day, for a total of 104 matches. The Final will take place on 27 November, 7pm local time, at Khalifa International Stadium.“Aspire Zone is incredible – it has some of the best facilities in the world. The U-17 World Cup will be played on perfect pitches, in perfect conditions. Qatar has a distinguished track record in hosting major events, and I’m sure we’ll see high-quality football once again. I still remember the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – it was unforgettable,” said Coach Bora.Fans can purchase tickets at: www.roadtoqatar.qa. Tickets are available as a Day Pass, which will enable fans to attend multiple matches a day as well as cultural and entertainment activities taking place around matches, in what will be an electrifying football festival-like atmosphere.Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage.All tickets will be digital and will include wheelchair accessible seating options for disabled fans.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ is the first of five consecutive editions that Qatar will be hosting. As the first FIFA World Cup™ to feature 48 teams, this will be the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time.Qatar’s spectacular line-up of mega-sporting events will kick off with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 from 3-27 November, followed by the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ from 1-18 December. In addition, the country is also set to host the second edition of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025, which will take place on 10, 13 and 17 December. 

Qatar to participate with 82 athletes in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced that it will participate with a delegation of 82 male and female athletes in the 6th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, which will be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh from November 7 to 21, with more than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries expected to take part.During a press conference held at the QOC Headquarters on Thursday, Mr. Khalifa Jabor Al-Naimi, Deputy Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation, confirmed that Qatar will compete in 16 sports: Athletics, Duathlon, 3x3 Basketball, Karate, Equestrian, Wrestling, Volleyball, Handball, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Judo, Weightlifting, Camel Racing, Swimming, Fencing, and Para Athletics.Al-Naimi highlighted that Qatar’s participation in the Islamic Solidarity Games reflects the QOC and the State of Qatar’s commitment to being actively present in Islamic, Arab, and Asian sporting events, and to strengthening sporting ties among nations.He added that the Qatari teams have completed their preparations through intensive training programs supervised by their respective federations in coordination with the QOC. He emphasized that the Qatari delegation aims to deliver outstanding performances and reach the podium, particularly in athletics, weightlifting, handball, and volleyball — the sports in which Qatar is expected to perform most strongly.Al-Naimi acknowledged the strong level of competition, given the large number of participating nations. He noted that the main objective is to maximize the technical benefits of the Games by offering opportunities to a wide range of Qatari athletes — both youth athletes being groomed for the Doha 2030 Asian Games and elite athletes capable of competing for medals.He concluded by reviewing Qatar’s proud history in the Islamic Solidarity Games, which began in Mecca 2005 with the first gold medal. That success was followed by Palembang 2013, where Qatar won five medals, and Baku 2017, which marked a turning point with 12 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze). In Konya 2022, Qatar maintained the same total with an improvement in quality — 4 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze. This brought Qatar’s historical total at the Islamic Solidarity Games to 30 medals: 8 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze, reaffirming Qatar’s strong presence and readiness to shine again in the Riyadh 2025 edition.The Islamic Solidarity Games program includes 23 sports: Athletics, Fencing, 3x3 Basketball, Swimming, Handball, Table Tennis, Camel Racing, Volleyball, Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, Weightlifting, Futsal, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Esports, Wushu, Boxing, Equestrian (Show Jumping), Duathlon, Jiu-Jitsu, Para Athletics, and Para Weightlifting.