Team Qatar Top Children’s Team Event at FEI Group VII Finals

Doha:  Team Qatar secured top honours in the Children’s Team competition (CSISCH-A) at the FEI Group VII Finals, held at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab.The host team delivered a strong performance to finish in first place, ahead of the United Arab Emirates in second, while Saudi Arabia claimed third place to complete the podium.The winners were crowned by Bader bin Mohammed Al-Darwish, President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, and Sultan Mohammed Al-Yahyai, President of FEI Regional Group VII.Following the conclusion of the team competition, 17 riders qualified for the next stage of the individual event.In the junior individual competition, held at a height of 130cm, 15 riders delivered clear rounds to advance to the next phase, reflecting the high technical standard of the participants.Teams representing Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates also competed in the team event of the same category, as the competition continues across multiple classes within the championship. 

Doha Hosts Virtual Draw Ceremony for Team Sports at the 4th GCC Games

DOHA  – The Organizing Committee of 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 staged the official draw ceremony for the team sports competitions on Thursday via advanced virtual communication technology. Held at Lusail Hall at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters, the event brought together heads of delegations from GCC nations and attracted strong media presence, reflecting the importance and prestige of the occasion.At the beginning of the ceremony, Mohammed Issa Al-Fadala, Head of the Sports Committee, welcomed attendees and media representatives, emphasizing that the meeting forms part of ongoing preparations and close coordination to ensure competitions are delivered to the highest technical and organizational standards.He highlighted that this step builds on continuous cooperation between the Organizing Committee and GCC Olympic Committees, strengthening readiness and contributing to an exceptional edition of the Games. Al Fadala added that sport remains a powerful bridge that fosters unity and solidarity among GCC nations, embodying shared values and the spirit of brotherhood and fair play. He expressed confidence that the draw would pave the way for exciting and highly competitive matches during the Games, scheduled to take place in Doha from May 11 to 22, 2026.The handball draw was conducted by Mr. Hamad Misfer Al Nuaimi, Handball Competition Manager, in accordance with international regulations, with participation from Qatar (host nation), Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the volleyball draw was carried out by Mr. Yousef Kano, Volleyball Competition Manager, alongside former players Saeed Al Hatmi and Ali Ishaq, also following international rules, with all six GCC national teams taking part.The fourth edition of the Games, taking place from May 11 to 22, will feature the participation of elite athletes from the GCC countries, who will compete in 19 sports, including handball, table tennis, athletics, squash, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards and snooker, basketball (5x5), basketball (3x3), shooting, archery, volleyball, equestrian, and bowling.The competitions will be hosted across 10 venues, including Aspire Dome, Qatar Sports Club, Khalifa International Tennis, Squash and Badminton Complex, Lusail Shooting Range, Al Gharafa Sports Club, and other leading sports facilities.Historically, the inaugural GCC Games were held in Manama, Bahrain, from October 11 to 22, 2011, featuring six nations and around 1,500 athletes competing in 11 sports, with Qatar finishing third (7 gold, 11 silver, 2 bronze). The second edition took place in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, from October 12 to 26, 2015, with five participating nations and nearly 1,500 athletes across 15 sports, where Qatar again secured third place with 59 medals (21 gold, 22 silver, 16 bronze). The third edition was hosted by Kuwait City, Kuwait, from May 16 to 31, 2022, with six nations and over 1,500 athletes competing in 16 sports; Qatar finished fifth with a total of 52 medals (16 gold, 21 silver, 15 bronze).

Arabi beat Shamal to claim Qatar Cup title for fifth time

Doha: Al Arabi Club emerged champions of the 13th edition of the Qatar Basketball Cup after defeating Al Shamal 77-71 in the final Thursday at Al Gharafa Hall. Al Arabi raised their tally to five titles –their third consecutive triumph –setting a record for the most Qatar Cup wins and surpassing Al Gharafa’s four titles. Meanwhile, Qatar SC, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah each hold one title.Al Shamal’s Tyree Quannell Crump was the game’s top scorer with 36 points, while Al Arabi’s Elmedin Kikanovic led his team with 28 points. Following the match, Mohammed bin Saad Al-Mughaseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, Sheikh Tamim bin Fahd Al-Thani, President of Al Arabi Club, Abdullah Shamsan Al-Sada, Vice-President of Al Shamal Club, and Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Basketball Federation, presented the trophy and gold medals to the champions along with a financial prize of QR600,000. Al Shamal received silver medals and a prize of QR400,000. Al Arabi had reached the final after a marathon semi-final against Al Rayyan, decided in overtime with a 104-103 victory. Al Shamal qualified by defeating Al Wakrah 71-56 in the other semi-final. 

