In the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani - Qatar Beach Handball Team Opens Sanya 2026 Campaign with Two Wins over Pakistan and Oman

Sanya: In the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar’s national beach handball team began their campaign at the 6th Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 with two well-deserved victories over Pakistan and Oman in the opening matches of the men’s competition, which got underway on Tuesday.The first day of beach handball competitions was also attended by HE Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; HE Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee; and Mr. Ahmed Al Shaabi, President of the Qatar Handball Association.Qatar secured a 2–0 win over Pakistan in their opening match, with set scores of 17–14 and 19–16, before continuing their strong performance with another 2–0 victory over Oman, winning 20–14 and 18–14, to underline their readiness to compete strongly for the title from the outset.The team delivered a dominant performance in both matches, controlling the tempo from the start and capitalizing on clear technical superiority. Their well-organized play, attacking efficiency, and defensive solidity enabled them to secure both wins convincingly.With this strong start, team Qatar move early to the top of the group with four points, level with Thailand, boosting their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals and continuing their title defense.The defending champions were drawn in Group B alongside Oman, Jordan, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Mongolia. Qatar will continue its campaign on Thursday against Bangladesh and Mongolia, before facing Jordan on April 24, Thailand on April 26, and concluding the group stage against Maldives on April 27.Salem Al Dosari, Manager of Qatar’s beach handball team, expressed his satisfaction with the two opening wins, describing them as an important step in the team’s campaign, especially as they came against two of the strongest teams in the group.He noted that the journey is still long, with strong matches ahead against teams such as Thailand and Jordan, emphasizing that the team aims to win every match with the best possible result.Al Dosari added that the two victories do not guarantee qualification but provide an important boost for the team to continue with confidence. He also praised the players for their performance and effort, highlighting that the team came through both matches without injuries, which is a positive start to the tournament.Meanwhile, Qatar team captain Mutasim Abdulwahed described the two wins as an ideal start to the campaign, particularly against strong opponents like Pakistan and Oman.“We entered both matches with high focus and strong determination to deliver our best performance, and thankfully we achieved two wins and a solid display,” he said.He added that the upcoming phase will be more challenging, stressing that the team has the ability to improve from one match to another, and that all players are determined to continue working with the same spirit to achieve their goal.“We aim to retain the title, and we will do our utmost to continue winning and deliver the best possible performance,” he concluded.Qatar 3x3 Basketball Teams Learn Their Path in Sanya 2026In 3x3 basketball, the draw placed Qatar’s men’s team in Group C alongside Bahrain, India, and Kazakhstan, while the women’s team was drawn in Group A with China and Kazakhstan.The men’s competition features 16 teams divided into four groups, while 15 teams are competing in the women’s event across four uneven groups. The competition will follow a round-robin format to determine qualification for the knockout stages.Qatar’s men will open their campaign on April 25 against Bahrain, before facing Kazakhstan and concluding the group stage against India. The women’s team will begin against China, followed by Kazakhstan. The knockout stage matches will take place on April 28, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled for April 29.Qatar Sailing Team Continues Preparations for Sanya 2026Qatar’s national sailing team continues its preparations for the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026, with the technical staff focusing on enhancing the players’ physical and technical readiness, as well as adapting to the marine conditions at the competition venue.The team will begin its participation on Thursday, with Tamim Shams competing in the Optimist event for boys, while Thani Shams will take part in the ILCA 4 competition.

