Qatar U20 Football Team Defeat Hong Kong in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

Doha: Qatar’s U20 football team secured their first victory in the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers after defeating Hong Kong 3–0 at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Thursday in their second Group E match.Qatar took control from the outset and opened the scoring through Ahmed Adel Al Sayed in the 10th minute, before Omar Ali doubled the lead seven minutes later.Yazan Mohammed added Qatar’s third goal in first-half stoppage time to put the hosts firmly in control and seal their first win of the qualifying campaign.In the other Group E match, Saudi Arabia recorded their second consecutive victory with a 3–2 win over Oman, moving to the top of the group with six points from two matches. Qatar and Oman have three points each, while Hong Kong remain without a point.The opening round saw Oman defeat Qatar 2–1, while Saudi Arabia claimed a 2–0 victory over Hong Kong.The third and final round of Group E matches will take place on Sunday, with Qatar facing Saudi Arabia and Oman taking on Hong Kong.The winners of each of the eight qualifying groups, along with the seven best runners-up, will advance to the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 in China. 

Qatar Beach Volleyball Teams Begin Asian Championship Campaign in China

Shangluo, China: Qatar’s two beach volleyball teams began their campaigns at the 2026 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship, currently underway in Shangluo, China, and continuing until September 6, with 24 teams from across Asia and Oceania taking part.Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan made a winning start in Pool B, defeating Malaysia’s Teh and Yong Jian 2–0 (21–8, 21–5). Meanwhile, Mousa Al Khair and Mohammed Ehab Zaki lost their opening Pool F match to China’s Wang and Du Hongjun 2–0 (21–12, 21–12).Cherif and Tijan will continue their pool-stage campaign against New Zealand’s Sam and Ben O’Dea, before facing Thailand’s Nitithorn and Poravid, as they look to maintain their winning start and secure a place in the knockout rounds.In Pool F, Al Khair and Ehab will next face Thailand’s Pitak and Watchirawit, before taking on Hong Kong’s Lee and Lee.The championship features 24 teams divided into six pools of four, with each pool played in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each pool, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance directly to the Round of 16. The remaining four third-placed teams will contest playoffs for the final two places in the knockout stage.The knockout rounds begin on September 4 with the playoffs and Round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals on September 5. The bronze-medal match and final will take place on September 6 at the central court of the Shangluo Sports Complex.Cherif and Tijan enter the championship with an impressive record of achievements, including bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and fourth place at Paris 2024, as well as three Asian titles and two Asian Games gold medals. Most recently, the pair claimed gold at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games in April.Al Khair and Ehab, meanwhile, arrive in China following a series of strong performances, highlighted by a silver medal in the second and final round of the West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Batroun, Lebanon, last month.The 2026 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship represents an important part of the participating teams’ preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the qualification pathway towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Qatar Olympic Committee Honours 102 Employees at “Journey & Achievement Ceremony 2026”

Doha: In the presence of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the QOC held its “Journey & Achievement Ceremony 2026” today at its headquarters, celebrating its employees and recognising their dedication, outstanding performance and commitment to continuous learning and development.The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; and H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, along with a number of QOC department directors.H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani honoured 102 QOC employees, including 30 recipients of the Appreciation, Excellence, Incentive and “Ambition” awards, as well as 72 graduates of the 2025 development programmes.The Appreciation Award comprised two categories: employees who have completed 25 years or more of service, in recognition of their longstanding dedication, loyalty and contributions to the QOC’s journey; and retired employees who concluded their careers after years of service and achievement, in appreciation of their efforts and contributions throughout their time at the QOC.The Excellence Award featured three categories: Supervisory Positions, Specialist Category and Employee Category, recognising employees who demonstrated outstanding leadership and team management, professional and specialised competence, high-quality performance, and a continued commitment to developing their skills and professional capabilities.The Incentive Awards comprised five categories: Job Commitment Award, Initiative Award, Cooperation and Teamwork Award, Distinguished Team Leader Award, and Effective Participation in Organising Sports Events Award. The awards recognised employees who demonstrated outstanding commitment, initiative, collaboration and leadership, as well as those who made notable contributions to the successful organisation of sporting events.The QOC also honoured seven employees with the “Ambition” Award, which is presented to employees who obtained academic qualifications during 2025, in recognition of their ambition and commitment to continuing their education and developing their academic and professional capabilities in ways that benefit the QOC.The ceremony also recognised 72 employees who graduated from five development programmes in 2025. These included 12 graduates of the Leadership Excellence Programme, 15 from the Sports Events Organising Cadres Programme, 15 from the Competencies Programme, 15 from the Tawasol Programme and 15 from the Artificial Intelligence Programme.The programmes aim to develop the leadership and professional capabilities of QOC employees, prepare and qualify the next generation of leaders, and develop qualified personnel capable of managing and organising sporting events efficiently and professionally. They also seek to strengthen institutional communication skills and promote the effective use of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace to support digital transformation and enhance institutional performance.The Tawasol and Artificial Intelligence programmes were recently introduced under the direction of H.E. the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. The Tawasul Programme focuses on developing employees’ institutional communication skills, strengthening their ability to build effective professional relationships and represent the QOC professionally at local and international forums. The Artificial Intelligence Programme aims to equip employees with the skills to utilise artificial intelligence tools in the workplace.Maryam Al Kuwari: Creativity is a culture and a practice in the workplaceMs. Maryam Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, Director of Human Resources and Administrative Affairs at the Qatar Olympic Committee, said that the “Journey & Achievement 2026” ceremony provides an opportunity to recognise the efforts of QOC employees and celebrate examples of dedication, excellence and ambition, noting that every achievement is underpinned by a journey of hard work, commitment and development.She said: “Every year, through ‘Journey & Achievement’, we seek to highlight a value that we want to embed in our daily practices and workplace culture. This year, we have chosen ‘Creativity’, reflecting our belief that organisations looking to the future do not simply repeat what has worked in the past, but continuously seek better ways of working and developing.”Al Kuwari highlighted the QOC’s commitment to attracting outstanding talent from leading universities, with a focus on specialised fields that align with the Committee’s current and future needs. She noted that over the past three years, the QOC has recruited 98 employees, including talented professionals and graduates from leading universities, across specialised fields including sports management, information systems, law, finance and accounting, marketing and communications, among others.She added that the QOC has witnessed a significant increase in women’s participation in its workforce in recent years, with women now accounting for 42% of the QOC’s total workforce, alongside increased female representation in supervisory and leadership positions.Al Kuwari added that the QOC’s responsibility does not end with attracting talent, but extends to developing and investing in its employees. She noted that the QOC began its development programme journey in 2019 with just one programme, and today, thanks to the continued support and guidance of the QOC’s senior leadership, it has five specialised development programmes: the Sports Events Organising Cadres Programme, Competencies Programme, Leadership Excellence Programme, Artificial Intelligence Programme and Tawasol Programme.She explained that 277 employees from across the QOC’s departments have graduated from the five development programmes since their launch. In addition, nearly 100 training courses and awareness, educational and learning programmes were delivered in 2025, benefiting approximately 1,000 employees from QOC departments, sports federations and committees.Al Kuwari also highlighted the importance of the Artificial Intelligence Programme in developing employees’ ability to effectively utilise AI technologies and tools in the workplace, helping to improve productivity, enhance working methods and identify more efficient and innovative solutions. 

