SOP Ramadan Football Championship kicks off

Doha – The ninth edition of the Ramadan School Olympic Program Championship got underway at Qatar University’s pitches, with strong participation from schools across the country. The 2026 edition features 32 teams at the secondary school level, including 13 government schools and 19 private schools.The tournament is held under the patronage of Qatar Insurance, the official sponsor of the championship, with all matches taking place at Qatar University’s facilities.The competition is being played across several stages in the group phase. In Group A, Umm Salal Secondary School secured a 1–0 victory over the American Academy in the opening round. Belgravia High School suffered a 3–0 defeat to Edison International Academy “Aspire,” while Umm Salal later lost 4–1 to Edison International Academy “Aspire.” Belgravia High School also fell 4–3 to the American Academy.Edison International Academy “Aspire” topped Group A with 7 points, followed by Umm Salal Secondary School in second place with 6 points. The American Academy finished third with 4 points, while Belgravia High School placed fourth without points.In Group B, Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School lost 3–2 to Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School. Al Andalus Private School defeated Middle East International School 2–0, and later edged Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School 2–1. Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School recorded a 4–0 victory over Middle East International School, while Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School beat Middle East International School 3–0. Al Andalus Private School also overcame Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School 4–3.Al Andalus Private School topped Group B with 9 points, followed by Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School in second place with 6 points. Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School finished third with 3 points, while Middle East International School placed fourth without points.For his part, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Qatar School Sports Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the School Olympic Program, expressed his satisfaction with the continued success of the Ramadan School Olympic Program Championship. He affirmed the organizing committee’s commitment to providing students with the opportunity to showcase their abilities, compete in a distinguished Ramadan tournament, and discover new sporting talents. 

Qatar to host Nishan Ramadan Shooting Championship 2026

Doha:  The Qatar Shooting and Archery Association is set to stage the 2026 Nishan Ramadan Shooting Championship at the Lusail Shooting Complex from February 27 to March 8.The annual community event, held under the slogan "Ramadan Challenge", is one of the association's key fixtures, attracting wide participation from amateur and professional shooters in a competitive Ramadan atmosphere.The tournament will feature air rifle and air pistol contests, archery events, as well as skeet and trap shotgun competitions, offering participants multiple disciplines to showcase their skills.Competitions will be divided into amateur, junior and professional categories to broaden participation and expand the sport's grassroots base in Qatar.Organizers have allocated prize money totaling QR 500,000, boosting incentives and raising the level of competition.The championship also serves as a platform to identify and develop young Qatari talent, in line with the association's strategy to strengthen national teams ahead of regional and international events. 

FIBA Legend Dino Radja to visit Doha for Asian Qualifiers Window 2

Doha: Croatian Basketball legend Dino Radja is set to visit Qatar at the invitation of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organizing Committee and Qatar Basketball Federation.The 58-year-old former World Cup bronze medalist will be in Doha from 26 February to 3 March and will attend Qatar’s upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers Window 2 games against India on 27 February and Saudi Arabia on 2 March, both held at Lusail Arena.Dino Radja’s visit will also include a Press Conference that will be open to all media representatives, which will take place in Qatar Basketball Federation’s headquarters in Al Gharrafa on 1 March 2026 at 10:30 AM.During his illustrious career spanning two decades in Europe and the United States, Dino Radja earned almost every major accolade. The native of Split, Croatia, captured two Olympic silver medals. The first in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea representing the former Yugoslavia, and again in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, where Croatia faced the original Dream Team, Team USA, in a historic final.Two years later, he led Croatia to the bronze medal at 1994 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Canada, where he was also named to the tournament All-Star Five alongside legends like Shaquille O’Neal, Shawn Kemp, Reggie Miller and Sergei Bazarevich. Dino Radja is also a five-time EuroBasket medalist, including two winners’ medals in 1989 and 1991. Recognized as one of FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1991 and was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Qatar to host International Cricket Council Meetings in March

Doha: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled that Doha is set to host the ICC's Board of Directors and its Committees from March 25-27, 2026, in a move that demonstrates the State of Qatar's growing standing on the global sports stage.In a statement, the council highlighted that opting for Doha comes in recognition of the rapid growth of cricket sports in Qatar, as the participation rate has recorded an upsurge of 447 percent since 2020, the highest growth rate at the level of the member states.This remarkable evolution comes by dint of a series of both school and societal initiatives that helped broaden the practitioners' base, attract a variety of age groups, as well as reinforce the talent exploration program and upgrade sports infrastructure.The meetings are projected to debate a raft of strategic matters related to advancing this kind of game on the global stage, alongside going over expansion plans and fostering partnerships amid the increasing interest in cricket sports in the Gulf region.Hosting these meetings in Doha manifests the global confidence in its organizational capabilities, thereby strengthening Doha's presence as a regional hub for hosting major sporting events and forums.  

QOC President crowns Carlos Alcaraz as Qatar ExxonMobil Open Champion

Doha: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, crowned Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz as champion of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2026, held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.H.E Sheikh Joaan presented the world No. 1 with the first-place trophy (the Golden Falcon), while France’s Arthur Fils received the runner-up award, in the presence of H.E. Nasser bin Ghanem Al-Khelaifi, President of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation.Alcaraz claimed the Qatar title for the first time after defeating Fils, ranked No. 40 in the world, in straight sets 6–2, 6–1 in the final.The victory marked Alcaraz’s third win over Fils in their third ATP Tour meeting.The Spanish star, who has won 25 career titles including seven Grand Slam crowns — most recently the 2026 Australian Open — secured the Qatar title during his second consecutive appearance in Doha.In this year’s campaign, Alcaraz began from the main draw’s opening round, defeating France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6–4, 7–6, before overcoming fellow Frenchman Valentin Royer 6–2, 7–5 in the second round to reach the quarterfinals.He then edged Russia’s Karen Khachanov, the 2024 champion, in the quarterfinals 6–7, 6–4, 6–3, and continued his impressive run by defeating another Russian, Andrey Rublev, the 2025 champion, 7–6, 6–4 in the semifinals to book his place in the final.For his part, Arthur Fils, who has won three ATP titles in his career, began his tournament with a three-set victory over Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak (6–7, 6–3, 6–4), before defeating compatriot Quentin Halys 6–1, 7–6 in the Round of 16.In the quarterfinals, Fils overcame Czech player Jiri Lehecka 6–3, 6–3, then advanced to the final after defeating another Czech opponent, Jakub Mensik, in straight sets 6–4, 7–6 in the semifinals.

HH the Amir Attends 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open Final

Doha, (QNA):  HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the men's final of the 34th Qatar ExxonMobil Open for tennis, which was held at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex this evening.HH the Amir followed the match between World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and World no. 40 from France Arthur Fils, and ended in Alcaraz's favor 6-2, 6-1.The final was attended by several of Their Excellencies Sheikhs, Ministers, ranking officials, and guests of the competition as well as tennis fans. (QNA)