Team Qatar to face Iran in Asian Padel Championship Semi-Finals

DOHA — Qatar’s men’s national padel team will face Iran today Thursday in the semi-finals of the Asian Padel Championship Qatar 2025, currently being held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.Having already secured their place in the last four, Team Qatar continued their impressive run with a third straight victory on Wednesday, overcoming Australia (2–1) in the final round of Group B matches. In the same group, Kuwait defeated Pakistan by the same margin (2–1).Qatar opened their main-draw campaign with a 2–1 win over Kuwait, followed by a 3–0 sweep of Pakistan in the second round. These results placed the hosts firmly at the top of Group B with six points, followed by Australia (5), Kuwait (4), and Pakistan (3).In Group A, the UAE led the standings with six points, ahead of Iran (5), Lebanon (4), and Jordan (3). The UAE will now meet Australia in the other semi-final encounter.In the women’s competition, Japan topped Group A with six points, followed by Iran (5), the UAE (4), and Saudi Arabia (3). Meanwhile, Indonesia dominated Group B with six points, trailed by Australia (5), Thailand (4), and the Philippines (3).Today’s women’s semi-final fixtures will see Japan face Australia, while Indonesia will take on Iran for a place in the final.Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation (FIP), praised the exceptional organization of the first-ever Asian Padel Championship, commending Qatar’s efforts in hosting this landmark event at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.“What we have witnessed here in Qatar during the inaugural Asian Padel Championship has been outstanding in every aspect,” said Carraro. “The organization has been world-class, and the facilities reflect Qatar’s deep commitment to developing and promoting padel across the region.”Carraro added that Qatar has set a new benchmark for continental events through its excellence in logistics, operations, and media coverage factors that have contributed significantly to the championship’s success and visibility. He expressed confidence that Doha’s hosting would serve as a launchpad for the sport’s continued growth across Asia.Reflecting on the competitive level of play, Carraro noted: “The matches have been intensely fought, revealing promising new talent from across the continent. Padel in Asia is on the right track, and its future looks bright  both regionally and on the global stage.” 

Cameroon Delegation Explores Cooperation with Qatar Olympic Academy

Doha : Cameroonian delegation paid a visit to the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) on Thursday, to explore ways for further cooperation.The delegation from the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSC) and the Cameroonian National Olympic Academy (NOA) praised QOA's role in qualifying and developing sport cadres, expressing desire to benefit from this experience and elevate the sport sector.The delegation was introduced to the role of QOA in spreading sport and Olympic culture in society, and was briefed on the agendas of the Academy, the higher education programs, the specialized courses in sport science, and many more.Executive Director of QOA, Khaleel Ebrahim Al Jabir, gave an overview of the history of the Academy, its organizational and administrative structure, and the development stages of its programs, courses and activities.Al Jabir gave the delegation a tour of the Academy's halls and its many facilities that provide the perfect environment for students to practice sport science.The delegation also visited the QOA Library, which includes over 7,000 educational materials related to sport, as well as the audiovisual library.The Executive Director of QOA affirmed that the Academy is eager to strengthen cooperation with CNOSC and the Cameroonian NOA in sport and Olympic education.A NOA official praised the impactful role of the QOA in qualifying individuals in sport-related fields, as well as educating members of society about sport and Olympic culture.

Team Qatar power into West Asia Beach Volleyball Semi-Finals

Muscat – Qatar’s men’s beach volleyball team continued their impressive form, booking a well-deserved place in the semi-finals of the 4th West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship, currently being held in Muscat, Oman, and running until October 23.The Qatari duo Mahmoud Essam and Saif Abdulmajid delivered a commanding performance, defeating Lebanon’s Jason Najjar and Omar Abi Karam in straight sets (21–15, 21–15) to secure their semi-final berth and maintain Qatar’s strong presence in the continental competition.In the women’s tournament, Qatar’s Haya Abu Issa and Laila Mohammed showed great spirit but were edged out by Oman’s Maryam Al-Ariymi and Liqaa Al-Housniyah, falling 23–21, 21–16 in a closely contested match that ended their campaign.The Qatari men’s team now turn their focus to the semi-finals, determined to extend their winning streak and capture the fourth-round title — a key step in their preparations for upcoming international events. The duo enter this stage on a high note, following their recent triumph at the Newport Beach Elite16 tournament in the United States, part of the prestigious Beach Pro Tour Elite16 global circuit.Qatar’s continued participation in major international competitions aligns with the Qatar Volleyball Association’s strategic vision to prepare the national team for the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, set to take place in Australia from November 14–23, featuring the world’s top 48 teams.The Qatari beach volleyball program has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, highlighted by the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a strong fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics, cementing Qatar’s reputation as a rising powerhouse in global beach volleyball. 

