2025 ISSF Shooting World Cup Finals to Kick Off in Doha

Doha:The 2025 ISSF Shooting World Cup Finals for rifle, pistol, and shotgun will begin on Friday at the Lusail Shooting Complex, featuring top shooters and world champions from around the globe.The event will run until Monday, with the best 12 male and 12 female shooters competing in each discipline.Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti, the tournament director, said this is the second time Qatar hosts the finals, which serve as preparation for the World Championship in November, offering the first 36 qualifying spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. A total of 144 athletes from 133 countries will participate, including Qatar's 16 shooters.The competition will apply the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time to ensure fairness. Over 60 top international referees, supported by a strong Qatari officiating team, will oversee the events.Luciano Rossi, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), praised Qatar's organizational capabilities, describing the facilities, logistics, and infrastructure as exceeding all expectations and cementing Doha's status as a global hub for major sports events.The finals are also seen as a critical step for Qatari shooters to gain experience ahead of the 2025 World Championship, with new coaches helping athletes enhance performance and prepare for Olympic qualification.

Qatar defeat Kuwait in U23 Gulf Cup

Doha: The Qatari national team began their campaign in the Gulf Cup U-23 football tournament with a resounding 3-0 victory over Kuwait in their match Friday at Aspire Academy.The Qatari goals were scored by Mustafa Al Sayed in the 3rd minute, Mohammed Abdul Fattah in the 37th minute, and Ahmed Riyadh in the 45th minute of added time.This win gives Qatar their first three points, placing them second in Group A behind Saudi Arabia on goal difference. Kuwait sits in third place with no points, ahead of Bahrain, who are last in the group.In another match in the same group, Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain 5-0. The goals were scored by Abdulaziz Al Alawi (2 goals in the 50th and 83rd minutes), Majed Abdullah (54th minute), Tamer Al-Khaibri (90th minute of added time), and Abdullah Saeed (90th minute of added time).According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals, where the first-place team in Group A plays the second-place team in Group B, and the first-place team in Group B plays the second-place team in Group A.The winners of these matches then face each other in the final.The Gulf Cup U-23 tournament, organized by the Gulf Football Federation, is being held in Doha until December 16th, with the participation of Gulf national teams in one of the most important youth tournaments in the region. 

Curtain comes down on Qatar Asian Junior Tennis Championship

Doha: The Qatar Tennis Federation has concluded the third edition of the Qatar Asian Junior Boys and Girls Under-14 Championship, held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, with the participation of several rising talents from across Asia.The final results saw Russia’s Sofi Himmelreich claim the Girls’ Singles title, while Turkmenistan’s Solgun Ishankulyeva finished as runner-up.In the Girls’ Doubles competition, the title went to the duo of Mumtzbagim Akramova from Uzbekistan and Solgun Ishankulyeva from Turkmenistan. The Kazakh-Russian pair of Yasmina Yusupova and Sofi Himmelreich finished in second place.In the Boys’ category, Bosnia’s Danijel Meskic won the Singles title, with Cameroon’s Alexandre Mikheev placing second.The Boys’ Doubles title went to India’s Roni Vijay Kumar and Arjun Dua, while the Iraqi-Saudi duo of Hassan Griyari and Elyas Al-Ghafli finished as runners-up.The award ceremony was overseen by Mr. Ahmed Butti, Director of Public Relations at the Qatar Tennis Federation, in the presence of a large audience.On this occasion, Mr. Tariq Zainal, Secretary-General of the Qatar Tennis Federation and President of the Asian Tennis Federation, said:“This championship represents an important milestone within the Asian Tennis Federation’s program to develop young talent. It also reflects the Qatar Tennis Federation’s commitment to supporting young players by providing a competitive environment that contributes to raising their level, serving the future of tennis across the continent.”Zainal emphasized that the continued hosting of such tournaments by the Qatar Tennis Federation highlights Qatar’s position as a leading sports destination in Asia and its active role in promoting tennis. 

