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9 Aug’ 2023

Qatar Basketball Federation unveils new head coach Skourtopoulus

Doha: The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) on Tuesday unveiled the national team’s new head coach Athanasios Skourtopoulus of Greece at a press conference at the federation’s headquarters in the presence of QBF Secretary-General Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari and Director of National Teams Yassin Ismail and Qatar team’s fitness coach Nathaniel Alkidos.

Saadoun Al Kuwari expressed his happiness on QBF’s association with coach Skourtopoulus to train the Qatar basketball team. Skourtopoulus succeeds Serbian coach Miodrag Perisic.

Al Kuwari while welcoming the new coach said, Skourtopoulus has a distinguished track record as a coach and has previously trained the Greek national team and many Greek clubs and is a big name in the world of coaching in Europe.

Al Kuwari added that the Qatar national team has many important continental competitions coming ahead including the 2027 World Cup which will be hosted in Doha.

For his part, Yassin Ismail praised the QBF, headed by Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, in assigning the national team with a distinguished coach who is considered as one of the best.

The director of the national teams also emphasized that the strategy of the federation is to mix youth and experience, especially since the federation’s plan is to form a competitive team for the future.

Thanking the welcome, Skourtopoulus said he did not hesitate even for a single moment in accepting the offer to train the national basketball team and stressed that he has a lot of information about Qatari basketball through friends and coaches who work in Doha.

The coach said that he knows very well that the national team is going through a tough stage at the present time and that he seeks to prepare players psychologically and physically. He said that his task will not be easy, especially since the current stage is a period of replacement and renewal in the ranks of the national team but the young players will be of great importance in the near future.

Fitness coach Alkidos said he was doing his best to raise the physical level of the players, expressing his happiness at joining the Qatari basketball family, which is preparing to host the World Cup in 2027 for the first time in the history of the Middle East.

Qatar national team for 42nd Willam Jones

Cup 2023

The Qatar basketball team will leave on Wednesday for Chinese Taipei to participate in the 42nd Willam Jones Cup 2023 for men to be held from August 12 to 20 with the participation of teams that will participate in the 19th edition of the FIBA World Cup which will be held in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines from August 25 to September 10.

At the 42nd Willam Jones Cup 2023, the Al Annabi are scheduled to meet USA on August 12, Iran (August 13), Chinese Taipei A (August 14), Philippines (August 15), UAE (August 16), Chinese Taipei B (August 17), South Korea (August 18), and Japan on August 20th.

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Strong Start to Third Leg of West Asia Beach Volleyball Tour

DOHA, Qatar - The third leg of the 2026 West Asia Beach Volleyball Tour for men and women got off to a strong start on Sunday, with Qatar hosting the competition from October 5 to 8 at Al Gharafa Beach Courts.The tournament features 15 teams representing five countries — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon — in a highly competitive field.In the men’s competition, Qatar 2, represented by Saif Al Deen Al Majeed and Mahmoud Essam, opened their campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Al Jasser and Ali Al Awami, winning 21-11, 21-15.In the same group, top-seeded Lebanon 1, represented by Hadi Al Shabib and Jad Abi Karam, also secured a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Al Jasser and Ali Al Awami, prevailing 21-8, 21-17.In Group A, Bahrain 1, featuring Khalid Abdullah and Ali Yaqoub, defeated Qatar 1, represented by Mousa Al Khair and Mohammed Ehab, 2-1.Bahrain 1 continued their winning run with a 2-0 victory over Kuwait’s Barak Khasrouh and Ibrahim Ahmed, winning 21-11, 21-10.In the women’s competition, Lebanon 1, represented by Mervat Hamza and Nour Hamza, defeated Kuwait’s Alaa Al Bahouh and Halima Rashid 2-0, winning both sets 21-12, in Group A.In Group B, Lebanon 2, represented by Mirna Sheikho and Lara Al Nahi, defeated Qatar 4’s Aisha Al Alawi and Nelly Amr 2-0, winning 21-10, 21-5.Also in Group B, Bahrain’s Munira Suleiman and Fatima Al Bouzaid defeated Qatar 3’s Malak Hashem and Shaghaf Ismail 2-1, winning 16-21, 21-14, 18-16.In Group A, Qatar 1, represented by Haya Abu Issa and Laila Mohammed, defeated fellow Qatari pair Lamis Al Salman and Dana Abu Aita 2-0 in an all-Qatar encounter, winning 21-11, 21-14.Qatar 1 later suffered a narrow 2-0 defeat to Lebanon 1, represented by Mervat Hamza and Nour Hamza, with both sets ending 22-20. Arrow
doha

International Olympic Committee Name Qatar as Interested Party to Host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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delegation