OCA President Sheikh Joaan meets with His Majesty the King of Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, King of Malaysia, received H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, in the presence of His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Regent of Johor and Crown Prince of Johor, during His Excellency's visit to Malaysia as part of his Asian tour, where discussions focused on enhancing sports cooperation and supporting the Olympic movement across theAsian continent.H.E. Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, also received H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, where the meeting addressed prospects for developing sports partnerships and expanding areas of mutual cooperationDr. Norza, Vice President of the OCA for the Southeast Asia Zone, facilitated the working visit by coordinating two special audiences for HE Sheikh Joaan with His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim and His Excellency the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed his continued support for the Olympic Movement in Malaysia, acknowledging the contributions of its leadership and encouraging Malaysia to host future OCA events, including the Asian Games, with the full support of the Government of Malaysia.At the conclusion of his one-day working visit to Malaysia, Sheikh Joaan departed for Sanya, China, where he is scheduled to chair the 109th OCA Executive Board meeting on Tuesday, April 21 and officiate the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 on Wednesday, April 22.As Dr. Norza will also attend the 109th OCA Executive Board meeting and the 6th Asian Beach Games, he was cordially invited by Sheikh Joaan to travel on his private flight.“I look forward to welcoming HE Sheikh Joaan to Malaysia again in the near future to further strengthen our collaboration in the Olympic Movement across Asia,” said Dr. Norza.“I have also extended an official invitation to HE Sheikh Joaan to witness the 34th SEA Games, which will be hosted by Malaysia in 2027.”Also in attendance was the OCA Director General, Husain Al Musallam. 

Sanya to Host the Opening of the Asian Beach Games Competitions Tomorrow

DOHA -  The competitions of the Asian Beach Games will officially get underway, Tuesday, in the Chinese city of Sanya, which will host the event from April 22 to 30. The tournament will feature the participation of 1,790 male and female athletes representing 45 nations.The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, with a distinguished lineup of elite athletes competing across a wide range of disciplines. Team Qatar is aiming to deliver a strong presence and achieve notable results at this prestigious continental event.Qatar will be represented by a delegation of 34 athletes competing across 14 sports, including 3x3 basketball, aquatic sports, aquathlon, athletics, handball, kabaddi, football, volleyball, wrestling, rowing, jiu-jitsu, sailing, sport climbing, and teqball.The Qatari delegation carries high hopes for its athletes to secure outstanding results and contend strongly for medals, reflecting the remarkable progress of Qatari sport and reinforcing its growing stature on the continental stage. Qatar will compete in seven sports: men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s 3x3 basketball, handball, sailing, aquathlon, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling.This participation continues Qatar’s consistent presence in the Asian Beach Games since its inaugural edition. Qatar first took part in the Games in Bali in 2008, followed by Muscat 2010, and Haiyang 2012, where it claimed its first gold medal through the national handball team.Qatar’s success continued in the Phuket 2014 edition, where it secured 12 medals (2 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze), and in Da Nang 2016, where it added 7 medals (5 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze), underscoring the nation’s sustained excellence and competitive strength in this continental event.

Riders impress as FEI Regional Group VII Finals conclude

DOHA - The FEI Regional Group VII Finals for Juniors, Cadets, and Young Riders concluded impressively at the Longines Arena of Al Shaqab on Saturday.The competitions on the final day of the four-day championships began with the local Junior class at a height of 120cm. Qatari rider Khalid Nasser Al Khater secured first place clocking 35.12 seconds on Dancing Queen d’Ick. His compatriot, Mohammed Faisal Al Marri, finished second in 37.95 seconds on Duke G, while fellow Qatari Ahmed Ali Al Jaber came in third with a time of 36.61 seconds on Riane TB.The winners were crowned by Zaid Abu Zaid, President of the Syrian Arab Equestrian Federation.In the Junior Final of the Regional Group VII Individual category, Emirati rider Hassan Majid Al Nuaimi won the title with a time of 49.64 seconds on Grazie. His compatriot, Khalid Ahmed Al Muhairi, came in second with a time of 50.7 seconds on Feline Peguignon, while Qatari rider Mohammed Hamza Al Kuwari finished third with a time of 53.94 seconds on Galatee de La Trigale.The winners were crowned by Mr. Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyaei, President of Regional Group VII of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani, the tournament director.In the Junior Final Individual category, Emirati rider Saleh Mufrej Al Karbi won the title with a time of 44.62 seconds on Espresso. His compatriot, Mohammed Saeed Al Ghurair, came in second with a time of 46.62 seconds on Hazel de Luxe, and Saudi rider Abdulhadi Al Qahtani finished third with a time of 47.3 seconds on We’ll See. The winners of the event were crowned by His Excellency Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyai, President of FEI Regional Group VII, and Khalid Abdullah Al Hitmi, Executive Vice President of Al Shaqab.In the Junior Individual Final, Kuwaiti rider Hussein Al Kharafi took first place with a time of 65.87 seconds on Gk C’Est Un Reve, followed by Qatari rider Ibrahim Yousef Al Mahmoud in second place with a time of 52.34 seconds on Perle Van Dorperheide, and Qatari rider Abdullah Khalid Al Jalandani in third place with a time of 55.46 seconds on Cavallina 13. The winners were crowned by His Excellency Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyai, President of FEI Regional Group VII, and Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani, Tournament Director.Commenting on the conclusion of the Group VII competitions, Mr.  Sultan Mohammed Al Yahyai, stated: “Over the course of four days at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab, we witnessed outstanding levels of competition from riders in the junior, youth, and young adult categories. They demonstrated exceptional readiness and a clear ability to compete with confidence and skill. Several riders reached the podium multiple times, reflecting their improved performance and consistent level of play.”He added: “This gathering is not only about competition but also about creating an interactive environment that brings together riders from different countries, allowing them to exchange and gain experience towards developing their technical skills.”Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani, the Tournament Director, affirmed that the conclusion of the FEI Regional Group VII competitions represents a significant milestone in the development of equestrian sports in the region. He noted that Doha’s hosting of the tournament for the second consecutive year reflects the high level of confidence in Qatar’s organizational capabilities and infrastructure, as well as the country’s accumulated experience in managing major sporting events.“This edition witnessed a qualitative leap by dedicating a class to riders under 25 years of age. This strategic step aims to give them the opportunity to compete in a class characterized by high-level technical aspects, thus ensuring the continued development of riders across all age groups,” he said.The event featured over 100 riders representing countries in the region., competing for a total prize purse of €318,000.