Qatar Held to 1-1 Draw by Syria in Group Stage

Doha: Qatar were left staring at elimination after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Syria in their FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Group A tie at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday.The stalemate gave the hosts their first point, with Syria joining Palestine on four. Tunisia – who play Qatar on Sunday – also have a single point to their name.A disappointed Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, soon after the game, said, “All I can say is that it’s football. I think our level of play was far better than what it was against Palestine in the opening match.“We were much better today. We did all that you have to do to win a game but it’s football. Very big sorry to all our fans. So sorry for all of them, but today I feel that we did a lot of things to win. We had many chances.“There was a penalty too for us but I can’t understand how they (VAR) change this opinion because it was very clear.“I don’t have any words, but for my players, we have to know to defend till the last minute a bit better, but when they score like that, what you can say. We now have to be ready for the next match.Two-time AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar tested the waters as early as the second minute with Edmilson Junior’s inswinging cross forcing Syria keeper Elias Hadaya to intervene with a punch while at the other end, Meshaal Barsham thwarted Omar Khribin’s pass to Antonio Yakoub.Syria were let off the hook in the 10th minute when Mohamed Manai arrowed his stinging shot just wide of the right post following Akram Afif’corner, before another chance went begging two minutes later with Homam Ahmed seeing his effort drift past a fully stretched Hadaya only for the ball to bounce off the right post.Qatar looked more dangerous with Jassem Gabe testing Hadaya from distance in the 20th minute while at the other end, Mahmoud Al Mawas drove inside the box before laying the ball nicely for Khribin, whose shot was blocked.Edmilson continued to cause problems for Syria, setting up Tarek Salman whose shot hit the side netting.Syria had closed shaves in the second half with Hadaya pulling off a fine save to deny Edmilson in the 51st minute, before Ahmad Faqa was at the right place at the right time to deny Abdulaziz Hatem’s shot from inside the box after Afif’s cutback.Julen Lopetegui’s side, who needed a win after their opening day loss to Palestine, thought they had a lifeline at the hour mark when Zakaria Hannan tripped Homam Ahmed inside the box, only for the referee to wave off the penalty following a VAR review.Syria’s defence was finally breached in the 77th minute when Edmilson delivered a precise cross into the box to Ahmed Alaaeldin, who beat a rooted Hadaya with a glancing header into the top left corner of the net.A lapse in concentration in the 90th minute left Qatar in disbelief with Khribin beating Barsham with a curling effort from distance to salvage a point for Syria and keep them on track for the knockout stage.

Qatar seeks to regain momentum against Syria on Thursday

Doha: Qatar will seek to regain its momentum in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 when it faces Syria tomorrow at Khalifa International Stadium, as part of the second round of Group A matches.Qatar seeks to compensate for its sudden 0-1 loss to Palestine in the opening match of the tournament, whereas Syria will enter the match in high spirits after defeating Tunisia 1-0, collecting three valuable points.Currently, Syria and Palestine sit on top of Group A with three points each, while Qatar and Tunisia are third and fourth without points.Qatar will be required to perform differently in the match in order to win, which will force Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui to find solutions on the front line after the clear inability to show effectiveness in the first match.In the match against Palestine, Qatar lacked effective influence in the offensive aspects, with a scarcity of real opportunities in light of the inability to penetrate the opponent's defense, despite high ball possession.What is required is change and the regaining of momentum Qatar had during the fourth stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which displayed an outstanding level that enabled it to grab qualification for the World Cup at the expense of Oman and the UAE.After the first match, Qatar's coach Lopetegui affirmed his confidence in the players' ability to overcome the defeat, and to perform differently in the second match against Syria, with the aim of winning and correcting course.Meanwhile, Syria hopes to continue to shine in the tournament by achieving a positive result to bring it closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals.Syria, led by Spanish coach Jose Lana, qualified for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 by defeating South Sudan 2-0. This will be their eighth appearance in the tournament's history.For its part, Qatar searches for its first FIFA Arab Cup title in its fourth appearance in the tournament, having been runners-up in 1998, as well as placing third in 2021, when it was held in Doha. 

Qatar to face Palestine in opening match of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025

Doha: Team Qatar will begin their quest for Arab Cup glory on Monday against Palestine at Al Bayt Stadium in the opening match of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. Qatar enter the tournament seeking their first Arab Cup title in their fourth appearance, after finishing runners-up in 1998, third in 2021 and fourth on their debut in 1985.The team comes into the competition with high confidence after securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by topping their Asian play-off group in Doha ahead of Oman and the UAE.Preparations included a local training camp during the November international window, featuring a friendly match against Zimbabwe. Head coach Julen Lopetegui said the Arab Cup represents a major competitive test and a key stage in the team's World Cup preparations, stressing the importance of a strong opening performance against a well-organized Palestinian side.Qatar will rely on a balanced squad blending experience and youth. The 23-man roster features key players including Akram Afif, Mohammed Muntari, Edmilson Junior and goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.Afif remains the team's main attacking threat after his outstanding display at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, where he won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball.Several players will miss the tournament, most notably all-time top scorer Almoez Ali due to injury. Ahmed Al Rawi and Ahmed Al Janahi are also sidelined, while Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel and Karim Boudiaf were left out as part of Lopetegui's squad restructuring.Palestine secured qualification after defeating Libya on penalties following a goalless draw in Doha and will be looking to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their sixth appearance. The team, coached by Ehab Abu Jazar, conducted a training camp in Spain before assembling in Doha for final preparations.Featuring several players active in the Qatari and Egyptian leagues, Palestine head into the opener determined to challenge the hosts before a large home crowd at Al Bayt Stadium.