FIVB Designates Al Gharafa Centre as International Beach Volleyball Excellence Hub

Doha: The FIVB has approved the Al Gharafa Beach Volleyball Training Centre in Doha as an International Centre of Excellence for Beach Volleyball, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) Saturday at the Qatar Olympic Academy in Al Gharafa.With this designation, the Centre joins the FIVB's network of International Centres of Excellence, in a step that strengthens Qatar's position as a global hub for athlete and coach development, knowledge interchange and raising standards in the sport.The Centre will provide an international platform for high-performance preparation, athlete and youth development, coach education, technical cooperation, international training camps and knowledge interchange, capitalizing on its facilities, which include five beach volleyball courts, alongside recovery and athlete support services and access to sophisticated technical and high-performance personnel.This designation is the culmination of the remarkable development of beach volleyball in Qatar in recent years, reflected in incredible results on the international stage, alongside Doha's hosting of some of the sport's biggest international beach volleyball events, including stages and finals of the Beach Volleyball World Tour.QVA President and President of the Qatar and West Asia Volleyball Federations Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari said beach volleyball is highly cherished in Qatar, noting that QVA has worked to advance the sport and welcomed some of the world's leading players, culminating in the historic achievement of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, who won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.Al Kuwari highlighted that Doha eyes to strengthen its stature as a global  destination for athletes and coaches from across the region and the world by providing an environment for training, preparation and knowledge interchange at the highest level, stressing that this partnership demonstrates Qatar's unwavering commitment to developing the sports sector and strengthening its international presence, into line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.Cherif Younousse, a member of the FIVB Athletes' Commission, said the new Centre offers the opportunity to turn the feats achieved by Qatar's beach volleyball into a legacy that benefits athletes from around the globe, stressing the importance of providing an environment that enables athletes and coaches to interchange knowledge and improve at the highest level.FIVB President Fabio Azevedo said the importance of the Centre lies in making the knowledge, experience and high-performance environment that Qatar has built in beach volleyball available to a substantial number of athletes, coaches and National Federations around the world.He added that the International Centres of Excellence network aims to provide wider opportunities for high-performance preparation and knowledge and experience exchange, contributing to elevating standards in the sport and creating more opportunities for athletes and coaches.The designation comes under the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, particularly its plan to expand the International Centres of Excellence network and accelerate the global development of beach volleyball.This also marks Qatar's preparations to host a number of major sporting events, including the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup 2029 and the Asian Games 2030.

Qatar Basketball Team Continue Preparations for Japan Clash in World Cup Qualifiers

Tokyo: Qatar’s national basketball team are continuing their intensive preparations for Monday’s highly anticipated clash against hosts Japan in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.Upon arriving in Tokyo, the Qatari side underwent a light recovery session under Turkish head coach Hakan Demir, aimed at helping the players recover while avoiding injuries or excessive physical strain ahead of the match against Japan.During their final training session, the coaching staff will focus on addressing the errors that emerged in the match against China, improving the players’ technical and physical readiness, and working on a number of tactical aspects ahead of the encounter.Qatar will be looking to secure a positive result and bounce back from their 83-57 defeat to China.Japan, meanwhile, will be aiming to build on their impressive performance against Saudi Arabia, having recorded a convincing 106-78 victory.The Qatar-Japan encounter carries significant importance in Group F, which also includes China, Lebanon, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.Results from the opening round of the window saw Japan maintain their position among the leading teams in the group, while Qatar will be looking to improve their standing in the second round.Although Qatar have already secured their place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 as hosts, the qualifiers represent an important part of the national team’s preparation programme. The matches provide the coaching staff with valuable opportunities to compete against Asia’s leading teams and assess the squad ahead of the global showpiece in Doha.

Qatar U-19 Handball Team Face Bahrain in Asian Championship Final on Monday

Amman: Qatar’s U-19 handball team will face Bahrain on Monday in the final of the Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship, currently being held in Jordan.Qatar secured their place in the final after defeating South Korea 32-28 in the semifinals, while Bahrain advanced to the title match following a 26-23 victory over Iran.The Qatari side have produced an impressive campaign and remain unbeaten in the championship. They finished the group stage with a perfect eight points after recording four consecutive victories, defeating Saudi Arabia 30-22, Kuwait 30-19, Iran 24-22 and Syria 42-29.In the quarterfinals, Qatar produced a commanding performance to defeat tournament hosts Jordan 33-13 before overcoming South Korea in the semifinals to book their place in the final.Qatar will now be aiming to crown their unbeaten campaign by lifting the Asian title, having already secured qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship for the seventh time in their history.

