Qatar Sports Ministry and QOC Highlight Sport’s Role in Youth Mental Health

DOHA -  The Ministry of Sports and Youth, in collaboration with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), organized a youth session titled “The Impact of Sport on Youth Mental Health” as part of the celebrations marking International Youth Day, observed annually on 12 August. This year’s theme is “Different Lives, Shared Dreams.”The session brought together a group of sports-minded young people from diverse backgrounds and with a range of interests. Discussions explored how physical activity can help reduce psychological stress, strengthen self-confidence, develop mental resilience, and foster positive social relationships through an interactive dialogue combining scientific perspectives with real-life experiences.Mr. Fawaz Al Musaifri, Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, said this year’s International Youth Day theme, “Different Lives, Shared Dreams,” reflects the reality of young people around the world. Despite differences in environments, challenges and opportunities, he noted, young people share common aspirations to build a better future and enjoy balanced physical and mental well-being. He highlighted sport as one of the important means of bringing young people together and supporting these shared aspirations.He added that the Ministry has been keen to launch innovative events and initiatives that address young people’s needs and enhance their quality of life. The organization of the session, he explained, stemmed from the Ministry’s belief that mental health is a fundamental pillar of youth empowerment and that sport has become an effective means of promoting psychological well-being and building positive character.Al Musaifri also noted that the partnership with the Qatar Olympic Committee helped provide a dialogue platform that brought together scientific expertise and inspiring experiences, contributing to greater awareness among young people of the importance of making sport a way of life.For her part, Ms. Amina Al Meer, Head of the Local Cooperation Unit at the Qatar Olympic Committee, affirmed that the cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth stems from a shared vision that recognizes sport as a tool for community development and enhancing quality of life. She noted that the International Youth Day theme reflects the reality that differences in circumstances do not limit young people’s ambitions, but rather call for unified efforts to empower them and provide a supportive environment that enables them to achieve their aspirations, particularly in promoting mental health through sport.She highlighted the Qatar Olympic Committee’s commitment to expanding cooperation with various national institutions to implement impactful initiatives that promote sports culture and encourage youth participation across different fields, in line with the State of Qatar’s vision of investing in people.The strategic partnership between the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Qatar Olympic Committee aims to unite efforts in implementing programs and initiatives that serve young people, raise awareness of mental health, and encourage healthy lifestyles. It also seeks to respond to young people’s aspirations and contribute to building a healthier and more cohesive society.

Team Qatar to compete in 2026 AVC Men's Volleyball Continental Championship

DOHA – Qatar’s national volleyball team is set to compete in the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Championship, scheduled to take place in Fukuoka, Japan, from September 4 to 13, with 12 national teams competing for continental honours. The tournament holds particular significance as it serves as a pathway to the World Championship.Qatar has been drawn in Group C alongside Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand. The competition will provide an important test for the national team as it looks to build on its success at the Gulf and West Asian levels and measure itself against the challenges of the continental stage.Group A features hosts Japan, Australia, Bahrain, and Oman, while Group B comprises Iran, China, India, and New Zealand.The top two teams from each group, along with the best third-placed team, will advance to the quarter-finals, completing the eight-team knockout lineup. The competition will then move into the knockout stages, with the remaining teams battling to determine the final standings.Qatar enters the championship on the back of an impressive regional campaign, having secured the silver medal at the second edition of the West Asian Volleyball Championship in Oman. The team topped its group with a perfect record before reaching the final, where it was defeated by the hosts to finish runners-up.The West Asian silver medal was not Qatar’s only podium finish in 2026. Earlier this year, the national team also claimed silver in the volleyball competition at the fourth Gulf Games “Doha 2026,” hosted by Doha in May. 

