RABAT - Rising Qatari sailor Tamim Khalid clinched a well-deserved bronze medal at the prestigious Agadir International Optimist Regatta , held in the coastal Moroccan city of Agadir with the participation of 62 young sailors representing 13 countries.Tamim delivered consistently strong performances throughout the regatta, showcasing skill, composure, and a growing mastery of the Optimist class. His podium finish marked a proud moment for Qatar's national sailing team, who held their own against a highly competitive international field.The President of the Qatar Sailing Federation, Mr. Rashid Majid Al-Sulaiti, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s overall performance. He congratulated Tamim Khalid on his bronze medal achievement and praised the entire squad for their commendable efforts and promising results throughout the championship.Al-Sulaiti emphasized his confidence in the Qatari sailors’ ability to reach greater heights in future competitions. He also extended his gratitude to the Qatar Olympic Committee for its continued and unwavering support of national sporting federations, especially the sailing federation.Meanwhile, Mr. Ali Nasser Talafat, Secretary-General of the Qatar Sailing Federation, hailed the performance of all Qatari participants in the Agadir Regatta. He gave special mention to both Tamim Khalid and Khalifa Al-Yafei, noting the remarkable progress they have made in a short span since taking up the sport, and the maturity they displayed in their races.With this bronze medal, Team Qatar continues to chart a confident course toward international excellence in sailing, buoyed by young talents and strong institutional support. 

Doha:  Polish sailor Erik Kasimierczyk has emerged as the frontrunner at the Qatar International Optimist Regatta 2025, currently underway at Rixos Gulf Hotel Beach. Organized by the Qatar Sailing & Rowing Federation, the competition features 52 young sailors from 12 countries and will continue until Saturday.   After two days of intense racing, Kasimierczyk leads the overall standings with just four points. Qatar’s Tamim Shams sits in sixth place with 21 points, while Emirati sailor Khalifa Al-Rumaithi and Britain’s Edward John West are tied with seven points each, but Al-Rumaithi holds second place thanks to his race win. India’s Shreya Krishna is currently fourth with 13 points, and Emirati sailor Cornelia Bajak rounds out the top five with 16 points.   Day two of the regatta saw thrilling battles on the water, with the third and fourth races taking place. Each race lasted over an hour, pushing the sailors to their limits as they navigated the course in challenging conditions.   Under the regatta's rules, once four races have been completed, each sailor drops their worst result from the overall standings. This scoring system ensures that consistency is rewarded, with the lowest total points determining the rankings.   Qatar’s Tamim Shams delivered a solid performance, finishing sixth in Race 3 and 11th in Race 4, securing his spot in sixth place overall with 21 points.   Other Qatari sailors had mixed results. Yousef Al-Ibrahim is currently 16th with 45 points, followed by Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud in 19th (49 points) and Ali Al-Buainain in 20th (54 points). Fahd Al-Ibrahim is 24th with 64 points, Khalifa Al-Yafei is 26th (69 points), and Abdullah Al-Buainain is 43rd (122 points).   Hassan Jassim Ali, Head of Sailing at the Qatar Sailing & Rowing Federation, praised the high level of competition so far.   Speaking to the media, he explained that only two races per day were held due to strong winds and unpredictable weather conditions, preventing organizers from running a third race as originally planned.   He also commended Tamim Shams for his impressive performance, noting that his ability to stay among the top sailors reflects his growing skill and potential despite facing highly experienced competitors.   “This regatta is a great opportunity for our young Qatari sailors,” he added. “Competing against top-ranked international athletes at an early age gives them invaluable experience and prepares them for future championships.”   This year’s Qatar International Optimist Regatta has drawn competitors from 12 nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Turkey, India, Poland, and the United Kingdom.  

