El Shorbagy, Momen set up a thrilling Qatar Classic final

DOHA, November 3, 2017-World No.3 Mohamed El Shorbagy will be aiming to clinch his third Qatar Classic title when he takes on Egyptian compatriot and World No.7 Tarek Momen in today's final of the $165m PSA World Series event at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.In yesterday's semi-final, Mohamed El Shorbagy, who lost in the final of the last edition, beat top seed and World No.1 Gregory Gaultier in straight games to reach the final the Qatar Classic for a fourth tournament in a row.In the second semi-final, Momen booked his place in his first ever World Series final as he beat Germany's Simon Rösner 3-0.The first semi-final between El Shorbagy and the Frenchman was a repeat of the 2015 final, which the Egyptian had won.The first two games were a touch and go affair. Gaultier erred when in crucial moments to give could El Shorbagy the lead and he grabbed it with both hands to take the first two games. In the third, the Egyptian romped through the third with Gaultier movements hampered by an injury.The pair have contested one of the most fierce rivalries on the PSA Tour and yesterday's match was an absorbing contest in the first two sets but turned into a no-contest in the third.From there, it was a procession as one point against an ailing Gaultier – making his first appearance of the season after recovering from an ankle injury – to earn his place in the final once again.“I'm really happy to be back in the final here, it's where I won my first ever World Series and to be back in my fourth consecutive final is an honour," said El Shorbagy.“Last season was tough, but if I want to come back to my World No.1 position again, I have to accept a lot of challenges. You have to accept playing through tough draws, you have to accept playing tough matches and backing them up," he said.The second semi-final was the sixth meeting between Momen and Rosner on the PSA World Tour with the German leading in the head-to-head standings 3-2, however, Momen made sure to change that as he produced a stellar performance in Doha.With both players looking to reach their first World Series final, it was Momen who dominated, taking a good lead in each of the games, and although Rosner closed the gap in the first two, there was no stopping Momen yesterday.The 29-year-old Momen - who had beaten Egypt's Mohamed Abouelghar, Australia's Cameron Pilley and England's Nick Matthew so far in the tournament – survived a late flurry from Rösner as the German looked to find a way back into the tournament. But it was too late as Momen was relentless to seal a 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 in 40 minutes.“I was on court and I didn't think I would get this emotional," Momen said after the match.“I have been waiting for this moment for so long but I'm not done here so I don't know why I'm crying – it's not over!“I'm really happy, I can't believe I'm in my first World Series final – it's amazing."“I've been doubting myself a lot the past few years but I always thought that I shouldn't be written off and I thought I always had the qualities to be here.“Here and there you lose faith but I was lucky enough to have the right people around me."“I just can't believe it's happening, I feel I have a good chance now to carry this form out throughout the rest of the season," he said.Momen is looking forward to the final against El Shorbagy.“We haven't played in a long time now, I think it's been about two years so I'm really looking forward to it," Momen said.

Local players shine in Asian Junior U-14 Tennis Tournament

DOHA, November 02, 2017 – The competitions of the prestigious Asian Junior Under 14 Tennis Tournament 2017 organized by the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton continued successfully at the Khalifa International Complex on Wednesday. In Wednesday's events, , Qatar's Ibrahim Al Sulaiti booked his spot in the last eight stage (single event), following a deserving two sets victory over Philippines's Yon Andre.On the same track of victory, Qatar's Rashid Nawaf reached the quarterfinals stage (single event), after defeating Syrian counterpart Oas Abo Hasoon in two sets.In the double event, Qatar's duo, Ghanem Al Kholaifi and Nasser Al Yafe cruised their way to the last eight stage, following a convincing 2-6, 4-6 victory over counterparts Athrai Anathram (India ) and Yon Andre (Philippines).

