Team Qatar defeat Thailand in 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup

Ahmedabad, India: Qatar’s national volleyball team secured its first victory at the 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup after defeating Thailand in straight sets on Sunday in the tournament currently being held in Ahmedabad, India, and running until June 29.Team Qatar delivered a strong performance throughout the match and asserted its superiority from the outset, claiming all three sets to record a convincing win and bounce back from its opening-round defeat to Oman, which had ended in a 3-2 loss.The victory significantly boosted Qatar’s hopes of securing one of the qualification spots for the knockout stage of the competition.Qatar will continue its preliminary-round campaign against Indonesia on Monday before taking on Bahrain on June 25. The team will then conclude its group-stage matches against South Korea on June 26, as it seeks to secure a place in the next round of the tournament.

Qatar Gymnastics Reaches New Heights with Al Harith’s Top-Five Asian Finish and Qadimi’s Top-Eight Achievement

Zunyi, China - Qatar's artistic gymnastics team continued to make its mark on the continental stage as athletes Rakan Al Harith and Mehrdad Qadimi delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, currently underway in Zunyi, China.Competing against some of Asia's and the world's most accomplished gymnasts, the two Qatari athletes showcased the significant progress of artistic gymnastics in Qatar, holding their own against Olympic and world championship medalists in one of the strongest continental competitions on the international calendar.Al Harith produced a standout display in the Pommel Horse final, finishing fifth among the eight finalists to cement his status among Asia's top five athletes in the apparatus at this year's championship.The achievement is particularly noteworthy given the strength of the field, which included several world and Olympic champions, highlighting Al Harith's technical development and ability to compete with the continent's elite performers.Meanwhile, Qadimi secured eighth place in the Rings final, earning a place among Asia's top eight gymnasts in the apparatus. The result carries added significance as it came during his first appearance at an Asian championship of this level, featuring many of the sport's leading international stars. His performance underlined his considerable potential and promising future in the sport.The championship marks a notable milestone for Qatari gymnastics, with two athletes reaching apparatus finals and earning top continental rankings on different events. Al Harith finished among Asia's top five on the Pommel Horse, while Qadimi secured a place among the top eight on the Rings, reflecting the continued development and growing competitiveness of Qatari gymnastics.The qualification of two Qatari gymnasts for Asian Championship finals highlights the sustained progress of the sport in Qatar and underscores the success of the development and preparation programs implemented by the Qatar Gymnastics Federation to nurture athletes capable of competing at the highest regional and international levels.Qatar Gymnastics Federation President Ali Al Hitmi praised the achievements of both athletes, describing the results as the product of the federation's long-term efforts, as well as the dedication of the technical and administrative staff and the athletes themselves."We are proud of what Rakan Al Harith and Mehrdad Qadimi achieved in this highly competitive championship," Al Hitmi said. "They demonstrated that they can compete on equal terms with world and Olympic-level athletes, which confirms that Qatari gymnastics is moving in the right direction and continuing to make significant progress on the continental stage."He also expressed appreciation for the continued support provided by the Qatar Olympic Committee, noting that its backing has played a key role in helping the federation achieve such encouraging results.Al Hitmi concluded by emphasizing that the achievements in Zunyi represent an important step in the ongoing development of Qatari gymnastics, while stressing that the federation's ambitions remain much higher, with a new generation of talented athletes capable of delivering further success and elevating Qatar's profile on the international stage.  

Qatar Begin Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup Campaign Against Oman

Ahmedabad, India – The Qatar men’s volleyball team will launch its campaign at the 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup with a clash against Oman on Saturday as the continental championship gets underway in Ahmedabad, India.Qatar enter the tournament with high ambitions after completing an extensive preparation programme that included a training camp in Ahmedabad, serving as the final phase of the team’s build-up ahead of the competition. The coaching staff has focused on maximizing the players’ physical, technical and mental readiness in pursuit of a strong showing on the continental stage.The Qatar squad features Mubarak Dahi, Mubarak Mousa, Yousif Ghalaf, Yousif Al Yafei, Bilal Abounbout, Abdullah Naseem, Mehdi Samoud, Naji Mahmoud, Ghanem Al Rumaihi, Renan, Nikola, Milos and Papi.Drawn in a highly competitive Pool B, Qatar will face South Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand and Oman in the group stage.Following their opening match against Oman, Qatar will take on Thailand on 21 June before facing Indonesia a day later. The team will then conclude its group-stage schedule with a key encounter against South Korea on 26 June.The tournament represents an important opportunity for Qatar to continue its progress at the Asian level, with the team targeting a place in the knockout rounds and a strong run in the competition.

