SOP football competitions enter crucial stages

DOHA, November 9, 2017 - The football competitions at the prestigious Schools Olympic Program (SOP) 2017 had entered the knockout stage in different educational levels.The qualifying primary schools are due to play the knockout stage on December 11 at the playgrounds of Aspire Academy.It is worth mentioning that eight primary schools had confidently booked their spots in the second stage (knockout stage) including Umm Slal, Arabian Gulf, Saad bin Abi Waqas, Al Mothana bin Haritha, Abi Haneefa model school, Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmood and Al Wafa.An estimated 214 boys schools (including 119 government schools and 98 private schools) along with 186 girls schools (105 government schools and 81 private schools) are participating in this edition.The SOP is held annually as a collaborative effort of Qatar School Sports Federation (QSSF) and Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with hundreds of student athletes competing from all over Qatar. The SOP committee aims to spread a culture of sports throughout Qatar's schools and to engage the entire community in active and healthy lifestyles while retaining local values and traditions.

Qatar beat Iraq in penalty shoot-out to make AFC U-19 Championship

DOHA, November 9, 2017 - Midfielder Nasser Alahrak saved the thrilling game-winning penalty as Qatar booked a place in the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship in Indonesia defeating Iraq 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Al Arabi Stadium here on Wednesday.With both teams tied at 1-1 after normal time and level on points and goals in Group C, a shoot-out was needed to decide the winner. Shehab produced two stunning saves from the spot but was surprisingly shown a second yellow after saving his second penalty. Nasser stepped in goal and produced a stunning save with his right leg from Iraq's Muntadher Mohammed to send the crowd into wild celebrations. Iraq also qualify as one of the best five runners-up.Iraq dominated early proceedings and Qatar goalie Shehab Mamdouh had a jittery start, making hard work of simple catches. Iraq dominated and almost went ahead Qatar failed to deal with a corner kick which fell to Saif Halid whose right foot volley cannoned off the cross bar. The hosts finally opened up the Iraqi defence as striker Abdulrasheed Umaru beat his marker with pace only for Nasser Alahrak to see his shot blocked.Despite Iraq's attack, Qatar took the lead on the stroke of half time through Abdulla Nasser. With two minutes added time, the home side won a freekick just outside the box. Mohammed Waad's shot from the set-piece was deflected into the path of Umaru who crossed in for an easy tap in by the onrushing Abdulla Nasser. Iraq began the second half in search for an equaliser which they finally drew level from the spot as goalkeeper Shehab Mamdouh brought down Mohammed Dawood in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Shehab got a yellow card for his troubles. Dawood slotted home despite Shehab guessing the right way.The young Maroons had a chance to win in it in regular time but Umaru missed perhaps the best opportunity of the night. The young striker latched on to a loose ball fumbled by Iraq's Ali Jabbar, but his first touch took him wide off the post and Jabbar recovered quick enough to parry out to safety.At the final whistle, both coaches picked their spot kick takers and Iraq won the toss to go first. Shehab saved the first penalty from Mundather Abdulsada to give Qatar the edge. The next four kicks were tucked in nicely until Khaled Mohd missed the third for the hosts. Mohd Jalil failed to score for Iraq from the spot and Qatar had a chance to win. Shehab saved but the referee spotted the young goalie out of the line, flashing a second yellow for protesting. Nasser stepped stepped in goal and produced a brilliant save to win the game. On Nasser's penalty heroics, Qatar coach Bruno Miguel said,"With players, you have to let them feel the rhythm and Nasser was in the flow of the game. He insisted he was ready to be in goal and he came up with a big save for us."

Art and Sport exhibition to begin on the sidelines of Global Champions Tour Final

DOHA, November 9, 2017 – The events of “Art and Sport exhibition" will get underway in the closing scene of the Longines Global Champions Tour Final 2017 scheduled to take place from 9-11 November in Doha.The prestigious exhibition will see the works of two brilliant artists, the Cuban Joan Aerial and the Qatari Ali Al Nimah. The exhibition is open for fans during the championship.This exhibition is among a group of accompanying events staged by the organizing committee aiming to ensure the interaction of the community members with the championship.

