Idris Abubakr Wins Qatar’s First Gold at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain

Manama: Qatari sprinter Idris Abubakr delivered Team Qatar’s first gold medal at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently underway in Bahrain and running until October 31. Abubakr won the men’s 110m hurdles on the opening day of the athletics competitions at the Bahrain National Stadium.Abubakr claimed gold with an impressive time of 13.61 seconds, finishing ahead of China’s Tao Qidi, who took silver in 14.11 seconds, while Saudi Arabia’s Naif Al-Samiri secured bronze with 14.12 seconds.The medal ceremony was attended by Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), who presented the winners with their medals.Speaking after his victory, Abubakr expressed his joy at capturing Qatar’s first gold of the Games, describing the achievement as the result of “long months of preparation and hard work.” He said the win holds great personal and sporting significance and will serve as strong motivation to continue performing at the highest level and to raise Qatar’s flag proudly in future competitions.Abubakr noted that the race was highly competitive, featuring talented athletes from across Asia, but his confidence and solid preparation helped him secure the victory. He also expressed pride in representing Qatar in such a major continental event.In other athletics results, Maryam Al-Salik finished fifth in the women’s 1,500m final, while Dana Salem advanced to the final of the women’s 100m, scheduled for tomorrow.Elsewhere, Team Qatar’s 3x3 basketball squad made a strong start, winning three matches: defeating Cambodia (21–7), Thailand (22–17), and Uzbekistan (21–20).In beach volleyball, Qatar’s duo Ahmed Ziad and Moussa Al-Khair earned a 2–1 victory over Bahrain, with set scores of (21–8, 8–21, 15–13).In boxing, Qatari fighter Mohammed Al-Marri defeated Saudi Arabia’s Ali Al-Askari 3–2 in the 50kg weight class.In triathlon, Fahd Al-Kaabi finished 17th, while Shaheen Al-Kaabi placed 24th.In women’s volleyball, Qatar lost to Indonesia 0–3 in the quarterfinals.In golf, Team Qatar ranked 12th in the team standings after the opening round. Individually, Daniel Sokolov finished 6th, while Kamil Bin Roquia placed 45th.This gold medal marks a strong start for Team Qatar in Bahrain, as the delegation continues its quest for more podium finishes  across 16 sports disciplines.

Team Qatar claims Silver at the West Asia Beach Volleyball Championship

Muscat — Qatar’s men’s beach volleyball team captured the silver medal at the 4th West Asia Beach Volleyball Championship in Muscat, following a hard-fought final against hosts Oman on Thursday.The Qatari duo , Mahmoud Essam and Saif Abdulmajid, showcased impressive skill and determination throughout the tournament. However, fatigue played a role in the final, as the duo had contested an intense semi-final clash against Bahrain just hours earlier  a match they won in straight sets (21–12, 26–24). Despite their strong start, the Qataris were ultimately edged out by Oman in the title decider.Qatar’s consistent presence on the regional and international stage reflects the Qatar Volleyball Association’s strategic vision to build a competitive national team ahead of the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, scheduled to take place in Australia from November 14 to 23, featuring the world’s top 48 teams.Over recent years, Qatar’s beach volleyball program has achieved remarkable milestones , including a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a fourth-place finish at Paris 2024 solidifying the nation’s status as one of the emerging powerhouses in global beach volleyball. 

