Sheikh Joaan Attends Official Opening of the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

Riyadh – The 6th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games was officially inaugurated on Friday by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh, at the Janadriyah Camel Racing Track in the Saudi capital.The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, alongside several presidents of Islamic National Olympic Committees and a number of international sports officials.Also in attendance were His Excellency Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.The ceremony presented a stunning fusion of artistic and technological performances that celebrated Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and the shared Islamic heritage of participating nations  a captivating blend of tradition and modernity. The event also featured the parade of participating nations, official speeches by the organizing committee and the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, and the raising of the Games’ flag.The Qatari flag was proudly carried by volleyball player Mubarak Al Kuwari and fencer Dhikrayat Al Abdullah, in recognition of their dedication and achievements  a gesture that reflected the Qatar Olympic Committee’s appreciation for their contributions to national sport.Running until November 21, the Games bring together over 3,000 athletes from 57 countries, competing across 23 sports including athletics, fencing, 3x3 basketball, swimming, handball, table tennis, camel racing, volleyball, karate, Muay Thai, judo, weightlifting, futsal, wrestling, taekwondo, e-sports, wushu, boxing, equestrian show jumping, duathlon, jiu-jitsu, para-athletics, and para-powerlifting.Team Qatar is represented by 82 athletes competing in 16 sports: athletics, duathlon, 3x3 basketball, karate, equestrian, wrestling, volleyball, handball, taekwondo, table tennis, judo, weightlifting, camel racing, swimming, fencing, and para-athletics.Qatar has built a distinguished record in the Islamic Solidarity Games. Its journey began in Makkah 2005 with its first-ever gold medal, followed by Palembang 2013, where the tally rose to five. The Baku 2017 edition marked a breakthrough with 12 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, and 7 bronze), while Konya 2022 saw Qatar maintain its total medal count with an increase in gold to four. Altogether, Qatar’s cumulative achievements at the Games now stand at 30 medals — 8 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze.In competition, Qatar’s judo team begins its campaign on Saturday with Fatina Boukhaous facing Chinidi Tasmani of Mozambique in the women’s under-57 kg round of 16. Meanwhile, the men’s table tennis team Ahmed Saadawi, Mohammed Abdul Wahab, and Abdullah Abdul Wahab will meet Iran in the group stage.The Qatari volleyball team continues its journey tomorrow with a third-round match against Chad. The squad features Bilal Abunbut, Mubarak Al Kuwari, Naji Mahmoud, Othman Abdul Wahid, Mahdi Samoud, Mohammed Al Walid, Yousef Al Yafai, Abdulrahman Bakri, Abdullah Naseem, Ibrahim Juma, Yousef Ghalaf, and Abdullah Hassanein.In swimming, Ali Tamer will compete in the men’s 50m freestyle, Mohammed Aziz Ismail in the 50m butterfly, while Mohammed Mahmoud and Hamza Al Shaalan will take part in the 100m breaststroke.A vibrant celebration of athleticism, culture, and unity  the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh once again stand as a powerful symbol of the brotherhood and shared values that unite the Islamic world through sport. 

Team Qatar hold South Africa to a 1–1 Draw in U-17 World Cup

DOHA – Qatar claimed their first point at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 after drawing 1-1 with South Africa on Thursday at Mansour Muftah Stadium in Aspire, during the second round of Group A matches.Yazan Hani opened the scoring for Qatar in the third minute, while Emile Wetoboye equalized for South Africa in the 16th minute.With this result, Italy stayed on top of the group with six points after defeating Bolivia 4-0. South Africa follows with four points, Qatar has one, and Bolivia remains without points.The match was competitive, with Qatar showing clear dominance in the first half through greater possession and sharper attacking play, especially down the wings.Qatar struck early when Yazan Hani found space inside the box and calmly finished to give his team the lead. They nearly doubled it in the 14th minute through another chance for Hani, but the South African defense intervened just in time.South Africa responded in the 16th minute, when Emile Wetoboye met a long ball with a precise header to level the score. Qatar continued to push forward, and in the 39th minute, Zaid Faisal forced goalkeeper Radebe into an excellent save to keep it 1-1 at halftime.In the second half, Qatar remained organized and looked for opportunities on the counterattack under Spanish coach Alvaro Mejia. Issa Waleed was brought on to strengthen the attack, and in the 53rd minute, Tamim Al Qadi saw his shot denied by the South African goalkeeper. Later, in the 82nd minute, Waleed fired a strong effort just over the bar.Neither side could find a winner, and the match ended 1-1. Qatar will meet Bolivia on Sunday in their final group game, while Italy will face South Africa.The 2025 edition marks the first time 48 teams are competing in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, divided into 12 groups. A total of 104 matches are being played across eight Aspire Academy stadiums, with the final scheduled at Khalifa International Stadium. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stage. 

Sheikh Joaan attends ANOC Executive Council Meeting

Lausanne: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), attended the 92nd ANOC Executive Council Meeting held today in Lausanne, Switzerland.IOC President Kirsty Coventry also attended the meeting, underscoring the continued cooperation between the International Olympic Committee and ANOC in promoting the Olympic values worldwide.Through his participation, H.E. Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed Qatar’s active role within the global Olympic community and its commitment to fostering closer collaboration among NOCs in support of athletes and the advancement of the Olympic Movement. 

