Qatar football team to face Ireland in friendly on May 28

Doha: Qatar will face Ireland in an international friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on May 28 as part of Al Annabi’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico in June and July. Qatar have been drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and one European playoff winner.In the latest FIFA rankings released in January, Qatar are ranked 56th, while Ireland sit 59th. The two sides have met twice before during the European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Their first meeting in Debrecen, Hungary, in March 2021 ended in a 1-1 draw, while the return fixture in Dublin saw Ireland claim a 4-0 victory.As part of their ongoing preparations, Al Annabi will also play friendlies against Argentina and Serbia during an international Qatar Football Festival in Doha from March 26 to 31, which will feature six World Cup-qualified teams. The Aviva Stadium, a multi-purpose venue with a capacity of 51,700, is the official home of the Ireland national team.

HH the Amir Sword Festival, Showjumping Championship Kicks Off Tomorrow

Doha: HH the Amir Sword Equestrian Festival will begin on Wednesday, featuring 32 races over four days, including the traditional Al Sabeq heritage race for promising Qatari riders.The first two days will host races on the sand track with Arab and purebred horses, followed by competitions on the grass track, highlighting local producers.The festival will conclude with HH the Amir Sword and HH the Amir's Prize races, each offering $2.5 million in prize money. The main race on the Golden Sword of HH the Amir is for first-class purebred Arabian horses over 2400 meters.In parallel, HH the Amir Sword Showjumping Championship begins tomorrow at Longines Arena in Al Shaqab, featuring 283 riders and 599 horses, with total prizes exceeding €2 million. The event includes multiple 5-star, 3-star, and 1-star competitions, as well as qualifying rounds for the World Cup and international dressage. (QNA)

Andreeva and Pliskova Advance to Round of 16 at Qatar TotalEnergies Open

Doha: Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, the world No. 7, advanced to the round of 16 of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) in its 24th edition, currently being held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.The 18-year-old Russian overcame Poland’s Magda Linette, ranked 47th in the world, in straight sets, 7–6, 6–1.This victory marked Andreeva’s second win over Linette on the WTA Tour. Andreeva has won four career titles, while the Polish player has claimed three.Czech star Karolina Pliskova also booked her place in the round of 16 after her American opponent Amanda Anisimova, the world No. 4 and defending champion, withdrew from their match, which stood at 7–5, 6–7, 4–1 in favor of the Czech player at the time of withdrawal.Pliskova previously won the Qatar Open title in 2017 after defeating Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in the final, 6–3, 6–4. Anisimova, meanwhile, captured the 2025 title with a final-round victory over Latvia’s Jeļena Ostapenko, 6–4, 6–3.The tournament’s organizing committee had granted byes to Andreeva and Anisimova, along with the rest of the top eight seeds, exempting them from the first round of the main draw.First-round matches concluded yesterday. Among the notable results, Latvia’s Ostapenko, runner-up at the 2016 Qatar Open, advanced to the second round after defeating Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova, who came through qualifying, in three sets, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4.Czech ninth seed Linda Nosková also progressed to the second round with a 6–4, 6–0 win over Australia’s Maya Joint. Denmark’s 11th seed Clara Tauson exited the tournament after a 6–4, 6–1 loss to Czech player Kateřina Siniaková.In other matches, American 12th seed Emma Navarro defeated Germany’s Tatjana Maria 7–5, 6–1.

With Exceptional Community Participation Exceeding 15,000, the Qatar Olympic Committee Hosts Its Half Marathon and Team Qatar Village

