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26 Apr’ 2021
Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan qualify to Cancun final
Cancun-Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan and Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum will meet in Cancun with FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour gold medals on the line for the second time in six days after the teams won a pair of matches at the Playa Delfines on Sunday.
Cherif and Ahmed, who took silver last week after finishing fourth at the season-opening Katara Cup in Doha last month, are the only team to appear in the semifinals of each of the three 4-star World Tour tournaments played so far in 2021.
The Qataris had somewhat of a less exhausting day than the Norwegians as they prevailed against two Italian teams but needed only two sets to beat Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallists Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai 21-17, 21-16 in the quarterfinals and another two to down Adrian Carambula and Enrico Rossi, who had defeated them on pool play on Friday, 21-16, 21-10.
Norwegians and Qataris have met four times in the World Tour before with each side taking the win on two occasions.
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Qatar Olympic Committee Hosts Official Reception at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games
Nagoya, Japan: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) hosted its official reception at the 20th Asian Games - Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Monday, bringing together around 100 guests from across the Asian Olympic movement for an evening celebrating sport, culture, hospitality and Qatar’s journey towards hosting the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.Held at the Qatar delegation headquarters at the TIAD Hotel in Nagoya, the event brought together representatives from National Olympic Committees, sporting organisations and delegations participating in the Games, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections across the Asian sporting community.The reception was held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Member of Board Of Directors of the QOC and with the attendance of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). In her remarks, H.E. Sheikha Hind reflected on Qatar’s experience as a host and the shared values of hospitality and connection that bring communities together through sport.A short film was also screened during the evening, highlighting the journey from Doha 2006 through Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and towards Doha 2030, placing athletes, spectators and the wider sporting community at the heart of Qatar’s hosting story.The dinner showcased Qatari culture and hospitality through a menu created by prominent Qatari chef, restaurateur and cultural ambassador Noof Al Marri. The menu offered guests an authentic expression of Qatari cuisine, highlighting the country’s culinary heritage and contemporary gastronomic excellence.Adding to the evening’s cultural programme, guests were treated to a live Oud performance, bringing another element of Qatari musical heritage to the reception.Before the dinner, guests were welcomed at Bayt Qatar, the House of Qatar in Nagoya, where they experienced a selection of its interactive cultural and digital activations and explored Qatar’s sporting journey from the Doha 2006 Asian Games towards Doha 2030.
FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Takes Centre Stage at Bayt Qatar in Nagoya
NAGOYA: The Local Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 is organizing a series of promotional days for the tournament at Bayt Qatar in Nagoya, Japan, on the sidelines of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with the aim of introducing the upcoming tournament and highlighting Qatar’s preparations to host the global event next year.The programme features three promotional days, with the first held on 20 September, the second taking place on 23 September, and the third and final day scheduled for 29 September. The activities provide an opportunity to engage with visitors to Bayt Qatar, as well as delegations and members of the international sporting community in Nagoya, while highlighting key features of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 and the fan experience awaiting visitors during the tournament.The promotional days feature the Naismith Trophy, the FIBA Basketball World Cup trophy, giving visitors to Bayt Qatar the opportunity to see it up close and take commemorative photos, alongside a range of tournament-related interactive activities and the distribution of souvenirs to visitors.Qatar will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup from 27 August to 12 September 2027, marking the first edition of the tournament to be staged in the Middle East. A total of 32 of the world’s best national teams will compete across 92 games, all taking place in Doha.The promotional days highlight Qatar’s advanced state of readiness to host the tournament, supported by world-class sporting infrastructure, extensive organizational expertise and national capabilities developed through hosting numerous major sporting events over the past two decades.The activities also showcase the compact hosting model that will distinguish Qatar 2027, with all games taking place across four arenas: Lusail Arena, Al Janoub Arena, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Al Duhail Arena. The close proximity of the venues and ease of travel between them will give fans the opportunity to attend more games and enjoy the tournament atmosphere and accompanying activities.The fan experience is a key priority in the Local Organizing Committee’s preparations, with Qatar 2027 aiming to deliver an experience that extends beyond the games inside the arenas to include a range of fan activities and entertainment, while giving visitors the opportunity to discover Qatari culture and enjoy the country’s diverse tourism experiences.
Abdulrahman Mostafa wins Qatar’s first silver medal at Aichi–Nagoya 2026
Nagoya: Team Qatar’s Abdulrahman Mostafa claimed Qatar’s first silver medal at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan.Mostafa delivered an impressive performance to secure silver in the men’s under-60kg karate event and earn a place on the podium.The Team Qatar athlete reached the final after a series of impressive victories yesterday. He defeated Uzbekistan’s Mukhriddin Torakhonov 4–1 in the round of 16 before overcoming Vietnam’s Chu Van Duc 10–4 in the quarter-finals. He continued his fine form in the semi-finals, recording a commanding 7–1 victory over Malaysia’s Hari Sankar.In the final, experience played a decisive role as Kuwait’s Abdullah Shaaban claimed an 8–0 victory to win gold, while Mostafa took the silver medal.The silver represents a major achievement for the promising Qatari athlete, who demonstrated his considerable potential and delivered an impressive performance in his Asian Games debut.Mostafa is considered one of Qatar’s leading karate athletes, having previously won gold in the men’s under-60kg category at the 24th Asian Cadet, Junior and Under-21 Karate Championships.Karate competition will continue tomorrow, with Team Qatar’s athletes aiming to win more medals and raise the national flag high at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.Qatar’s Yaman Ashraf will compete in the men’s under-67kg category, beginning his campaign against Bangladesh’s Islam Munirul in the round of 16.Ashraf will be hoping to secure victory in his opening bout and progress confidently towards medal contention.Qatar are represented in the karate competition by three athletes: Abdulrahman Mostafa in the men’s under-60kg category, Yaman Ashraf in the under-67kg category and Abdullah Rashad in the under-84kg category.
Qatar handball begin title defence with 40–17 victory over Hong Kong
Nagoya: Qatar’s men’s handball team recorded a comfortable 40–17 victory over Hong Kong yesterday in their opening match at the 20th Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026.The victory earned Qatar their first two points in Group A, which also includes Japan and China.Qatar imposed their style on the match despite making a below-par start to the first half. Some early haste and errors allowed Hong Kong to remain competitive and exchange goals with Qatar, with the score level at 3–3.As the match progressed, Qatar regained their composure, corrected their mistakes and gradually took control. An improved defensive performance and greater efficiency in attack helped them establish a 6–3 lead before they continued to dominate and ended the first half 19–8 ahead.