Draw for Arabian Gulf Padel Championship Qatar 2025 Set for Sunday

DOHA – The official draw for the Arabian Gulf Padel Championship  Qatar 2025 will be held this Sunday in Doha, marking the countdown to one of the region’s most anticipated sporting events.Hosted by the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation (QTSPBF), the championship will take place at Padel IN in Aspire Zone from September 15 to 19.The draw ceremony will bring together representatives from all participating nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and host country Qatar. The competition will feature matches across three main categories: Men’s, Women’s, and Juniors.QTSPBF Secretary-General, Tariq Zainal, extended a warm welcome to all delegations and athletes, stating that Qatar is fully prepared to host the tournament at the highest international standards. He emphasized that the event reflects Qatar’s continued commitment to excellence in sports and its growing reputation as a premier global sports hub.

Qatar's Barshim out of Tokyo worlds with foot injury

DOHA - Three-time former world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim announced his withdrawal on the eve of the world championships in Tokyo because of a foot injury.The 34-year-old Qatari, who won world titles in 2017, 2019 and 2022, also claimed Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. He won bronze at last year's Paris Olympics. "I've been battling with a very serious injury since April," Barshim wrote on social media. "I was planning to make Tokyo my last world championships but unfortunately my foot hasn't healed in time. I've given it my all, but we can't force nature and must stay patient to recover."He expressed disappointment over missing the event, stating: "I had hoped to compete and bring joy to the fans in Qatar and around the world. But I believe the best is yet to come, God willing."Barshim, the second highest jumper of all-time with a personal best of 2.43 metres, has competed just once this season. That saw him finish second as he cleared a best of 2.13m at the Western Asian Clubs Challenge on home turf in Doha. "Don't feel sorry for me not jumping," Barshim added. "Feel sorry for high jumping not having me."The Qatar Athletics Federation expressed regret over Barshim’s withdrawal, noting that medical staff advised against his participation to avoid aggravating the injury. "Barshim was present with Team Qatar in Japan and made every effort to overcome the pain and compete in the championship, but the medical decision prioritised his safety so that he can return stronger in the upcoming events. We wish him a speedy recovery," the federation said.Barshim’s absence leaves a notable gap in Qatar’s medal hopes, but the federation remains optimistic ahead of the event in Tokyo that runs from September 13 to 21.Qatar Athletics Federation last announced had a 12-athlete squad for the championships, featuring Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Ismail Dawood, Omar Dawood, Bassem Hemeida, Saif Mohammed, Ashraf Hussein, Ammar Ismail, Ibrahim Zakaria, Khaled Hussein, Abdulaziz Youssef and Ahmed Haroun.Samba, who claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Doha 2019, will be a key contender again alongside Hemeida, while the 4x400m relay team of Hussein, Hemeida, Dawood, and Ismail is also targeting the podium.Saif Mohammed, 23, will make his World Championships debut in the pole vault, while Omar Dawood competes in the 110m hurdles. Ammar Ismail, Khaled Hussein, Youssef Abdulaziz, and Ahmed Haroun will run in the 400m, with Ibrahim Zakaria contesting the 800m

Team Qatar Set to face Netherlands in Volleyball World Championship Opener in Philippines

DOHA – The Qatari national volleyball team will launch their campaign in the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship on Saturday when they take on the Netherlands in their opening Group B match. The tournament got underway Friday in the Philippines and runs through September 28.A record 32 teams are competing in this edition, with Qatar aiming for a strong start that reflects the team’s steady rise in recent years. Backed by intensive preparations and high expectations from supporters, the squad is determined to add another milestone to Qatari volleyball’s growing record of achievements.Following the opener, Qatar will face defending champions and world No. 1 Poland on September 15 before wrapping up the group stage against Romania on September 17. This marks Qatar’s second appearance at the Volleyball World Championship, following their debut at the 2022 edition in Poland and Slovenia.As part of their build-up, the team held an intensive training camp in Doha that featured seven friendlies: two each against Egypt and Iran, and three against Ukraine. Head coach Camilo Sotto of Argentina rotated his lineup throughout the camp to fine-tune tactics and assess player readiness.Group B has been labeled one of the tournament’s toughest, featuring Poland, the Netherlands, and Romania alongside Qatar. Meanwhile, Group A saw an early statement from Tunisia, who opened their campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over hosts Philippines (25-13, 25-17, 25-23), collecting three points in their bid to replicate their 2022 knockout-stage qualification.The championship format divides the 32 teams into eight groups, with the top two in each advancing to the round of 16, scheduled for September 20–23. Quarterfinals will follow on September 24–25, semifinals on September 27, and the medal matches on September 28.Other notable groups include: Group C (France, Argentina, Finland, South Korea), Group D (United States, Cuba, Portugal, Colombia), Group E (Germany, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Chile), Group F (Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, Algeria), Group G (Japan, Canada, Turkey, Libya), and Group H (Brazil, Serbia, Czech Republic, China). 

