Qatari Officials Strengthen International Presence in Regional Weightlifting Federations

DOHA -  Qatari sports officials continue to reinforce their influential presence within regional weightlifting bodies, following the appointment of Mr. Jassim Ibrahim Al-Mansouri, Secretary General of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, as Chairman of the Development Committee at both the West Asian Weightlifting Federation and the Arab Weightlifting Federation.In addition,  Mr. Khaled Abdulaziz Nabina, Assistant Secretary General of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, has been elected Chairman of the Athletes’ Committee of the Arab Weightlifting Federation. These appointments cover the electoral cycle from 2025 to 2029.The selections were made during the electoral meetings held in Doha in December 2025, reflecting the growing confidence in Qatari expertise and recognizing their strong administrative and technical capabilities, as well as their vital role in supporting the development of weightlifting at both regional and international levels.Qatari officials also enjoy a prominent presence within the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Mr. Jassim Al-Mansouri serves as a member of the Innovation and Development Committee, while  Mr. Khaled Nabina holds membership in the Governance Committee, for the same 2025–2029 term.This continued representation underscores the strategic approach adopted by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation in developing and empowering national talents, enabling them to contribute effectively to sports decision-making and to play an active role in development, governance, and athlete welfare committees efforts that support the future of the sport and enhance its standing across the region.These appointments further extend a series of achievements by Qatari professionals across continental and international federations, reinforcing Qatar’s position as an influential and trusted partner in advancing institutional sports governance and development worldwide. 

AFC U23 Asian Cup to Kick Off in Saudi Arabia Next Week

Riyadh: The seventh edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 will get underway next week in Saudi Arabia, with matches taking place in the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh from 6 to 24 January.The lineup of 16 teams has been completed following the qualification of 15 teams through the qualifiers held last September, joining hosts Saudi Arabia, who qualified automatically as the tournament hosts.The championship will feature all five previous title holders—Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan—who, along with Australia and Jordan, are the only seven teams to have appeared in all editions of the finals. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon will make their first-ever appearances in the tournament finals, bringing the total number of teams to have participated in the competition’s history to 27.King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah will host the opening match on 6 January, when Vietnam face Jordan in Group A. On the same day, Saudi Arabia, champions of the 2022 edition, will begin their quest for a second title at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium against Kyrgyzstan.Group B action will begin on 7 January, with defending champions Japan taking on Syria, followed later that day by Qatar’s opening match against the United Arab Emirates. Both teams are making their sixth appearance in the finals.Qatar will be aiming to surpass their previous best achievement of finishing third in 2018, while the UAE’s best performances came with quarterfinal appearances in 2013, 2016, and 2020.Group C matches will also get underway on 7 January, with the Republic of Korea facing Iran, followed by Uzbekistan’s clash with Lebanon.The opening round will conclude on 8 January with two Group D matches, as Australia take on Thailand in the first game, followed by Iraq’s encounter with China in the second. 

Qatar Handball Team Lose Friendly Match to Belarus

Doha: The Qatar national handball team suffered a narrow 18–17 defeat against their Belarusian counterparts in a friendly match played today, as part of the team’s preparations for the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, scheduled to take place in Kuwait from 15 to 26 January. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany.The Qatari team are set to play one final friendly match against the UAE national team next week before departing for Kuwait to take part in the Asian Championship.Earlier, the Qatari side played a friendly match last Saturday against Iraq, winning 33–23. Prior to that, they faced Saudi Arabia twice, losing the first match 26–25 before bouncing back with a 31–25 victory in the second encounter.Through these friendly matches, the Qatar national team aim to reach peak readiness ahead of the Asian Championship. The draw placed Qatar in Group A alongside South Korea and Oman. Group B includes Bahrain, Iraq, China, and Jordan, while Group C features Kuwait, the UAE, Hong Kong, and India. Group D comprises Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.The top two teams from each group will advance to the main round, which will feature eight teams divided into two groups playing a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, in addition to securing direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.The Qatar national handball team are seeking to defend their Asian title, which they have won in the past six editions, and to qualify for the World Championship for the 11th time in their history. Their best-ever finish at the World Championship came in the 2015 edition hosted in Qatar, where they finished as runners-up.Qatar were crowned champions of the most recent 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship, held in Bahrain last year, after defeating Japan 30–24 in the final. 