Ambassadors of Korea and Japan Visit Ice Rink at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena

Doha – HE Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Qatar Yun Hyunsoo and HE Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar Naoto Hisajima visited the ice rink at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, located at Al Sadd Sports Club, to review the facilities dedicated to ice sports.The visit came in response to an invitation from the Qatar Winter Sports Committee, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop and promote ice sports in the country and enhance their presence at both regional and international levels.The ambassadors were received by Hassan Hissam Al Hebabi, Secretary-General of the Committee, who accompanied them on a tour of the venue. The visit provided an overview of the rink’s capabilities, including its modern equipment and advanced infrastructure, reflecting Qatar’s progress in supporting various sports, including winter disciplines.During the visit, the two ambassadors took part in a friendly curling match alongside members and staff of their respective diplomatic missions, in an atmosphere marked by sportsmanship and reflecting the strong relations between their countries and the State of Qatar.The Qatar Winter Sports Committee exchanged commemorative gifts with the ambassadors in appreciation of their interest in ice sports, in the presence of the accompanying delegations, in a gesture that reflects mutual respect and cooperation.On this occasion, Hassan Hissam Al Hebabi expressed his appreciation to the ambassadors for their visit, noting that ice sports in Qatar are entering a phase of notable infrastructure expansion, which will further strengthen their standing and support the future development of winter sports.For his part, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, praising the advanced standard of the ice rink and its modern facilities, and noting that it represents a model of developed sports infrastructure reflecting the comprehensive progress witnessed by the sports sector in Qatar.Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Japan commended the significant efforts made by the Qatar Winter Sports Committee, emphasizing that such initiatives reflect an ambitious strategic vision that contributes to strengthening Qatar’s position on the international sports stage, and praising the provision of specialized facilities to support and develop winter sports.

Team Qatar Top Children’s Team Event at FEI Group VII Finals

Doha:  Team Qatar secured top honours in the Children’s Team competition (CSISCH-A) at the FEI Group VII Finals, held at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab.The host team delivered a strong performance to finish in first place, ahead of the United Arab Emirates in second, while Saudi Arabia claimed third place to complete the podium.The winners were crowned by Bader bin Mohammed Al-Darwish, President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, and Sultan Mohammed Al-Yahyai, President of FEI Regional Group VII.Following the conclusion of the team competition, 17 riders qualified for the next stage of the individual event.In the junior individual competition, held at a height of 130cm, 15 riders delivered clear rounds to advance to the next phase, reflecting the high technical standard of the participants.Teams representing Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates also competed in the team event of the same category, as the competition continues across multiple classes within the championship.