Doha Diamond League Implements Sustainability Initiatives to Reduce Environmental Impact

Doha: The 2026 Doha Meeting of the Wanda Diamond League implemented a series of sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the event and promoting recycling among spectators and participating athletes, as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable event management.This year’s edition showcased a collection of sustainable products manufactured from materials recycled from waste generated during the previous edition of the meeting, highlighting the success of sustainability efforts led by the Qatar Athletics Federation in collaboration with its partners.The recycled products included travel bags, passport holders, luggage tags, cup holders, and a range of souvenir items carrying the Doha Meeting’s identity and its slogan, “From the Dunes to Glory.”As part of the initiative, a dedicated paper collection container was installed within the competition venue to facilitate the recycling of used paper and its transformation into new materials and products, supporting circular economy principles and reducing waste.On this occasion, Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, President of the Qatar Athletics Federation, emphasized that sustainability remains one of the key pillars of the Doha Meeting, with organizers committed to ensuring that the event leaves a positive legacy that extends beyond the field of play.He noted that the Federation continues to work closely with its paper and plastic recycling partners to raise environmental awareness and demonstrate the role major sporting events can play in advancing sustainability goals. He also expressed pride in seeing products manufactured from recycled materials being utilized during this year’s edition of the meeting.Al Fadala reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to continuing environmental initiatives that deliver tangible and measurable results in protecting the environment.These initiatives form part of the Qatar Athletics Federation’s broader efforts to integrate sustainability principles across all aspects of the event’s organization, in line with Qatar’s vision for sustainable development and the delivery of world-class sporting events according to the highest international standards.