FIVB names Qatar Beach Volleyball Duo World's Best for 2025

Lausanne - Qatar’s beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have been crowned the world’s best men’s beach volleyball team for 2025, following an exceptional season that confirmed their dominance on the global stage.In an official statement released on sunday, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced the selection of the Qatari duo in recognition of their outstanding performances across the world’s most prestigious tournaments throughout the year.The FIVB highlighted the perfect balance within the Qatari partnership, praising Younousse’s commanding presence at the net alongside Tijan’s outstanding defensive brilliance. This formidable combination propelled the duo to a landmark season, playing a decisive role in Qatar’s haul of four gold medals and firmly establishing them among the elite of world beach volleyball.Describing Qatar’s 2025 beach volleyball campaign as “remarkable,” the federation noted that Younousse and Tijan consistently delivered world-class performances, advancing deep into the latter stages of the Beach Pro Tour events. Their success, the FIVB said, reflected peak athletic condition, tactical intelligence, and exceptional physical power—further enhancing Qatar’s growing reputation on the international volleyball scene.During the 2025 season, the Qatari pair captured four international gold medals at Beach Pro Tour stops in Xiamen (China), Gstaad (Switzerland), New York (United States), and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), sealing a historic year for Qatar beach volleyball. 

Qatar Handball team set for Friendly match Against Belarus on Monday

DOHA  – The Qatari men’s handball team is set for a crucial test when it faces Belarus on Monday at Duhail Sports Hall, in a friendly encounter forming part of its final preparations for the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship.The continental showpiece will be staged in Kuwait from January 15 to 26, 2026, and will serve as a qualification pathway to the 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany, adding further importance to every preparatory step.Qatar has already shown encouraging form during its build-up campaign, recording a convincing 33–23 victory over Iraq on Saturday. The team also contested two high-intensity friendlies against Saudi Arabia, narrowly losing the first match 26–25 before responding with an emphatic 31–25 win in the second.These matches are aimed at sharpening match fitness and tactical cohesion as Qatar seeks peak readiness for the Asian Championship. The draw has placed Qatar in Group A, alongside South Korea and Oman, while Group B features Bahrain, Iraq, China, and Jordan. Group C includes Kuwait, the UAE, Hong Kong, and India, with Group D comprising Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.The top two teams from each group will progress to the main round, where eight teams will compete in a round-robin format. The leading two sides from the main round will advance to the semifinals and secure direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.Qatar enters the tournament with its sights firmly set on extending its continental dominance, having captured the Asian title in the last six editions. The team is also aiming to qualify for the World Men’s Handball Championship for the 11th time in its history, with its runner-up finish at the 2015 edition hosted in Qatar remaining its best-ever result on the global stage.The Qatari side arrives in Kuwait as the reigning Asian champion, having claimed the 21st edition of the tournament in Bahrain in 2024 with a commanding 30–24 victory over Japan in the final.  

Team Qatar clinch U-16 team and individual gold at Gulf Golf Championship

Muscat: Qatar’s national golf team claimed both the team and individual titles in the under-16 category at the Gulf Golf Championship, held at Ghala Golf Club in Muscat, Oman.The youngsters delivered a consistent performance over three days to finish top of the team standings with a total score of +51 in one of the most competitive junior editions of the championship. Bahrain placed second after a close contest that went down to the final rounds, posting +59, while the United Arab Emirates finished third on +67.In the individual event, Qatar’s Daniel Sokolov stole the spotlight with a commanding display, securing the gold medal with an impressive overall score of -6. Sokolov finished well clear of his nearest challengers, underlining his promise and potential at both regional and continental levels.Bahrain’s Khalid Sadeeq took second place on +26, with Oman’s Mohib al-Kathiri claiming third at +31. The Gulf Junior Golf Championship is regarded as a key event on the GCC sporting calendar, playing an important role in identifying and nurturing young talent and preparing future national team players. Ghala Golf Club, one of the region’s most renowned courses, added a technical edge to the competition with a layout that demands precision and consistency.Qatar Golf Association president and head of the Qatari delegation Hamad Abdullah al-Mana expressed pride in the achievement. Al-Mana added that the result reflects the QGA’s continued commitment to junior development and its long-term strategy of building competitive national teams capable of achieving success at Gulf, regional and international levels.