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad attends renewal of cooperation agreement signing ceremony between OCA and Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

Manama:  H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, attended today the signing ceremony for the renewal of the Cooperation Agreement between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Youth Games currently being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The agreement was signed by Mr. Timothy Fok, First Vice President of the OCA, and Mr. Mustapha Berraf, President of ANOCA.This renewed agreement aims to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two bodies, develop joint initiatives to address shared challenges faced by athletes and professionals across both continents, enhance technical exchange programs, train sports administrators, and coordinate efforts in preparation for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.Also present at the signing were H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for West Asia, and H.E. Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.It is worth noting that H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani is the sole candidate for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia, with the election scheduled to take place during the OCA General Assembly in January next year. 

Qatar and Palestine Wrestling Federations Sign Cooperation Agreement to Strengthen Sports Partnership

DOHA  – The Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation and the Palestine Wrestling Federation signed a cooperation agreement today at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters in Doha. This agreement aims to build a stronger sports partnership between the two federations through joint training camps, organizing championships, creating development programs, and exchanging technical, coaching, and refereeing expertise.The agreement was signed by Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation, and Mr. Riyad Hassan, Secretary-General of the Palestine Wrestling Federation and member of the “Sport for All” Commission at United World Wrestling.The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Abdullah Hamad Al Mosaifri, Assistant Secretary-General of the Qatari Federation, Mr. Ghanem Saleh Al Kuwari, Board Member, and Mr. Massimiliano Montanari, CEO of the International Centre for Sport Security.This agreement represents an important step in supporting the development of wrestlers from both Qatar and Palestine. It will help improve their technical and physical skills through training camps and prepare them to compete at regional, Arab, continental, and international championships.Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani praised the achievements of Palestinian wrestlers at both the Arab and international levels. He said that this agreement will open new opportunities for athletes from both countries, helping them develop their talents, enhance their competitiveness, and achieve greater success in the sport of wrestling.Mr. Riyad Hassan expressed his deep appreciation to the State of Qatar for its continuous support of Palestinian sports. He said that this agreement marks a new stage in the growth of wrestling in both countries and will help build a new generation of champions capable of reaching the top of international podiums.The ceremony concluded with an exchange of commemorative shields between Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani and Mr. Riyad Hassan, reflecting the strong relationship and shared commitment between the two federations to promote wrestling excellence. 

67 Qatari Athletes Compete in 16 Sports.. QOC President attends opening ceremony of the Asian Youth Games

Manama: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), attended today the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain until 31 October.H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King of Bahrain for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, officially declared the Games open during a grand ceremony held at the Exhibition World Bahrain, in the presence of presidents of Asian National Olympic Committees and senior sports officials from across the continent.Also in attendance were H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the QOC, and H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the QOC.The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular show that included various segments and artistic performances blending modernity with the rich heritage of Bahrain. It also featured the parade of participating nations, official speeches by the Organizing Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and the raising of the Games’ flag.The 3rd Asian Youth Games features 26 sports, with more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, making it the largest edition in the event’s history. The Games also serve as qualifiers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.The state of Qatar is represented by 67 athletes competing in 16 sports, namely: athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, equestrian (show jumping), golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, cycling, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling, volleyball, beach volleyball, and boxing. Female athletes are participating in four of these sports: athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.On the other hand, Qatar’s youth volleyball team lost to Chinese Taipei today in straight sets (0–3), with set scores of 17–25, 17–25, and 16–25.Qatar’s athletes will begin competition tomorrow in 3x3 basketball, athletics, golf, boxing, equestrian, and triathlon.Team Qatar aims to make a strong impression at the Games and compete for medals across several sports. This participation is also part of the nation’s long-term preparation for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.