Team Qatar to face Iran in Asian Padel Championship Semi-Finals

DOHA — Qatar’s men’s national padel team will face Iran today Thursday in the semi-finals of the Asian Padel Championship Qatar 2025, currently being held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.Having already secured their place in the last four, Team Qatar continued their impressive run with a third straight victory on Wednesday, overcoming Australia (2–1) in the final round of Group B matches. In the same group, Kuwait defeated Pakistan by the same margin (2–1).Qatar opened their main-draw campaign with a 2–1 win over Kuwait, followed by a 3–0 sweep of Pakistan in the second round. These results placed the hosts firmly at the top of Group B with six points, followed by Australia (5), Kuwait (4), and Pakistan (3).In Group A, the UAE led the standings with six points, ahead of Iran (5), Lebanon (4), and Jordan (3). The UAE will now meet Australia in the other semi-final encounter.In the women’s competition, Japan topped Group A with six points, followed by Iran (5), the UAE (4), and Saudi Arabia (3). Meanwhile, Indonesia dominated Group B with six points, trailed by Australia (5), Thailand (4), and the Philippines (3).Today’s women’s semi-final fixtures will see Japan face Australia, while Indonesia will take on Iran for a place in the final.Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation (FIP), praised the exceptional organization of the first-ever Asian Padel Championship, commending Qatar’s efforts in hosting this landmark event at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.“What we have witnessed here in Qatar during the inaugural Asian Padel Championship has been outstanding in every aspect,” said Carraro. “The organization has been world-class, and the facilities reflect Qatar’s deep commitment to developing and promoting padel across the region.”Carraro added that Qatar has set a new benchmark for continental events through its excellence in logistics, operations, and media coverage factors that have contributed significantly to the championship’s success and visibility. He expressed confidence that Doha’s hosting would serve as a launchpad for the sport’s continued growth across Asia.Reflecting on the competitive level of play, Carraro noted: “The matches have been intensely fought, revealing promising new talent from across the continent. Padel in Asia is on the right track, and its future looks bright  both regionally and on the global stage.” 

Cameroon Delegation Explores Cooperation with Qatar Olympic Academy

Doha : Cameroonian delegation paid a visit to the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) on Thursday, to explore ways for further cooperation.The delegation from the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSC) and the Cameroonian National Olympic Academy (NOA) praised QOA's role in qualifying and developing sport cadres, expressing desire to benefit from this experience and elevate the sport sector.The delegation was introduced to the role of QOA in spreading sport and Olympic culture in society, and was briefed on the agendas of the Academy, the higher education programs, the specialized courses in sport science, and many more.Executive Director of QOA, Khaleel Ebrahim Al Jabir, gave an overview of the history of the Academy, its organizational and administrative structure, and the development stages of its programs, courses and activities.Al Jabir gave the delegation a tour of the Academy's halls and its many facilities that provide the perfect environment for students to practice sport science.The delegation also visited the QOA Library, which includes over 7,000 educational materials related to sport, as well as the audiovisual library.The Executive Director of QOA affirmed that the Academy is eager to strengthen cooperation with CNOSC and the Cameroonian NOA in sport and Olympic education.A NOA official praised the impactful role of the QOA in qualifying individuals in sport-related fields, as well as educating members of society about sport and Olympic culture.

Team Qatar power into West Asia Beach Volleyball Semi-Finals

Muscat – Qatar’s men’s beach volleyball team continued their impressive form, booking a well-deserved place in the semi-finals of the 4th West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship, currently being held in Muscat, Oman, and running until October 23.The Qatari duo Mahmoud Essam and Saif Abdulmajid delivered a commanding performance, defeating Lebanon’s Jason Najjar and Omar Abi Karam in straight sets (21–15, 21–15) to secure their semi-final berth and maintain Qatar’s strong presence in the continental competition.In the women’s tournament, Qatar’s Haya Abu Issa and Laila Mohammed showed great spirit but were edged out by Oman’s Maryam Al-Ariymi and Liqaa Al-Housniyah, falling 23–21, 21–16 in a closely contested match that ended their campaign.The Qatari men’s team now turn their focus to the semi-finals, determined to extend their winning streak and capture the fourth-round title — a key step in their preparations for upcoming international events. The duo enter this stage on a high note, following their recent triumph at the Newport Beach Elite16 tournament in the United States, part of the prestigious Beach Pro Tour Elite16 global circuit.Qatar’s continued participation in major international competitions aligns with the Qatar Volleyball Association’s strategic vision to prepare the national team for the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, set to take place in Australia from November 14–23, featuring the world’s top 48 teams.The Qatari beach volleyball program has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, highlighted by the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a strong fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics, cementing Qatar’s reputation as a rising powerhouse in global beach volleyball. 

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad attends renewal of cooperation agreement signing ceremony between OCA and Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

Manama:  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, attended today the signing ceremony for the renewal of the Cooperation Agreement between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Youth Games currently being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The agreement was signed by Mr. Timothy Fok, First Vice President of the OCA, and Mr. Mustapha Berraf, President of ANOCA.This renewed agreement aims to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two bodies, develop joint initiatives to address shared challenges faced by athletes and professionals across both continents, enhance technical exchange programs, train sports administrators, and coordinate efforts in preparation for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.Also present at the signing were H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for West Asia, and H.E. Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.It is worth noting that H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani is the sole candidate for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia, with the election scheduled to take place during the OCA General Assembly in January next year.