Stage set for Qatar Classic 2017

DOHA, October 29, 2017-World Number One Gregory Gaultier of France will lead a star cast of players appearing at this week's 2017 Qatar Classic to begin at the state-of-the-art Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Sunday. Tournament top seed Gaultier will open his account against Mexico's Cesar Salazar on the Centre Court on Sunday. Other top players in the tournament include two-time Qatar Classic champion Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt. El Shorbagy is a former world number one. Defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad - who stopped El Shorbagy in last year's final - will play Spain's Borja Golan on Sunday. Qatar's top player Abdulla Al Tamimi will open his account against Egypt's Fares Desouky for a place in the second round of the top six-day tournament. The total prize money is $165,000 with the winner taking home $24,225. The runners-up in Doha will get richer by $14,820. The tournament is being hosted by Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF).

Qatar’s Abujbara wins bronze in Arab Rowing Championships

Tunisia, October 29, 2017-Qatar's Tala Abujbara claimed the bronze medal of women's singles event at the 12th Arab Rowing Championships held in Tunisia. The event featured the participation of eight countries including; Qatar, Algeria, Djibouti, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan and hosts Tunisia. Tala Abujbara finished the race in the third place behind Khadija Karimi of Tunisia and Amina Roba of Algeria. Earlier, Tala Abujbara won the title of women's event at the GCC Rowing Championship held in Doha recently. Abdullah Al Sulaiti, President of the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation was delighted by the achievement and dedicated the medal to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

SOP Football competitions get underway

DOHA, October 29, 2017 – The football competitions (first and second levels) for boys primary schools at the new edition of the prestigious Schools Olympic Program (SOP) 2017 organized by the Qatar School Sports Federation (QSSF) got underway on Thursday.In group A (first level), Abdullah bin Zied Al Mahmoud school outclassed Kamal Nagi school 7-4, Malek bin Anas school defeated Abdullah bin Zeid Al Mahmoud 5-1 and also beat Kamal Nagi 2-0.In group B ( second level) Al Qadisiya and Abdullah bin Turki schools booked their spots in the last eight stage which will be held on Tuesday, corresponding November 7.In group C (third level), both Omar bin Khattab and Saoud bin Abdulrahman schools reached the quarterfinals stage, after securing the first and second places in their respective group.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.

Hamad al Qadi shines in Hathab second leg

DOHA, October 29, 2017-Upcoming and talented Hamad Nasser al Qadi continued to display his prowess in the ongoing Hathab equestrian series as the young rider once again claimed the top honours emerging best in the feature class of the Big Tour in the second competition which concluded at the indoor arena of Al Shaqab equestrian centre on Saturday.Qadi finished both first and second on different horses in the Big Tour Table A, Special Two Phases, Art. 274.5.6 (130/140cm) event. He won QR8,400 and QR6,900 respectively for his efforts.First, the 22-year-old Qadi rode the 12-year-old bay gelding SIEC Lonnie and logged the best time of 44.67secs with no faults to win the event.He then was astride on his own horse St Lucia, a 15-year-old grey mare, and was again impressive with zero faults in 45.21secs to complete the routine.The third place was clinched by Qatar Equestrian Federation's Saeed Nasser al Qadi, who on bay gelding DayDreamer EC needed 45.41secs which reflects how close the competition went.Thus far the best rider on show, Hamad al Qadi said the equestrian series is being a great learning experience."I'm thrilled with my results today. I got the first and second places, yesterday I had finished second and third. Overall, this puts me on top as I have accumulated the most points till now," he said.About the standard of the competition, Hamad said,"I have to say that all the riders today were strong competitors and well prepared. I'm really honoured to compete alongside these riders."He also had a word of praise for Faleh al Ajami, who finished 5th on Ulano."Faleh al Ajami has a great experience in such championships and I admire him. This competition was a great opportunity to share with well established national riders. I am already looking forward to the next competition," said Qadi.The Medium Tour One Round Against the Clock, Art. 238.2.1 (120/130cm) event was won by Saeed Nasser al Qadi, who rode chestnut gelding Jessico 4 with aplomb finishing effortlessly over all obstacles in 64.36secs.A distant second in 67.27secs was Al Shaqab's Mohammed Sultan al Suwaidi riding Numero Uno T. QEF's Bandar Mansoor al Hoban on Tagfart 111 Z was third (68.18secs) ahead of Faleh al Ajami on Casmir's Son (77.22secs).Amana, Saad excel in dressageQatar Equestrian Federation's Amana Ahmad al Saffar was top notch in her and her horse's show in the Level 1 Test A dressage event of Hathab competition 2.Dressage is described as 'the highest expression of horse training' where the horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements and Amana excelled in this.Performing with bay gelding Drum Mousse, Amana garnered 69.792 cumulative points to be declared the winner. She was rewarded QR2,800.The symphony of Amana and Drum Mousse was superb and the winner was delighted with the effort. "I'm very happy with my result. I would like to thank the organising committee for this great opportunity as this is the first national dressage competition series in Qatar," said Amana. Iris Nijboer, also of QEF, finished a close second on Wait and See Ze logging a total of 68.958 points. She won QR2,300.The third place was claimed by Al Shaqab's Jessica Waldon, who performed with Jacquard to total 68.750 points. He effort saw her win QR1,750.The dressage Level 2 Test A event was won by Saad Ahmed al Saad on Fito R. Mennatallah Hesham Mourad with Quick Dance was the runner-up, while Aisha Ahmed al Ahmadi on Juste D'Adaelle finished third.