Qatar Beach Handball Team arrive in Sanya for 2026 Asian Beach Games

Doha:  Team Qatar’s beach handball squad arrived in Sanya, China on Thursday to participate in the 6th Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026, scheduled to take place from April 22 to 30.Head coach Khalid Hassan has named a 12-player squad for the competition, comprising Rashid Madadi, Ahmed Elmeniawy, Amir Nowraddine Denguir, Hamdi Ayed, Hani Kakhi, Abdulrazzaq Murad, Mohamed Ali Lotfi, Abdelhady Taha Elnamr, Zarko Markovic, Anis Zouaoui, Motasem Abdulwahid, and Firas Elmoncef Zemzemi.Team Qatar will begin their campaign on April 21 with two matches against Pakistan and Oman, before facing Bangladesh and Mongolia on April 23.The team will continue their group-stage fixtures against Jordan on April 24, Thailand on April 26, and the Maldives on April 27, aiming to secure qualification to the knockout rounds. 

Cherif & Tijan win men’s tile at AVC Tour Samila Open

Doha: Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan powered their way to gold with a commanding run at the AVC Beach Tour 25th Samila Open in Songkhla, Thailand, on Wednesday.The Qatari duo capped an impressive campaign with a hard-fought win over Australia’s Ben Hood-Thomas Hodges 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-11) in the final.In the women’s competition, New Zealand’s Polley/MacDonald showcased outstanding form to clinch the title, overcoming Japan’s Shiba/Reika in a tightly contested final. Australia’s Rayner/Fejes completed the podium, defeating Thailand’s S. Patcharaporn/M. Salinda to secure bronze.The four-day tournament, held from April 12 to 15, brought together top beach volleyball teams from across Asia and Oceania, producing high-quality action from the qualification rounds through to the finals. Fans witnessed a series of intense encounters, with several matches – including the semifinals and medal deciders – going the distance in dramatic three-set battles.Staged on the sands of Songkhla, the event once again highlighted the growing strength and depth of beach volleyball across the continent, offering a platform for both established partnerships and emerging talents to test themselves at a high level.With another successful stop completed on the tour, focus now shifts to upcoming legs of the AVC Beach Tour, where teams will continue their push for valuable ranking points, podium finishes and continental honours. 

Qatar Olympic Academy Concludes Sports Villages Management Course

Doha: In a step that reflects the leadership of the Qatar Olympic Academy in preparing national and regional cadres, the Academy organized a specialized course titled Sports Villages Management over three days, with the participation of more than seventy male and female trainees from inside Qatar and abroad, representing diverse functional and academic disciplines.This course stands out as a unique milestone, being held for the first time in the region with such a specialized focus. It reaffirms the belief of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Olympic Academy in the importance of this vital field, especially as the region prepares to host major sporting events, most notably the Asian Games – Doha 2030 and the Asian Games – Riyadh 2034.At the opening ceremony, H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice Chairman of the Qatar Olympic Academy Board, delivered a welcoming speech to the trainees. He expressed his delight at the large number of participants eager to attend one of the Academy’s most important courses, emphasizing that the QOC and the Academy are committed to organizing such programs in recognition of their importance, as Qatar and the region are on the verge of hosting significant events. He noted that the course aims to create qualified cadres capable of managing sports villages during major tournaments, particularly since a sports village can involve more than 10,000 staff and volunteers working across multiple specialties to ensure the highest organizational standards.The opening was also attended by Dr. Ahmad bin Abdull Al Buenain, CEO of the Organizing Committee for the Asian Games – Doha 2030, and Mr. Khalil Al Jaber, Executive Director of the Qatar Olympic Academy.The course covered comprehensive and in-depth themes, focusing on understanding the sports village as an integrated system rather than a collection of separate facilities. It addressed the ability to plan and design a fully functional layout for the village, explored governance and sustainable management mechanisms, and examined the planning and administration of multi-sport and multi-user operations. The program also emphasized the importance of positioning the sports village as a holistic destination and ensuring sustainability and long-term impact of these vital facilities.Lectures were delivered by Mr. Luis Luis, an expert with the Qatar Olympic Committee, who enriched the course with practical insights drawn from his experience in more than twelve Olympic and Asian Games editions and other multi-sport events. His expertise enabled him to share accumulated knowledge with participants and provide real-life examples of challenges in managing sports villages and strategies to overcome them. Participants engaged actively with his sessions, raising diverse questions on how to apply these experiences in the Qatari and regional context, and how to leverage them in preparation for the Asian Games – Doha 2030 and other major sporting events.One of the most distinctive aspects of the course was its focus on sustainability, now considered a key success factor in managing major sporting events. The program introduced practical strategies for waste reduction, efficient resource management, and circular systems that ensure the positive impact of the sports village continues beyond the conclusion of the event.Participants also discussed the importance of stakeholder engagement in the management process, ranging from athletes and Olympic committees to local communities, ensuring a balance between sporting objectives and environmental and social considerations.Attendees expressed their appreciation for this pioneering initiative, affirming that the course represented a valuable addition to their professional development. They noted that it would enhance their ability to address the complex challenges of sports village management, open new horizons for careers in event organization, and strengthen their opportunities to contribute effectively to the success of the Asian Games – Doha 2030.