Qatar to send 243 athletes to Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Doha: Qatar will participate in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 with a delegation of 243 athletes, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) announced on Saturday.The delegation comprises 184 men and 59 women, along with 142 members of the technical and administrative staff. Qatar will compete in 26 sports and 32 disciplines at the Games, which will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.The Qatari athletes will compete in athletics, football, basketball, 3x3 basketball, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, squash, padel, taekwondo, judo, artistic gymnastics, golf, shooting, swimming, jiu-jitsu, esports, sailing, equestrian, karate, fencing, archery, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting and table tennis.The QOC also announced the launch of the Mirqab platform, which will serve as a central hub for news, updates, information and services related to Qatar’s participation in the Games. It also revealed plans for ‘Qatar House’, a dedicated venue that will promote Qatari culture and provide a meeting point for delegations and the public throughout the Games. The Aichi-Nagoya Games will also serve as an important preparation for Qatar’s hosting of the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.Ahmed Yousef al-Darwish, head of Qatar’s administrative delegation, said preparations had been carried out thoroughly and began immediately after the conclusion of the previous edition in Hangzhou, China. “A large working group has been formed to follow up on all aspects of Qatar’s participation in coordination with the sports federations, with the aim of providing the best possible conditions for the athletes and delegations,” al-Darwish said.“Our main goal is to ensure that Qatar is represented in an honourable manner. With the conclusion of these Games, attention will turn to Doha, which will host the next edition in 2030. Therefore, Aichi-Nagoya is an important milestone not only from a sporting perspective but also in preparing for our own hosting.”The Aichi-Nagoya Games will feature 41 sports, 68 disciplines and 460 events across 53 competition venues and 75 training facilities. Al-Darwish highlighted the growing role of women in Qatari sport, noting that female athletes account for about 31 percent of the country’s participating athletes. He described the figure as a positive indicator of the continued development of women’s sport and their growing presence across different disciplines.Iman al-Emadi, deputy head of the administrative delegation, said the team had been working closely with all participating sports federations to complete logistical arrangements and ensure the athletes have the necessary facilities and equipment. She also stressed the importance of women’s participation and expressed hope that the Qatari female athletes would contribute to the medal tally and proudly represent the country.Abdulla Mohammed al-Marri, head of the media delegation, described the Games as a significant milestone and a final test for Qatar ahead of the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. He said the event would provide Qatari athletes with valuable opportunities to compete against Asia’s best and measure their progress while challenging for medals.Al-Marri said ‘Qatar House’ would open on September 19 and remain operational until the closing of the Games on October 4. The venue will showcase Qatar’s culture and achievements and provide a platform for interaction with visiting delegations and the public. It will also host celebrations honouring Qatari athletes who achieve notable results during the Games.Naji al-Amri, a member of the administrative delegation, said preparations had focused on ensuring the mission was fully equipped, including accommodation, transportation and other logistical requirements. “The objective is to create the right environment for the athletes so they can concentrate fully on their competitions, perform at their best and achieve the desired results,” he said. 

Qatar's Hemeida wins 400m hurdles in Bellinzona

Bellinzona: Qatar’s Bassem Hemeida won the men’s 400m hurdles at the Bellinzona Athletics Meeting in Switzerland on Sunday, delivering an impressive performance against a strong international field.Hemeida clocked a season-best 47.56 seconds to secure victory and break the 48-second barrier for the first time this season. His latest performance also marked a significant improvement on his previous season-best of 48.17 seconds, recorded last week at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting in Switzerland.The Bellinzona victory highlights Hemeida’s steady progress as he continues his preparations for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, next month. His participation in international competitions across the Diamond League, Gold and Silver categories forms part of the Qatar Athletics Federation’s programme to provide national team athletes with high-level competition and valuable preparation ahead of the continental Games.In addition to the 400m hurdles, Hemeida is also a member of Qatar’s 4x400m relay team, making him an important part of the national squad as it builds towards the Asian Games.

Qatar Golf Team Hold Training Camp in Morocco

Doha – The Qatar Golf Association has announced that the national senior team are holding a training camp in Rabat, Morocco, through the end of August as part of their preparations for upcoming competitions, foremost among them the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan in September.The camp aims to enhance the players’ technical and physical readiness through an intensive training programme at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam courses, one of the region’s leading golf venues, providing ideal conditions for the team’s preparations.The squad comprises Saleh Al Kaabi, Ali Al Shahrani, Abdulaziz Al Shahrani and Abdulrahman Al Shahrani. The coaching staff are seeking to make the most of the camp and ensure the players reach the highest possible level of readiness ahead of their upcoming competitions.The camp forms part of the Qatar Golf Association’s comprehensive plan to prepare the national senior team for a busy schedule of upcoming regional and continental competitions. The programme aims to further develop the players’ performances and strengthen Qatar’s presence in regional and Asian golf competitions.The Qatar Golf Association are looking to ensure that the current preparation period provides maximum technical and physical benefit and helps the national team reach peak readiness ahead of their participation in the Asian Games.