Qatar U-23 Football Team Drawn into Group D at the 2026 Asian Games

Tokyo - The draw for the 20th Asian Games football tournament, scheduled to take place in Japan from Sep. 19 to Oct. 4, 2026, has placed the Qatar Under-23 national football team in Group D alongside South Korea and Saudi Arabia.The football competition features 15 national teams divided into four groups. Groups A, B, and C each contain four teams, while Group D consists of three teams. Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.Host nation Japan leads Group A alongside Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong. Group B comprises China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and North Korea, while Group C features Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and Kuwait.The men's football tournament at the Asian Games is designated for Under-23 national teams, with competition regulations allowing each squad to register up to three overage players.Football action is set to kick off early on September 15, with the final taking place on October 3 to decide the gold medal winner.  

Qatar's Rashid Saleh Al Athba Wins Historic Skeet Gold at ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou

Hangzhou, China – Qatari shooter Rashid Saleh Al Athba delivered a landmark performance to claim the gold medal in the men's individual skeet event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun), currently underway in Hangzhou, China. The prestigious competition has brought together an elite field of the world's finest shooters.Al Athba's victory marks a historic milestone for Qatar, securing the nation's first-ever individual gold medal in the history of its participation in the ISSF World Cup series. The achievement further enriches Qatar's distinguished sporting legacy and reinforces the country's growing stature in international shooting sports.President of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association, Dr. Mishal Ibrahim Al Nasr, congratulated Rashid Al Athba on his remarkable triumph, describing the achievement as a defining moment for Qatari shooting.Dr. Al Nasr emphasized that the historic success reflects the unwavering and generous support extended to Qatari sport by the country's leadership, particularly to shooting sports, creating an environment that enables national athletes to compete successfully at the highest international level and consistently reach the podium. 

Organizing Committee Confirms Readiness for Gulf Qualifiers for FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026

DOHA – The Organizing Committee of the Gulf Qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 has confirmed that all preparations have been finalized for hosting the tournament, which will take place at Al Gharafa Sports Hall from July 25 to 30.The championship will bring together the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, competing in a single round-robin format. The top three teams will secure direct qualification for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India this August.The qualifiers hold added importance as they represent not only the pathway to the continental championship but also the opening stage in the journey toward the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2027. The top four teams at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup will earn qualification for the global event, which will be staged in the Czech Republic from June 26 to July 4, 2027.The tournament will tip off on Saturday, July 25, with Kuwait facing Oman, followed by Saudi Arabia taking on Bahrain.Host nation Qatar will launch its campaign on Sunday against Saudi Arabia, before meeting Kuwait the following day. The Qatari side will then face Oman on Wednesday, July 29, before concluding its qualifying campaign against Bahrain on Thursday, July 30.The Organizing Committee affirmed its commitment to delivering an outstanding edition of the tournament that reflects Qatar's proven expertise in hosting international sporting events, while providing the participating teams with the highest organizational and technical standards to ensure the success of the championship.

Team Qatar Ends Asian U20 Handball Championship Campaign with Victory over India

Suzhou, China – Qatar's U20 men's handball team concluded its campaign at the Asian Men's U20 Handball Championship in Suzhou, China, with an emphatic 50–26 victory over India in their final group-stage match on Wednesday.The Qatari side dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, producing an impressive all-round performance to secure a commanding win and finish the tournament on a positive note.During the championship, Qatar recorded two victories against Japan and India, while narrowly falling to South Korea (27–28), Iran (25–26), and Kuwait (29–30), in addition to a defeat against the United Arab Emirates. The closely contested results against several of Asia's leading teams underscored the highly competitive nature of the tournament.Qatar's participation in the championship, which continues until July 27, forms part of the team's long-term preparations for upcoming international competitions. The tournament also serves as the Asian qualifying event for the 2027 IHF Men's Junior World Championship, to be held in North Macedonia.

Qatar Suffer Narrow Defeat to Kuwait at Asian U20 Handball Championship

Suzhou, China, - Qatar suffered a narrow 30-29 defeat to Kuwait in their Group B match at the Asian Men's U20 Handball Championship in Suzhou, China, on Tuesday.The match remained closely contested for much of the game before Kuwait edged ahead to claim victory by a single goal.The result leaves Qatar sixth in the group with two points, while Kuwait move up to fourth place on six points.Qatar will conclude their group-stage campaign against India on Wednesday.The tournament, which runs until July 27, serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men's Junior World Championship in North Macedonia. 

Team Qatar Claim West Asia Volleyball Championship Silver After Narrow Final Loss to Oman

MUSCAT - Qatar claimed the silver medal at the second West Asia Volleyball Championship after losing 3-0 to hosts Oman in the final on Tuesday.Oman won the title with straight-set victory, taking the match 25-19, 25-15 and 25-23 in Muscat.Defending champions Qatar, who won the inaugural edition in Bahrain last year, reached the final after topping Group A and defeating Iraq in the semi-finals.Three Qatari players were recognized with individual awards at the tournament. Mohammed Al Waleed was named Best Outside Hitter, Abdullah Naseem received the award for Best Middle Blocker, and Mahdi Samoud was named Best Setter.In the final standings, Oman finished as champions, followed by Qatar in second place. Iraq took bronze, with Kuwait finishing fourth, Saudi Arabia fifth, Syria sixth and Lebanon seventh.