Strong Crowd Engagement at Mizuho Stadium

Aichi-Nagoya - Qatar captured the spotlight during the Closing Ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan, where it received the flag as host of the 21st Asian Games in 2030.The artistic performance, which drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, featured The Games We Live For film and the Return of an Old Friend segment, creating a link between Doha 2006, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and the journey towards Doha 2030.The Games We Live For, the slogan of Doha 2030, reflects the ambitions of athletes, people and nations, and the shared sporting experiences that bring Asia together.Qatar made a striking impression through a showcase of its identity and culture. Dana Al Meer performed the Qatari national anthem live to an enthusiastic reception from the audience, while Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim received the Asian Games flag wearing traditional Qatari attire. Qatari rider Jassim Al Kuwari then entered the stadium on horseback carrying the flag, evoking memories of the iconic scene from the Opening Ceremony of the Doha 2006 Asian Games. Together, these elements reflected Qatar’s identity and culture and underlined its readiness to host an exceptional edition of the Asian Games.The new Doha 2030 identity places the Olympic Council of Asia sun inside the letter “O” in “DOHA”, symbolizing the special place the Asian Games hold in the city of Doha.H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, Director of the Sports Sector at the Qatar Olympic Committee, said Team Qatar’s achievements at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games represented a significant and proud accomplishment, noting that the Qatari delegation won 18 medals, the country’s highest Asian Games tally since Guangzhou 2010.He said: “We achieved an outstanding result at Aichi-Nagoya by winning 18 medals. The diversity of these medals reflects the progress of Qatari sport. We won medals across 10 different sports, while three sports — padel, wrestling and karate — were added to Qatar’s Asian Games medal record for the first time. This diversity confirms that our work is moving in the right direction and that there is clear progress in the level of our athletes across different sports.” Arrow
QOC Secretary General

QOC Secretary General: Qatar’s Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Participation Delivers Strong Results and Gains for Doha 2030

Nagoya: H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, affirmed that Qatar’s participation in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, which concluded yesterday in Japan, was positive and achieved its intended objectives, both on the sporting front through the impressive results achieved by the national teams, and on the promotional and cultural fronts through the strong presence of Bayt Qatar in Nagoya.Speaking following the conclusion of the Games, H.E. Al Buenain said Qatar’s participation was not solely aimed at achieving results and competing for medals, but also formed part of the strategic plan to prepare the national teams for upcoming events, foremost among them the 21st Asian Games Doha 2030, helping to develop the teams and strengthen their ability to compete at the highest level in Doha.Al Buenain explained that participation in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 represented an important milestone in the national teams’ preparations for Doha 2030. 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Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, collective efforts, as well as the continuous monitoring and follow-up of a dedicated working team established by the QOC in coordination with the national federations.The QOC Secretary General pointed to several positive indicators from Qatar’s participation, including winning medals for the first time in some sports, such as padel, as well as the return of other sports to the Asian Games podium, including karate, wrestling and weightlifting. He said this reflected the broadening of Qatar’s competitive base and the progress achieved across several sports.H.E. Al Buenain also praised the results achieved by Qatar’s national teams in team sports, saying that they made a strong impact, with the handball, beach volleyball and 3x3 basketball teams all winning medals, reflecting Qatar’s continued presence in team competitions and the ability of its national teams to compete at the continental level.Al Buenain also highlighted the widespread praise received by Bayt Qatar during the Games, noting that it served as a platform to showcase Qatari culture, heritage and identity, while also providing a space for engagement with fans and participating delegations.He noted that Bayt Qatar welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors during the Games, with an average daily attendance of around 250 visitors, in addition to members of the Qatari delegation and guests attending the reception organised by the Qatar Olympic Committee.The QOC Secretary General said the strong attendance reflected the interest generated by Bayt Qatar and underlined the importance of using sport as a means of bringing people closer together, while showcasing Qatar’s rich cultural heritage and its capabilities in hosting and organising major sporting events.H.E. Al Buenain extended his thanks and appreciation to all members of the Qatar Olympic Committee delegation at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, noting that the results achieved were the product of the collective efforts of the entire delegation, together with the cooperation and coordination of the national federations.He expressed his appreciation to the administrative delegation, which faced numerous challenges during the Games while remaining committed to ensuring the comfort and needs of Qatar’s athletes, and praised them for their considerable efforts. He also thanked the media delegation for their outstanding coverage of the Games.H.E. Al Buenain also thanked and commended the Bayt Qatar delegation, which he said not only represented the Qatar Olympic Committee with distinction, but also reflected a positive image of the State of Qatar at major events and international gatherings. He also thanked the Doha 2030 Asian Games delegation, which was present in Nagoya to observe the organisation and preparations for the Games, noting that their responsibility now begins as preparations move forward towards hosting the event in Doha in 2030.Concluding his remarks, H.E. Al Buenain stressed that the assessment of Qatar’s participation in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 should not be limited to the medal tally, but should also take into account the experience gained by the athletes, the emergence of promising young talents, the progress achieved across several sports, and the strengthening of Qatar’s sporting and cultural presence across Asia, in line with preparations for the next phase leading up to the Doha 2030 Asian Game. Arrow

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