DOHA (QNA) - Qatar International Optimist Regatta 2025 kicked off Tuesday at Rixos Gulf Hotel beach, organized by Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation (QSRF). The event, running until February 8, features 52 young sailors from 12 countries. The opening day saw fierce competition as participants battled for top positions. Two races were held, each lasting over an hour, with impressive performances and tight finishes. Qatari sailor Tamim Shams secured fifth place overall with 15 points, finishing ninth in the first race and sixth in the second. Poland’s Erik Kasimierczyk topped the leaderboard with three points after finishing second in the first race and winning the second. Emirati sailor Khalifa Al Rumaithi took second place overall with five points, winning the first race and finishing fourth in the second. Britain's Edward John West ranked third with seven points, placing fifth in the first race and second in the second. Emirati sailor Kornelia Bajak finished fourth with eight points after securing third place in the first race and fifth in the second. Other Qatari sailors also put in strong performances. Youssef Al Ibrahim finished 10th overall with 26 points, while Ali Al Buainain placed 14th with 37 points, and Abdullah Al Buainain came in 17th with 41 points. Further down the rankings, Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud secured 23rd place with 56 points, Fahad Al Ibrahim finished 27th with 60 points, and Khalifa Al Yafei placed 41st with 83 points. In the first race, Khalifa Al Rumaithi claimed victory, followed by Erik Kasimierczyk in second and Kornelia Bajak in third. The second race saw Kasimierczyk take the win, with Edward John West finishing second and Egypt’s Mahmoud Ahmed Qandil securing third. President of QSRF and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Rashid Majid Al Sulaiti, praised the high level of competition, noting the close performances among sailors. In a press statement, Al Sulaiti commended Qatar team’s strong start and expressed confidence in their ability to compete for top positions. He also highlighted the favorable race conditions, with safety measures in place and optimal weather conditions, particularly in terms of wind speed. The championship features participants from 12 countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Turkiye, India, Poland, and United Kingdom.   

DOHA (QNA) - Organized by the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation (QSRF), the 2025 Qatar International Optimist Regatta will kick off  today . The competition will run until February 8th at the Rixos Gulf Hotel beach, with 52 athletes from 12 countries taking part. The organizing committee completed the registration process for the male and female competitors today, along with the boat handover and the measurement of sails and boats by a specialized committee from the International Sailing Federation. The committee also held a meeting with the coaches of the participating teams to review the race courses and clarify the rules and regulations of the competition. After receiving their boats, participating team members engaged in training sessions on the racecourse in the sea to familiarize themselves with the boats and the course layout before the official races begin. Competitors are scheduled to participate in two or three races tomorrow, with each race lasting between 45 to 50 minutes, depending on weather conditions and wind speed, which are crucial for the races. The Qatar team is competing with eight sailors: Tamim Shams, Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud, Yusuf Al Ibrahim, Fahd Al Ibrahim, Khalifa Al Yafai, Abdullah Al Buainain, Ali Al Buainain, and Hamad Al Emadi. Qatari sailors have undergone exceptional preparations under the guidance of sailing coach Khalid Batihatim, who emphasized that while the athletes have remarkable potential, they need further development through participation in numerous competitions to gain experience. The coach expressed confidence in the athletes' ability to perform at a high technical level during the championship, based on the outstanding results they recently achieved during their participation in the UAE Open Sailing Championship, held in Abu Dhabi. In turn, Hassan Qassim, member of the Board of Directors of the QSRF and Head of Sailing, explained that the technical staff of the sailing team had prepared a long-term program for distinguished competitors in line with the vision of the Federation and the directives of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in order to develop their levels and compete in all events. In a press statement, Qassim said that the Qatar International Optimist Regatta will be a good opportunity for participants to interact with different schools and acquire skills, as well as an important station within the preparation program for the team competitors, especially since the championship will be a practical experience on the ground to demonstrate capabilities, creativity and competition. He added that the championship includes 6 referees accredited by the International Sailing Federation, and that the races will be held according to the international laws and regulations followed, as the races are closely monitored at sea to ensure the safety of the competitors. Qassim emphasized that the federation aims to deliver a successful and outstanding championship in all aspects, whether organizational, technical, or in terms of showcasing the Qatari team's performance. The goal is to achieve positive results and win medals that will add to their distinguished record, which is nothing new for the State of Qatar. Countries participating in the championship are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Turkey, India, Poland, and the UK.