World's 17 best showjumpers to battle for podium at Al Shaqab

DOHA, November 9, 2017 - The stunning and one of the world's finest equestrian centre Al Shaqab in Doha was set up by HH Father Emir in 1992 to preserve and promote the heritage of Arabian horses and horsemanship. The pristine venue has now completed a memorable 25 years and on the occasion of its silver jubilee the final leg of the 2017 Longines Global Champions (LGCT) Tour and Global Champions League (GCL) showjumping competition will form the backdrop for the celebrations from November 9 to 11 at the 980,000 square-metre large and horseshoe shaped venue. The finale of LGCT and GCL which arrives in Qatar after visiting top 14 cities of the world has attracted an unbelievable high quality field of 17 of the top 20 riders in the world of showjumping and they are all set for the podium battles at Al Shaqab.The outstanding line up of star riders and horses promises to deliver a scintillating contest. Addressing the media at Al Shaqab ahead of the three-day event, LGCT President and GCL Co-Founder Jan Tops said,"Through the years, and especially this year, the best riders in the world prepare their horses for these events. Now we are at the final of the season and the riders have their best horses here. The statistics speak for themselves. "It is great to be here at this special place. Qatar works very hard to promote the heritage of the horse and on the development of the sport to a high level, which we have seen on an Olympic level."Al Shaqab is not only a magnificent place, but it is very horse-friendly; the footing is great, the stabling is the best condition - it's an example for every event. That is why we love to be here in Qatar."Omar K. al Mannai, Al Shaqab's Event Director, thanked Tops for his belief in the potential in Qatar and Al Shaqab as a venue. "As part of Qatar National Vision 2030 we believe Qatar has become a sports hub and the Global Champions Tour supports this by bringing the top riders and horses. We are engaging with the community with our activities and engaging them about our tradition and heritage. "Al Shaqab was built in 1992 to build on the heritage and to increase awareness about the Arabian horses in Qatar and the Arabian people's love for horsemanship. By 2004 Al Shaqab also became a hub for equestrian education. We are now focusing more on the young generation to give them the right education. We are also helping young riders learn horsemanship and to excel at the international level," said Mannai.With only 17 points separating the five top athletes, who can win the remaining podium places in the LGCT Championship, the battle will be intense. Marco Danese, LGCT and GCL Sports Director, said,"It will be a big battle. We have 17 out of the top 20 best riders in the world here and five of them are fighting to be on the podium. The battle is open. For sure they are here to be on the podium, it is the goal of the season."Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands will be crowned LGCT Champion of 2017 after he won the title at the previous event in Rome leaving a ferocious fight among the contenders for second and third place in the overall series. GCL teams will be in hot contention with Round 1 from Thursday and the final on Saturday afternoon. Hamburg Diamonds and Valkenswaard United are head to head for the overall championship title and five other teams are challenging for the other podium places. Eighteen teams have competed in the GCL this year tactically fielding top rider and horse combinations to get the edge ahead of their rivals in the championship.Qatar heroes Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammed will be in action in the individual LGCT competitions and riding for home team Doha Fursan Qatar in the Global Champions League. National riders will be able to watch the leading Qatari riders in action at the impressively floodlit arena. Speaking about the progress of the top Qatari riders like Sheikh Ali, who finished 6th in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Jan Tops said,"If I see the progress made since five years ago, it has been incredible and I hope we can make some steps forward again for the next Olympics. And it is important to develop the next generation and give them experience and get them ready for the next four to eight years and more."On the occasion of its 25th anniversary Al Shaqab will be welcoming international guests and local dignitaries and also showcasing its Riding Academy.

Qatar defeat Kazakhstan in ITF Asian U12 Team Championship

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 08, 2017 – The Qatar junior's tennis team recorded a deserving 2-1 over hosts Kazakhstan in their second encounter of the ITF Asian U12 Team Championship finals 2017 held in Astana, Kazakhstan on Tuesday.Qatar team consists of players Mishari, Rashid Nawaf, Naser Al Yafe, Mishaal Al Khanji, Adel Ghanem accompanied by the technical staff members and head of the delegation Mr. Ahmed Al Obaidely.The participating teams were distributed into two groups, Qatar team is pooled together with Kazakhstan, Nepal, Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong.The prestigious event is bringing together (boys and girls) and will last until November 11. Qatar team opened its campaign in the championship earlier on Tuesday with a convincing 2-1 victory over Bangladesh.

Qatar team book place in Arab Beach Volleyball Championship Semifinals

OMAN , November 08 , 2017 – Qatar team (A) consists of Ahmed Tijan and Sherif Younis reached the last four stage of the 26th edition of Arab's Men Beach Volleyball Championships 2017, following their 2-0 victory over Yemen team A in Muscat on Tuesday .Qatar team A made impressive performance to defeat Yemen (21-7 and 21-9). Qatar team A will shake hands with hosts Oman team B in the semifinals clash on Thursday.Qatar team (A) is pooled in group A alongside with Yemen team (A) , Jordan team (B) and Oman team (A).While Group B includes, Qatar team (B), Bahrain (A), Morocco, as group C bringing together Sudan, Bahrain (B), Yemen (B) and Group D includes Lebanon, Jordan (A), Oman (B).