Draw for Gulf U-23 Cup to be held on November 4

Doha: The Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), headquartered in Doha, announced that the draw for the Gulf U-23 Cup will take place on November 4.In a statement on its official website, the AGCFF confirmed that the draw ceremony will be held at the Qatar Football Association headquarters in Doha via video conference, with the participation of representatives from all Gulf teams, in addition to Iraq and Yemen.The tournament will be hosted in Doha from December 4 to 16, as part of a series of competitions organized by the Federation — which include the Gulf Cup for senior national teams, the youth and junior championships recently held in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the Gulf Champions League for clubs, played in a home-and-away format featuring eight teams divided into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals.The AGCFF’s tournaments have achieved remarkable success both at the national team and club levels, attracting significant media coverage and fan engagement. They have also helped uncover a new generation of young talents who are expected to become key players in their respective national teams in the future.Through these championships, the AGCFF reaffirms its commitment to developing Gulf football and strengthening its regional and international presence, further enhancing the standing of Gulf teams across all levels. 

Qatar Olympic Committee participates in OCA Executive Board Meeting

Manama: H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for West Asia, and His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games, participated in the Executive Board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia, held today in the Kingdom of Bahrain on the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Youth Games.The meeting reviewed the latest developments related to the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Nagoya, Japan in 2026, in addition to the ongoing preparations for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which will be hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh.The meeting also discussed the arrangements for the upcoming OCA General Assembly, scheduled to take place in January 2026 in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. Several topics on the agenda were also addressed, with appropriate decisions taken to support the advancement of the Olympic movement in Asia and meet the aspirations of the sporting community across the continent.

King of Bahrain receives President of Qatar Olympic Committee and Youth Asian Games delegates

Manama: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain received today H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, along with senior dignitaries and heads of delegations participating in the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently being hosted by Bahrain.His Majesty warmly welcomed Sheikh Joaan and all distinguished guests, expressing his appreciation for their attendance at the Games and wishing them a pleasant stay in their second home, the Kingdom of Bahrain.In return, the senior guests and heads of delegations extended their sincere thanks and appreciation to His Majesty the King for the generous hospitality and warm welcome they received. They also expressed their happiness to be in Bahrain and to participate in this major continental sporting event. 

Qatar girls’ volleyball team reach quarterfinals of Asian Youth Games

Manama: Qatar’s girls’ volleyball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain after defeating the host nation 3–0 on Tuesday.The Qatari team delivered a commanding performance, winning in straight sets (25–8, 25–6, 25–13), finishing second in Group A behind Iran to secure a place among the last eight teams.In the men’s competition, Team Qatar lost 0–3 to Iran in its second match, with set scores of (12–25, 8–25, 13–25). Earlier, Qatar had also lost its opener to China 1–3, ending its chances of progressing to the quarterfinals.Meanwhile, in the beach volleyball competition, Qatar’s duo Ahmed Ziad and Moussa Al Khair suffered two defeats — losing 0–2 to Thailand (13–21, 10–21) and 1–2 to Sri Lanka (18–21, 21–8, 12–15). The pair had opened their campaign with a 2–1 victory over the Maldives.Twelve teams are competing in beach volleyball, divided into two groups. Group A includes Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Mongolia, while Group B features Qatar, Bahrain, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals.In the women’s beach volleyball event, Qatar’s duo Celine Mahmoud and Siwar Al Asal lost 0–2 to Malaysia in Group A, which also includes China, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka.Elsewhere, Qatar’s delegations in athletics, 3x3 basketball, equestrian, taekwondo, boxing, and triathlon arrived in Bahrain today to join the competition.The 3rd Asian Youth Games feature 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.Qatar is represented by 67 male and female athletes competing in 16 sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball (3x3), 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 sports — athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.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.Qatar previously won two silver medals in athletics at the inaugural Singapore 2009 Asian Youth Games and three medals (one gold, two silver) at the Nanjing 2013 edition, including gold in handball and two silvers in shooting. 

Team Qatar secure Semi-Final Berth in FIP Asia Padel Cup 2025

DOHA – Qatar’s men’s national padel team delivered an emphatic performance on Tuesday, defeating Pakistan 3-0 to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the FIP Asia Padel Cup 2025, currently underway in Doha.The victory lifted Qatar to four points in Group B, level with Australia, who edged past Kuwait 2-1 in their group encounter. The two group leaders will clash on Wednesday in a decisive match to determine the group winner.In Group A, both Iran and the UAE confirmed their places in the semi-finals. Iran triumphed over Lebanon 3-0, while the UAE outlasted Jordan 2-1. Each team now holds four points, and they will meet tomorrow to settle first and second place in the group standings.In the women’s competition, Japan and Iran advanced from Group A after recording identical 3-0 victories against the UAE and Saudi Arabia, respectively. They will face each other on Wednesday to determine the group leader.Meanwhile, in Group B, Australia blanked Thailand 3-0, and Indonesia matched that result with a dominant win over the Philippines. Indonesia lead the group with four points and can secure top position with a win against Thailand. Both Thailand and Australia, with three points apiece, remain in contention for a semi-final berth. Australia will next take on the Philippines.The semi-finals for both the men’s and women’s events are scheduled for Thursday, followed by the finals on Friday, marking the conclusion of the inaugural edition of the FIP Asia Padel Cup. 

Team Qatar beach volleyball duo begin their campaign at Asian Youth Games with first victory

Manama: Team Qatar’s beach volleyball duo Ahmed Ziad and Moussa Al Khair clinched their first victory today, defeating the Maldives 2–1 in the opening round of the beach volleyball competition at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The tournament will officially open on Wednesday and run until October 31.Despite dropping the first set 19–21, the Qatari pair rebounded strongly, dominating the second set 21–9 before sealing the match with a decisive 15–8 win in the third. The result gave Qatar its first two points in Group B, which also includes Bahrain, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, while Group A features Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Mongolia.Team Qatar will play Thailand tomorrow in their second match before facing Sri Lanka later the same day.In the indoor volleyball competition, Qatar’s youth team will also meet Iran tomorrow in their second game, after losing 1–3 to China in the opener. The matchup against Iran, one of the top contenders for the gold medal, is expected to be highly challenging.Qatar’s volleyball squad includes Ahmed Taleb, Dhahmi Al-Ruwaili, Ghanem Al-Basti, Khalid Abdullah, Tamim Al-Awad, Hamad Ibrahim, Mazen Belroussi, Abdullah Al-Sheiba, Omar Awamleh, Bader Al-Zanari, Abdulrahman Ali, and Nawaf Al-Shammari.The Qatari women’s volleyball team will also play their second match tomorrow against Bahrain, after falling to Iran 0–3 in their opener.Elsewhere, Team Qatar’s golf delegation arrived in Bahrain today to participate in the Games, represented by players Kamil Bin Roqia and Daniel Sokolov. Golf competitions are scheduled to begin on Thursday and continue for three days.The 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain feature 26 sports, bringing together more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, making this edition the largest in the event’s history. The Games also serve as a qualifier for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.Qatar is represented by 67 male and female athletes competing in 16 sports, including 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 will compete in four sports: athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.Qatar’s teams aim to deliver strong performances and achieve podium finishes across several disciplines. This participation also aligns with Qatar’s long-term preparation plan for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.Qatar won two silver medals in athletics at the inaugural Singapore 2009 Asian Youth Games and three medals (one gold, two silver) at the Nanjing 2013 edition, including a gold medal in handball and two silvers in shooting.