Qatar Volleyball Team Falls to Iran at Islamic Solidarity Games

Riyadh – The Qatari national volleyball team lost 3–0 to Iran on Thursday in its second match at the Islamic Solidarity Games, which began on Tuesday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The Games will be officially inaugurated on Friday and will continue until November 21.Qatar will next face Chad on Saturday in its third match of the competition.The Qatari squad includes Bilal Abunabot, Mubarak Al-Kuwari, Naji Mahmoud, Othman Abdulwahid, Mahdi Samoud, Mohammed Al-Waleed, Youssef Al-Yafei, Abdulrahman Bakri, Abdullah Naseem, Ibrahim Jumaa, Youssef Ghallaf, and Abdullah Hassanein.The sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games brings together more than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries competing across 23 sports, including athletics, fencing, 3x3 basketball, swimming, handball, table tennis, camel racing, volleyball, karate, Muay Thai, judo, weightlifting, futsal, wrestling, taekwondo, esports, wushu, boxing, show jumping, duathlon, jiu-jitsu, and athletics and weightlifting for athletes with disabilities.Team Qatar is represented by 82 male and female athletes competing in 16 sports: athletics, duathlon, 3x3 basketball, karate, equestrian, wrestling, volleyball, handball, taekwondo, table tennis, judo, weightlifting, camel racing, swimming, fencing, and para-athletics.Qatar enjoys a distinguished record at the Islamic Solidarity Games, having launched its success story in Makkah in 2005 with its first gold medal. The achievements continued in Palembang 2013 with a total of five medals, and in Baku 2017, Qatar made a significant leap, claiming 12 medals ،two gold, three silver, and seven bronze. In Konya 2022, Qatar maintained its total medal count while increasing its gold tally to four. In total, Qatar’s athletes have won 30 medals throughout the Games’ history،  eight gold, eight silver, and fourteen bronze underscoring the nation’s consistent excellence and determination to shine once again at Riyadh 2025.Meanwhile, the administrative delegation of Team Qatar continues to work diligently to ensure optimal conditions for the athletes throughout their participation in the Games. The delegation is closely monitoring all logistical and organizational aspects, including accommodation, transportation, training programs, and the coordination of daily schedules for the teams.The delegation is committed to providing an ideal environment that allows athletes and technical staff to focus fully on performance, reflecting the professionalism that characterizes Qatar’s participation in international events.In this regard, Mr. Salah Al-Saadi, Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation, affirmed that operations are proceeding according to a comprehensive plan developed by the Qatar Olympic Committee in collaboration with national sports federations. He said:“We are keen to ensure that all organizational and administrative matters run smoothly, providing every athlete with the right environment to perform at their best. Participation in such events is a vital step in preparing our athletes, and our role is to support them and meet all their needs so they can represent Qatar in the best possible way.”Al-Saadi concluded by emphasizing that the administrative delegation works as one team to serve the athletes and national teams, ensuring that Team Qatar’s participation in Riyadh stands as a model of organization and discipline. 

Qatari Nada Mohammed Wafa Elected to Islamic Solidarity Athletes Committee

Riyadh – Qatar’s Nada Mohammed Wafa has been elected as a member of the Athletes Committee of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), following elections held on Thursday on the sidelines of the sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Wafa’s election marks another milestone in Qatar’s growing presence within continental and international sports bodies. It reflects the trust placed by the Islamic sports community in young Qatari talent and its ability to represent athletes’ interests and contribute to the advancement of sports governance across member nations.A prominent Qatari athlete, Nada Mohammed Wafa has represented Qatar at several regional and international events, most notably in swimming competitions at the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2019 FINA World Championships in South Korea.Speaking after her election, Wafa expressed her pride in representing Qatar on the ISSF Athletes Committee, saying:“I am deeply honored by this achievement, which I see as both a great responsibility and a valuable opportunity to serve athletes from all member countries and to contribute to the development of policies and programs that support their sporting journey. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Qatar Olympic Committee for its continuous support for athletes and for empowering them to represent our country across international sports institutions.”Through her new role, Wafa is expected to help share the experience of Qatari athletes within the broader Islamic sports community, while also contributing to initiatives and programs designed to enhance athlete welfare across member states. Her appointment aligns with the Qatar Olympic Committee’s vision of strengthening Qatari representation in international sports organizations and promoting active participation in global sports development.

Team Qatar to face upbeat South Africa in must-win tie on Thursday

DOHA - Hosts Qatar will take on South Africa in their second Group A match looking to bounce back in the FIFA U-17 World Cup at Aspire Zone Competition Complex’s Mansour Muftah Pitch on Thursday.Qatar went down fighting against Italy 0-1 in their opening match. The home team could take solace from their spirit and determination in their narrow defeat. However, they will face an upbeat South African side – currently leading the group – who sunk Bolivia 3-1 despite playing with 10-man.Qatar coach Alvaro Mejia praised his team’s performance despite the defeat to Italy. “It was a difficult match against one of the top sides in the tournament. We will look to make amends in our next match against South Africa,” said Qatar coach Mejia.Mejia declared the squad’s collective hunger to reward their vibrant support when they return to action against South Africa. “Here in Qatar, everyone loves football,” he said. “They love to be part of it. The atmosphere was beautiful. It was colourful all around. For the people to watch players at this age – who very soon are going to be on TV and will be stars – it’s something amazing.“I am happy with how we performed against one of the strongest teams. The idea was to go out and compete. We competed. I am proud of the players and now we are going to come back against another strong team in South Africa. Let’s try to give the best of ourselves for all the people who are coming here to support. We have to push ourselves to the limits.”Meanwhile, Italy will meet Bolivia in other Group A match. Bolivia will be determined to record a first tournament point since 1987 after losing their opening match while Italy will be out to sustain their momentum after a fine team display against Qatar.