Team Qatar U18 Basketball Team Steps Up Preparations for Asian Championship

AHMEDABAD - Qatar’s U18 basketball team has stepped up its preparations in the Indian city of Ahmedabad ahead of the Asian U18 Basketball Championship, which gets underway on Thursday and runs through August 23, bringing together several of the continent’s leading youth national teams.Following their arrival in Ahmedabad, the Qatar squad entered an intensive training camp under Algerian head coach Monir Ben Ghalla. The camp is focused on sharpening the players’ technical and physical readiness, fine-tuning the team’s tactical approach, and finalizing the lineup for the opening match.Qatar will launch its campaign against Iran on Friday in Group C, before taking on China on Sunday and Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the group stage.The 12-player squad comprises Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Ziad Al Bitar, Muath Omar Musa, Azzam Mohammed Yakan, Ziad Tamer Al Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Musa, Owen Ekena, Yousef Waleed Abdulqader, and Shahi Mohammed.The championship carries added significance for Qatar, as it also serves as a qualification pathway to the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in the Czech Republic. The top four teams at the Asian Championship will secure their places at the global tournament.Qatar completed the final phase of its preparations in Doha through an intensive training programme at Al Gharafa Sports Hall, where the coaching staff worked extensively to enhance the players’ technical abilities, physical conditioning, tactical understanding, and overall match readiness.With the Asian championship offering both a major continental challenge and a coveted ticket to the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, Qatar will look to translate its intensive preparations into strong performances throughout the competition. 

Salah Younis Wins Stratford 100m with New Personal Best

LONDON – Qatar’s rising sprint star Salah Younis delivered a standout performance at the Stratford Speed athletics meeting in Britain yesterday, winning the men’s 100m and setting a new personal best.The 21-year-old crossed the finish line in 10.13 seconds, improving on his previous best of 10.23 seconds and establishing a new season-best mark.Younis had recorded his previous 10.23-second mark at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, last July.The victory and new personal best mark an important milestone in the young sprinter’s progression and provide further momentum ahead of a major challenge on the horizon, with Younis set to compete at the Asian Games in Japan next month.In addition to the 100m, Younis is also competing in the 200m, an event in which he continues to make steady progress under the Qatar Athletics Federation’s program designed to prepare its sprinters for their forthcoming major competitions. 

100 days to go until FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026

DOHA - With just 100 days to go until the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, excitement is building for the prestigious youth tournament taking place in Qatar from 19 November to 13 December 2026.This year marks the second of five consecutive editions that Qatar will host annually through 2029, reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class sporting events while strengthening the country’s long-term football legacy.Building on the success of the landmark 2025 tournament, which saw Qatar host the first-ever FIFA competition featuring 48 teams, this year’s edition will once again welcome 48 nations competing across 104 matches. Fans can look forward to up to eight matches per day during an action-packed group stage.The FIFA U-17 World Cup has long served as a launching pad for many of football’s biggest stars, most notably, Egyptian forward and FC Barcelona player Hamza Abdelkarim, who made his debut at the FIFA World Cup 2026 following a breakout performance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.The tournament will once again provide the world’s most promising young players with the opportunity to showcase their talent on football’s biggest stage.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 will be held at the Aspire Zone Competition Complex, with the final taking place at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium, where Portugal lifted the trophy last year in front of a crowd of 38,901 spectators.With all matches being held in a centralized venue, fans will be treated to an exciting festival-like atmosphere under the theme of TMRW’s GOAT, celebrating young stars as well as exploring a number of cultural and entertainment activities taking place at the Fan Zone.This year’s tournament coincides with a significant milestone for Khalifa International Stadium, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of its inauguration in 1976. One of Qatar’s most iconic sporting venues, the stadium has previously hosted a number of major sporting events, including matches during the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Tickets will be made available at www.roadtoqatar.qa at a later date. 

Qatar Handball Team Set for International Friendly in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo - The Qatar handball team will compete in an international friendly tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina from August 12 to 15 as part of its overseas training camp ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.Qatar will open its campaign on Wednesday against Slovenia's Grosist Slovan in Group B, which also includes Portugal's Sporting Lisbon. Group A features Egypt's Al Ahly, Germany's Melsungen, and Bosnia's Sloga.The tournament will help the team strengthen its readiness and build cohesion ahead of the Asian Games, where Qatar is drawn in Group A alongside Japan, China, and Hong Kong.Qatar enters the Games as the defending Asian champion, having won gold in 2014, 2018, and 2022, and will seek another title.