Qatar defeat India 1-0 in U-19 Friendly

DOHA, October 29, 2017-Qatar U19 football team recorded a 1-0 victory over India in a friendly match held in Doha on Saturday. Khalid scored the goal for Qatar. The match was part of their preparations for the 2018 AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers. Qatar are placed in Group C in the Asian qualifiers along with Iraq and Lebanon and will kick off their campaign at home against Lebanon on November 6 followed by the match against Iraq, two days later. India have been clubbed with hosts Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Turkmenistan in Group D for the continental qualifiers.

Qatar Classic Squash qualifiers begins on Friday

DOHA, October 27, 2017 - The preliminary round of squash tournament Qatar Classic, organized by Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF), will kick off Friday at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex with a wide participation of internationally seeded players.The preliminary round lasts two days and will see eight players qualify to join 24 players and complete the line-up of 32 players. The first round of the tournament will kick off on Sunday.Qatari national team player Abdulla Al- Tamimi will participate in the first round through a wildcard, while six Qatari players were invited to take part in the preliminary rounds.Qatar Classic is one of the major events on the agenda of the international federation after being awarded the platinum status. It will see the participation of international squash stars, including Egypt's Mohamed El Shorbagy, England's Nick Matthew and Gregory Gaultier of France.Tariq Zeinal, QTSBF secretary general and tournament director, said the organising committee has finalised preparations ahead of the preliminary round, noting that QTSBF President Nasser Al Khelaifi, who is also the chairman of the organising committee, asked all tournament committees to achieve the same success that it achieves every year, especially as it attracts a selected group of world champions and seeded players who are keen to take part in the event and offer their best.Zeinal added that all tournament committees are fully ready to ensure an ideal edition of the event that would be praised by all followers, squash enthusiasts, and players.The QTSBF secretary general called on crowds to attend the tournament, which features world no. 1 Gaultier as well as three-time world champions Ramy Ashour of Egypt as well as his compatriots Karim Abdel Gawad and El Shorbagy, in addition to Matthew and other international superstars.The tournament has maintained its status in the agenda as it tops the season in terms of financial awards, which stand at nearly $165,000, a major increase on the previous edition. The winner of the event will be awarded $24,225 and the second will claim $14,820.However, it is not only the financial reward that give Qatar Classic such significance as the tournament secures substantial number of points for the winner, which helps players in improving their world ranking and, hence, qualifying for the final tournament of the season, which takes place next June.