Sioli edges Barshim as Qatari icon makes promising return at Doha Diamond League

Doha: Mutaz Barshim showed encouraging signs of returning to his best, but the Qatari high jump icon had to settle for second place at the Doha Diamond League on Friday night.Competing in front of his home crowd at the Qatar Sports Club, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion registered a season-best clearance of 2.27m – his highest jump since winning bronze at the Paris Olympics two years ago.Barshim, who turns 35 on June 24, has struggled with injuries over the past two years and admitted on the eve of the competition that he had "no idea" about his form and simply wanted to "have a lot of fun."He certainly did, coming close to what would have been one of the most memorable victories of his illustrious career. Italy's world under-20 silver medallist Matteo Sioli claimed his second Diamond League victory after clearing 2.29m, following up his triumph on home soil in Rome.Italy’s Matteo Sioli who took his second Diamond League win of the season with a season’s best of 2.29m.Barshim, however, was pleased with his first Diamond League outing of the season as he builds towards the Asian Games in Japan later this year. "It is a very, very good start of the season for me. I've been away for a long time, and coming back to the world stage is not easy after so many injuries," Barshim said."You need a few competitions to get back into the rhythm because we know what to do, but your body needs to adapt and this is not easy. In general, I'm very, very happy. It is a season best for me and I will keep pushing. Next will be Monaco and I am going to be prepared for that. The crowd is always amazing. They give me all the energy I need. I love jumping at home," the former three-time world champion added.Barshim cleared 2.12m and 2.16m at the first attempt before needing a second try to get over 2.24m. He then cleared 2.27m on his first attempt but was unable to negotiate 2.29m or 2.31m.In the absence of Olympic and world champion Hamish Kerr, world indoor champion Oleh Doroshchuk and world bronze medallist Jan Stefela were expected to challenge strongly, but both struggled in the hot conditions, finishing third and seventh respectively.Sioli was delighted with back-to-back Diamond League victories and described competing against Barshim as an honour. "It's a crazy period for me and I'm happy for this win. It's a big pleasure and an honour to be competing with Mutaz Barshim. The conditions today were really, really good. The temperature was high, but that was not bad at all. I'm very thankful to each and every one who has helped me through this period," he said.India’s Neeraj Chopra returned to action from a lengthy injury layoff with a fourth-placed finish in Doha.Another crowd favourite, India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra, also looked short of his best on his return to competition after nine months, finishing fourth. The former Olympic and world champion, who recently recovered from a back injury, produced a best throw of 85.69m in his third attempt. Chopra's last appearance had been at the World Championships in September.Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his remarkable season by defeating a world-class field. The world leader threw 88.68m to finish more than two metres clear of two-time world champion Anderson Peters (86.38m).Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage beat a heavyweight javelin field at the Doha Diamond League.The 23-year-old former cricketer now owns the top five marks of the season, including his world-leading personal best of 92.62m set in Rome earlier this month. "Last year, my throws were averaging around 85 meters, but 2026 is shaping up to be an incredibly strong year for me. My next major goal is to go after the Asian record" Pathirage told Gulf Times."This is actually my fourth competition within the span of 20 days. I’m incredibly tired right now, but I knew that if I could hit a throw in the 88-meter range, I could secure the gold medal," the Sri Lankan added.American world bronze medallist Curtis Thompson finished third, while reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago placed seventh.Zapletalova and Paulino set meeting recordsEmma Zapletalova and Marileidy Paulino produced standout performances over one lap of the track, setting meeting records in the women's 400m hurdles and 400m respectively.Zapletalova clocked 52.30 seconds to improve her own Slovak national record and world-leading mark, moving to sixth on the all-time list. World-leading performances were also recorded in both triple jump events, with Davisleydi Velazco joining the 15-metre club and Pedro Pichardo making a statement on his season debut.The world bronze medallist continued her outstanding season by claiming a fourth consecutive Diamond League victory after previous wins in Rabat, Rome and Oslo. The 26-year-old executed her race perfectly, winning by three-quarters of a second ahead of Jamaica's Rushell Clayton to become the sixth-fastest woman in history over 400m hurdles."I am very happy with my new personal best and national record," Zapletalova said. "I am also satisfied that I did it as we planned with my coach."Dominican Marileidy Paulino lowered Allyson Felix's 400m meet record to 48.91 seconds.Dominican Republic Olympic champion Paulino also dominated the women's 400m, smashing Allyson Felix's 18-year-old meeting record by almost a second. Accelerating powerfully off the final bend, she stormed home in 48.91 seconds. Olympic bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka finished second in 50.10, while Roxana Gomez was third in 50.23.Portugal's two-time world champion Pedro Pichardo won a thrilling men's triple jump contest with a world-leading 17.71m, edging Jamaica's Jordan Scott by just two centimetres. Algeria's Yasser Triki finished third after improving his own national record to 17.67m, with only four centimetres separating the top three.Morocco’s two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali won the 3000m steeplechase, maintaining his unbeaten start to the season.Jamaica's Kemba Nelson equalled her 100m personal best, while Morocco's Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali held off Samuel Firewu's late challenge to win the 3,000m steeplechase in 8:09.28.Earlier, Cuba's Davisleydi Velazco produced a world-leading 15.13m personal best to win the women's triple jump. In the men's pole vault, Greece's Emmanouil Karalis took victory on countback with a clearance of 5.92m in the absence of Olympic champion Armand Duplantis, who is getting married.South Africa's Sinesipho Dambile, after finishing third in Rabat and runner-up in Stockholm and Oslo, claimed the men's 200m title in a personal best 19.74 seconds. World champion Cordell Tinch maintained his composure to win a dramatic 110m hurdles race despite several athletes clipping barriers.

Team Qatar lose to Oman in AVC Men's Volleyball Cup

Ahmedabad: Qatar’s national volleyball team began its campaign at the 2026 AVC Men's Volleyball Cup with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Oman in their opening Group B match on Saturday at the tournament being held in Ahmedabad, India, and running until June 29.Team Qatar made a strong start to the contest, claiming the first two sets 25-19 and 25-21 to move within one set of victory. However, Oman fought back to take the third set 27-25 and the fourth 25-22, forcing a decisive fifth set.The Omani side maintained its momentum in the tie-break, edging Qatar 15-13 to complete the comeback and secure a 3-2 victory.The draw placed Qatar in Group B alongside South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and Oman. Group A consists of hosts India, Australia, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan and New Zealand.Qatar will continue its campaign against Thailand on Sunday before facing Indonesia on Monday. The team will then take on Bahrain on June 25 and conclude its preliminary round matches against South Korea on June 26, as it seeks to secure one of the qualification spots for the knockout stage.