Team Qatar to Compete in West Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship in Jordan

Doha: Qatar’s women’s national volleyball team will compete in the third edition of the West Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, to be held in Amman, Jordan, from September 3 to 7, with Qatar, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon taking part.The Qatari delegation will depart for Amman on Tuesday ahead of the championship, where Team Qatar will be aiming to achieve positive results, challenge for the title and secure qualification for the 2027 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship.Qatar will open their campaign against hosts Jordan on Thursday, September 3, at 6:00 PM in the second match of the opening day, following the Lebanon-Iraq encounter at 4:00 PM.In the second round on Saturday, September 5, Qatar will face Iraq at 4:00 PM, before Jordan take on Lebanon at 6:00 PM.Team Qatar will conclude their campaign against Lebanon on Monday, September 7, at 4:00 PM, while Jordan face Iraq at 6:00 PM in the final match of the championship.The tournament will be played in a single round-robin format, with each team playing three matches. The team with the most victories at the end of the competition will be crowned champions, while the winners will also secure direct qualification for the 2027 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled for June next year.The Qatari delegation includes the technical, administrative and medical staff, along with 12 players. The team are led by Argentine head coach Lucas Carolo, assisted by Nahuel Alejandro, with Nicolas Vazquez serving as fitness coach, Fatima Al Asaad as physiotherapist and Ghadeer Issam as team administrator.Qatar’s squad comprises Dana Saber, Somaya Yahya, Ladan Al Waleed, Tasneem Yasser, Lamis Abdulrahman, Al Mayassa Diab, Bendaa Fatima Ibrahim, Damla Yagmur, Maryam Ammar, Nelly Amr, Lujain Mahmoud and Shadia Yasser.The West Asian Volleyball Association previously conducted the championship draw virtually from Doha in the presence of Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the West Asian Volleyball Association; Yousef Ahmed Kanoo, Treasurer of the Association; Pascale Al Kassouf of Lebanon, Chair of the Championship Control Committee; and representatives of the participating national federations.The participating teams and delegations are scheduled to arrive in Amman on Tuesday, with preliminary team formalities taking place on Wednesday ahead of the start of competition on Thursday. The delegations will depart Jordan on September 8.

Team Qatar lose to Japan in 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers

Tokyo: The Qatar men's national basketball team suffered a 123-70 defeat against Japan in Tokyo on Monday during the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.The quarter-by-quarter breakdown favored the hosts: 29-11, 24-23, 40-11, and 30-25.With the victory, Japan brought their points total to 14 in Group F, while Qatar sit at 12 points. Group F also features China, Lebanon, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, with fierce competition underway for advancement to the next stage.Qatar is participating in the qualifiers as the host nation for the 2027 World Cup, securing an automatic berth in the tournament. While its match outcomes count in the standings, Qatar is excluded from the final group ranking. Under the tournament format, the top three teams from each group advance alongside the best fourth-place finisher. Qatar's participation aims to build competitiveness and gain valuable experience against the continent's top squads as part of its preparations for the global showcase.Qatar continues its second-round campaign by hosting South Korea in Doha on November 26, followed by a rematch against Japan in Doha on November 29.

Unbeaten Qatar win Asian U19 Handball Championship in Amman

Doha: Qatar clinched the Asian Under-19 Handball Championship title defeating Bahrain 28-24 in the final in Amman, Jordan on Monday.Qatar dominated from the outset, taking a 16-10 lead into half-time before maintaining their control in the second half to seal the title with a four-goal victory.The champions had reached the final with a 32-28 win over South Korea in the semi-finals, while Bahrain advanced after beating  Iran 26-23.Qatar remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, finishing top of Group B with eight points after victories over Saudi Arabia (30-22), Kuwait (30-19), Iran (24-22) and Syria (42-29).They then thrashed hosts Jordan 33-13 in the quarter-finals before overcoming South Korea in the last four.The continental triumph also secured Qatar’s qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in North Macedonia, marking the seventh time the team has reached the global tournament.