Gaultier to face ElShorbagy in Qatar Classic Squash Semifinals

DOHA, November 02, 2017 - Mohammed ElShorbagy emerged unscathed in an epic clash while world No.1 Gregory Gaultier marched on and Simon Rosner once again made history as the semi-finalists of the 2017 Qatar Classic were decided at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha on Wednesday.In all, six of the top eight seeds comprising three former champions and four Egyptians made it to the last-eight of the $165,000 total prize money event, the richest on the PSA World Series.The first match of the day between the two Egyptian giants Mohamed ElShorbagy, the third-seed, and fifth-seed Ali Farag was billed to be an epic encounter, and a classic it turned out to be with enough thrills and frills that will linger in the memories of all squash fans for a long time to come.With the last two meetings, US Open and VAS Championships, evenly split between the two Egyptians, the Doha clash was meant to provide the eventual winner the edge in their head-to-head stats.The high-octane five-game match, with all the trappings of a 'final before final', eventually went the way of ElShorbagy, the 2013 and 2015 champion, who narrowly edged his 25-year-old Harvard graduate opponent 3-2: 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 16-18, 11-8 in a scintillating 93 minutes, the second-longest of the tournament so far.ElShorbagy, the 2016 finalist, left no one in doubts of his ambition of emerging the first three-time winner in Doha at this year's tournament as he took the first two games under 15 minutes before a tired-looking Farag, who together with his wife Nour El Tayeb became the first couple in sporting history to win the same major singles title on same day in the same event at the US Open in Philadelphia two weeks ago, staged a dramatic comeback to take the match into a tiebreak.Farag momentarily carried the momentum of his late rally into the decider as he was initially ahead of his opponent before some repeated errors on his part allowed ElShorbagy put away the third of four match balls to book his semi-final berth."It was a huge and fair battle, it was 50/50, and I'm happy I'm getting through today. We push each other, he is so incredibly talented, so happy to get through,"El Shorbagy said after the match."He makes me train harder. He is very clever and he makes me have to think on my game so much and on how I can improve it. He is improving tournament by tournament and match by match but so am I. We bring out the best in each other,"he added.Farag said,"It is one of those matches you can only be proud to have been part of. But so very very disappointed. Still, if anything, it will make me work even harder for next time."Despite still recovering from ankle injury, the world No. 1 Gregory Gaultier of France booked a place in the last-four, where he is set to face Mohamed ElS horbagy, after strolling to a routine 3-0: 11/2, 11/7, 11/5 over his Peruvian opponent Diego Elias in the other match of the day.The 20-year-old Elias, who somehow became a giant-slayer after accounting for the first round exit of 2005 champion James Willstrop of England as well as India's number one player Saurav Ghosal in the second round, was eventually cut to size by the more experienced Frenchman who needed just 44 minutes to see his back in the one-sided encounter.Gaultier made it 30 matches unbeaten over a best-of-five games format after the 'French General' disposed of training partner and World No.14 Elias.The 34-year-old dominated the opening stages as he dropped just two points to go one game up after putting in some perfectly constructed rallies and very few errors.A day after sending the defending chammpion Karim Abdel Gawad packing, Germany's Simon Rosner recored"the biggest achievement of his life"after securing a World Series semis for the first time in his career on the back of a 3-1: 11/7, 9/11, 11/5, 11/3 win over sixth-seed Marwan ElShorbagy of Egypt in 53 minutes.The German, who entered into the main draw through the qualifiers, was all calm and composure, dropping only the second game as he once again scripted an impressive victory to book his place among the last-four in Doha.

Students interact with SOP Volleyball competitions

DOHA, November 02, 2017 – The volleyball competitions for boys preparatory schools have received an overwhelming response from participants and attendees at the prestigious Schools Olympic Program 2017 (SOP) at Volleyball Federation Indoor at Al-Arabi Club on Wednesday.In Wednesday's events, Hamza school led the competition standings, following their four victories and one defeat, as Ibn Khaldoon school managed in the second place and the third place went to Mohammed bin Jassim.In Wednesday's encounters, Hamza bin Abdulmotalib outclassed Al Shamal 2-0, while Mohammed bin Jassim defeated Abdalla Al Missned 2-0 and Ibn Khaldoon beat Abi Obaidah 2-0.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 team prepare for AFC Asian U-19 Championship Qualifiers

DOHA, November 02 , 2017 - Qatar U-19 football team intensified their training sessions on Wednesday , preparing for the upcoming 2018 AFC Under-19 Championship Qualifiers.The home side will begin its campaign in the AFC U-19 qualifiers on Monday when they lock horns against Lebanese counterparts in the Grand Hamad stadium of Al Arabi Sports Club.Qatari team also are due to shake hands with the Iraqi counterparts in the same venue and competition on Saturday.It is worth mentioning that the home team Qatar is pooled in group C in the Asian Qualifiers along with Iraq and Lebanon.

QTSBF to host three futures tournaments

DOHA, November 1, 2017- The Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) will host three futures tournaments in December 2017. Jabor Noah, Mousa Shanan and Mubarak Shanan will represent the state of Qatar in these events. Recently, the Qatari tennis team participated in two futures events in Tunisia where Mubarak and Mousa Shanan qualified to the semifinals of doubles event. Younes El Aynaoui, Coach of Qatar national team said that the futures tournaments enable the Qatari players gain more ranking points.