School Olympic Program Returns for 19th Edition, Expands to 33 Sports Across Qatar

DOHA  – The 19th edition of the School Olympic Program (SOP) was unveiled in Doha on Tuesday, featuring an unprecedented lineup of 33 sports and drawing the participation of thousands of students from Qatar’s public and private schools.The details were revealed at a press conference attended by H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, Chairman of the SOP Organizing Committee, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Muftah, Executive Director of the SOP, Mr. Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari, representing Ooredoo, Ms. Maryam Nouman Al-Emadi from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ms. Al-Anoud Al-Musnad from Qatar Foundation, and Mr. Nasser Al-Ahbabi from Aspire Academy.The event also marked the signing of a new partnership agreement with Ooredoo, which continues as the official telecommunications partner of the program.In his remarks, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani underscored the program’s pivotal role in shaping school sports in Qatar. Since its inception in the 2007/2008 academic year, the SOP has been implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Qatar Olympic Committee.He expressed his deep appreciation to H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for his steadfast support.“We are proud to launch the 19th edition of the School Olympic Program for the 2025/2026 season,” he said. “This new edition represents another step forward in building a brighter future for our youth, while carrying forward a legacy of achievements established over the years.”He added: “Thanks to the dedication of our schools and the determination of our students, the SOP has become a cornerstone of school sports. By expanding the program to 33 sports, we are opening wider horizons for participation and excellence in line with our national vision.”Mr. Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari hailed the renewed partnership, describing the SOP as “an inspiring platform for talent discovery and a powerful driver of healthy, active lifestyles in the community.”“We are delighted to extend our sponsorship,” he said. “The program not only fosters sporting excellence and competitive spirit, but also encourages healthier habits among young people.”Reflecting on last year’s success, Al-Kuwari noted:“We were truly impressed by the scale of participation, with more than 25,000 students from 500 schools involved. This remarkable turnout underlines both the growing enthusiasm among students and the program’s vital role in nurturing future sporting talent.” 

Team Qatar Edge Bahrain 2-1 in Dramatic Finish to Seal U-23 Asian Cup Spot

DOHA  – Team Qatar produced a stunning late comeback to defeat Bahrain 2-1 and secure their place in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 after a pulsating Group H clash at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Tuesday .The victory lifted Qatar to the top of the group with a perfect record of nine points from three matches, ahead of India, who finished second with six points following a commanding 6-0 win over Brunei Darussalam earlier in the day.Bahrain made Qatar work hard for qualification, taking the lead in the 71st minute through Abdulrahman Sami Al Khayyat. With their campaign hanging in the balance, Qatar pressed forward relentlessly and were rewarded in stoppage time when Al Hashmi Al Hussain struck the equalizer in the 91st minute.The drama escalated when Qatar were reduced to ten men after Ayoub Mohamed Al Ouwi was sent off in the 95th minute. But the setback only fueled their determination, and in the ninth minute of added time, Jassem Al Sharshani coolly converted a penalty to seal a memorable win and spark jubilant celebrations.Earlier, India had kept their qualification hopes alive with a dominant display against Brunei. Vibin Mohanan stole the spotlight with a first-half brace before completing his hat-trick with a superb free-kick in the second half. Goals from Ayush Chhetri, Mohammed Aimen (two), and relentless attacking play highlighted India’s one-sided victory.Despite the emphatic scoreline, India’s hopes ended in heartbreak. Their six-point tally placed them fifth among the second-placed teams across the 11 groups, just outside the qualifying spots.For Qatar, however, the night belonged to resilience and belief. A late rally under pressure secured their sixth appearance at the U-23 Asian Cup finals, keeping alive their dreams of regional glory. 

Gulf Padel Championship Kicks Off Next Monday

DOHA - Doha will host the Gulf Padel Championship Qatar 2025 from Sept. 15 to 19.The championship is organized by the Qatar Tennis Federation at the Padel In Courts at Aspire, with the participation of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.Secretary-General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation Tariq Zainal, confirmed in a press conference Wednesday that the championship will feature competitions in three main categories: men's, women's, and juniors.The technical meeting and draw are scheduled to be held on September 14 at the Retaj West Walk Hotel, Doha.During the conference, the Qatar Padel Federation announced the signing of a platinum sponsorship agreement with Qatar Rail for the GCC Padel Championship 2025.The agreement was co-signed by Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation Tariq Zainal, and Director of Communications and Public Relations, on behalf of Qatar Rail Abdullah Al Mawlawi.Zainal expressed the Qatar Federation's pride in Qatar Rail joining as a platinum partner of the Gulf Padel Championship, given its significant support for sports, athletes, and community work in Qatar.He emphasized that this partnership reflects the integrated efforts between national institutions and the sports sector, which gives the Federation greater momentum to continue developing Padel and strengthening its presence in the GCC, regionally, and internationally.For his part, Al Mawlawi said that Qatar Rail believes in the pivotal role that sports play in developing communities by improving quality of life and ensuring the health and safety of its members.