DOHA  – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) successfully held the second edition of its annual Half Marathon 2026 today  at Lusail Boulevard, coinciding with the country’s Sports Day celebrations. The event saw an extraordinary turnout, with more than 15,000 participants and spectators, reflecting the growing community engagement in sports and active lifestyles.The event was honored by the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs., H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and  the QOC, H.E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Transport,  Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, Secretary-General of QOC, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, Director of QOC Sport Sector and President of the  QOC Half Marathon Organizing Committee. The gathering also included senior Qatari officials, high-level representatives of the Olympic Council of Asia, the Organizing Committee of the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, and a distinguished lineup of Qatari sports stars including Mutaz Essa Barshim, Abdulrahman Samba, Abubaker Hayder, and Moaz Ali.QOC Half Marathon 2026:The Half Marathon attracted over 10,000 runners across all age groups and categories, including professional athletes, amateurs, and community participants from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds, creating a vibrant and inclusive sporting spectacle. Including the “Qatar Team Village” activities, total attendance exceeded 15,000, making it one of the largest community sporting gatherings in the country this year.Fun Run:In a lively and energetic atmosphere, the “Fun Run” for children was held under the auspices of the Asian Olympic Council, attended by senior officials from the Council, the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Organizing Committee, QOC leadership, staff, and families. The activity highlighted the importance of physical activity as a healthy and dynamic lifestyle, while engaging children and youth in fun, interactive, and community-oriented experiences.Awards and Recognition:Senior officials of the QOC and committee heads personally awarded winners in all categories of the main and supporting races. They also presented commemorative gifts to the event’s sponsors and partners in recognition of their contributions to the success of the Half Marathon 2026.Qatar Team Village Activities:Complementing the races, the QOC, in cooperation with several Qatari sports federations, organized a wide array of recreational and sporting activities at “Qatar Team  Village” in Al Sa'ad Plaza. Families and children from across the community participated enthusiastically in interactive games, sports competitions, and entertainment shows designed to promote teamwork, participation, and community engagement, creating a safe, fun, and inclusive environment.H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani expressed his gratitude to the Olympic Council delegations and the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Organizing Committee for their participation in the Sports Day events, particularly the Fun Run, which is part of the Council’s “Asian Games for All” campaign.He highlighted that such initiatives embody the QOC’s vision: “To be a leading nation uniting the world through sustainable sports development”, while reinforcing the values of friendship, excellence, solidarity, diversity, and unity.On this occasion, H.E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, affirmed that the QOC Half Marathon and the accompanying activities at Team Qatar Village represented a landmark event in this year’s State Sports Day, significantly contributing to the promotion of a culture of sport across all segments of society.H.E expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the delegations of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Organizing Committee of the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games for their participation in the State Sports Day events and their attendance at the Qatar Olympic Committee Half Marathon, reflecting the Council’s commitment to supporting community-based sports initiatives.He further highlighted that this sporting scene embodies the vision of the Qatar Olympic Committee: “To become a leading nation in bringing the world together through sustainable sport development.,” while simultaneously reflecting the unity of the Olympic message and the integration of Olympic institutions, contributing to the advancement of the Olympic movement and strengthening its presence at both continental and global levels.For his part, Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani emphasized the exceptional scale of participation, exceeding 10,000 runners of all ages and nationalities, reflecting the prominent place of sports in Qatari society. He underscored QOC’s commitment to promoting the concept of “Sports for All” as a sustainable approach to building a healthy and active community. Sheikh Khalifa also noted that the Half Marathon is a cornerstone event on QOC’s annual calendar, offering an inclusive platform for all participants to engage in competitive and recreational sports in a safe and supportive environment.He concluded by extending thanks to partners, sponsors, and supporting institutions for their logistical, technical, and organizational contributions, as well as to the volunteers whose dedication and national spirit played a pivotal role in the event’s success.Sponsors and Partners:The event received outstanding support from key national partners, including Diar Real Estate Investment (Host Partner), Axis Japan (Official Apparel Sponsor), Ministry of Labor (Official Partner), Doha Bank (Team Qatar Supporter), WHOOP Smart Technology (Golden Sponsor), West Bay Medicare Center (Golden Sponsor), Al Rayyan Water (Golden Sponsor), The Look Company (Golden Sponsor), Recovery Lab (Golden Sponsor), Qatar Development Bank (Development Supporter), alongside the Ministry of Interior and Hamad Medical Corporation.Safety and Volunteers:Participant safety was a top priority. The Organizing Committee provided comprehensive logistical, technical, administrative, and medical support along the race routes, including water stations and first aid points. Volunteers played a central role in guiding participants, ensuring smooth race operations, and creating a safe and seamless experience for all.Through the organization of the Half Marathon, the Qatar Olympic Committee continues to foster a culture of sports in Qatar, encouraging all community members to actively participate in physical activities, laying the foundation for a healthy, active, and socially cohesive society.

Trap competitions set to get underway at HH the Amir Grand Prix Shotgun Championship

Doha: The Trap competitions of the third edition of the HH the Amir Grand Prix Shotgun Championship will get underway tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Lusail Shooting Ranges, and will continue until 13 February, with the participation of 315 male and female shooters representing 38 countries.A total of 198 shooters are competing in the Trap event, while Team Qatar is represented in the championship by 52 shooters.Today’s programme featured the official training sessions for the Trap competition across the four categories: men, women, juniors, and youth.Shooters delivered strong performances during the training sessions, setting their sights on victory in the upcoming competition days and aiming for podium finishes. Among the prominent Qatari participants are Rashid Hamad Al-Athba, Khalifa Al-Attiyah, Nasser Al-Humaidi, Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, Angelo Scalzoni, Saud Ali Al-Athbi, Ali Al-Kuwari, Abdulaziz Al-Athba, Massoud Ali Al-Abda, Ali Rashid Al-Athbi, Hamad Ali Al-Abda, Saleh Al-Athba, Khuloud Al-Khalaf, Nawal Al-Khalaf, Amna Al-Abdullah, Meitha Al-Binali, and Ray Bassil.The Trap competition will be held tomorrow across five ranges in the four categories—men, women, juniors, and youth. Shooters will compete over 125 targets across two days: 75 targets on the first day divided into three rounds, and 50 targets on the second day divided into two rounds. The top eight shooters will advance to the final round to determine the top three finishers. The championship will conclude with the medal ceremony for the Trap competition on Thursday. 

HH the Amir participates in National Sport Day activities

Doha: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani took part in the National Sport Day activities held at Doha Golf Club on Tuesday morning.HH the Amir played golf alongside players from various age groups, as well as members of the national golf team, underscoring His Highness's keenness to support the practice of sport, foster a culture of physical activity, and encourage members of society to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. QNA