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.

Fares Ahmed wins 15 medals for Qatar

Doha: Qatar’s Fares Ahmed Jaber yesterday stunned weightlifting fans by winning a staggering tally of 15 medals - 12 gold and 3 silver - on the final day of the 10th Qatar International Cup, an event that also included the Arab and the West Asian Championships.Overall the Qatari weightlifting team concluded its memorable participation in the combined championships, which included the 10th Qatar International Cup, the Arab Championship for Youth, Junior, and Senior categories, and the West Asian Championship, held at the Ezdan Palace Hotel.The event saw wide participation from over 25 countries and more than 250 athletes.The Qatari weightlifting team achieved a remarkable feat by winning 24 medals, including 21 gold and 3 silver medals, distributed between the team’s stars Fares and Ouissal Ikhlef.Fares yesterday excelled in various age categories, cementing his status as one of the most promising rising talents regionally and internationally.In the Qatar International Cup, the 110kg weight class witnessed fierce competition, with Fares securing the silver medal in the clean and jerk by lifting 201kg in a thrilling battle against a field of elite international weightlifters.Uzbek weightlifter Hasanbayev Davranbek won gold in both the snatch and total, while Saudi Arabia’s Ali Ahmed Alkhazal claimed gold in the clean and jerk.Fares continued his impressive performance in the Arab Championships, winning silver in the men’s clean and jerk, in addition to three gold medals in the youth and junior categories, dominating the snatch, clean and jerk, and total, achieving remarkable results.In the West Asian Championships, Fares won three gold medals in the youth category, in addition to new gold medals in the junior category, making him one of the most decorated weightlifters and leading Qatar’s participation successfully.Earlier on Thursday, Qatar’s Ikhlef achieved a historic feat by winning nine gold medals in the same combined championships.Ikhlef delivered an outstanding performance, lifting 116kg in the snatch, 161kg in the clean and jerk, and a total weight of 277kg, reflecting her development and technical prowess.Fares said yesterday: “I look forward to winning more laurels for the country in the coming months, raising Qatar’s name high in regional and international arenas. I will continue to work hard to achieve my ambitions and the ambitions of the sport in the future.”Mohammed bin Yousef al-Mana, President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation (QWF), praised the support of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).Al-Mana told reporters the QOC president is the main driving force behind Qatar achieving the ‘amazing results’.Al-Mana said: “We dedicate this great achievement to our wise leadership, in appreciation of their continuous support and keen interest in developing Qatari sports, which has enabled our champions to achieve the best results.This achievement reflects the development of weightlifting in Qatar and the success of our training programs and the technical and administrative support we provide.”Al-Mana added: “We will continue to support and develop Qatari weightlifters and work on preparing future champions. Doing this will enhance Qatar’s position on the international sports map.”We are delighted with the performances of Qatari lifters: Al-MansouriJassim Ibrahim al-Mansouri, Secretary-General of QWF, praised the achievement of weightlifter Fares and Ikhlef, emphasising that their success reflects the systematic approach adopted by the Federation.Al-Mansouri said: “Fares Jaber’s achievement of winning 15 medals in the combined championships is a great accomplishment for Qatari weightlifting and shows we possess promising talent capable of competing internationally.”He added: “The results achieved by our athletes in the Qatar International Cup, the Arab Championship, and the West Asian Championship are the fruit of sound planning and comprehensive preparation programs of the Federation, with the support and follow-up of the Board of Directors, chaired by His Excellency Mohammed bin Yousef al-Mana.”He continued: “At the Federation, we place great importance on developing youth categories as they are the foundation for building future champions for Qatar.Fares is a shining example of a disciplined and ambitious player, capable of representing Qatar in the best possible way in upcoming competitions, in the region and internationally.” 

Qatar shooters wrap Arab Championship campaign with 12 medals

Muscat: Qatar shooters ended their campaign at the Arab Pistol and Rifle Championship in Muscat with a haul of 12 medals - two gold, three silver, and seven bronze.The championship held over seven days, featured 141 male and female shooters representing 14 countries.On Thursday, Qatar won a bronze medal in the men’s team event for the 25-meter center-fire pistol with Mohammed Abdul Mohsen, Abdullah Al Obaidli, and Mohammed Al Yafai excelling.The Qatar shooting team participated with a delegation of 17 shooters (men, women, juniors, and junior women) competing in both rifle and pistol events.The delegation was headed by Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Aji, Executive Director of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) and Head of the Rifle and Pistol Department within the Federation.Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti, Secretary-General of QSAA, expressed his delight at the achievement of Qatari shooters at the championship.“Today we are experiencing a moment of pride and honour with the results achieved by our champion shooters, both men and women, who raised Qatar’s name high in a prestigious Arab event by winning 12 medals. These are not just numbers; they are a testament to the sound planning and strong will of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association, headed by Dr. Meshaal Ibrahim Al Nasr.” He said.He added: “These honourable results are the culmination of a journey of development and preparation, and confirm that Qatari shooting is on the right path towards achieving its regional and international goals. They are also the fruit of the shooters’ hard work and dedication, the unlimited support of the Federation, and a testament to the advancement of Qatari shooting and its ability to compete honorably in Arab, continental, and international arenas. 

Team Qatar Weightlifter Ouisal Ikhlef shines with 9 gold medals

Doha: Team Qatar weightlifter Ouisal Ikhlef delivered an outstanding performance on the sixth day of competition at the combined championships, which include the 10th Qatar International Weightlifting Cup 2025, the Arab Weightlifting Championship for Youth, Juniors and Seniors, and the West Asian Championship for the same age categories. The events are organized by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation and conclude tomorrow, Friday.Ikhlef claimed an impressive nine gold medals in the +86kg category, securing three golds at each of the three championships: the Qatar International Cup, the Arab Championship, and the West Asian Championship.In the Qatar International Cup, the Qatari weightlifter produced a remarkable showing across all lifts, recording 116kg in the snatch, 161kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 277kg.Ikhlef topped the +86kg category ahead of Thailand’s Supatchanin Khamheng, who collected three silver medals with lifts of 111kg (snatch), 146kg (clean and jerk), and a total of 257kg, while South Korea’s Lee Hyun claimed three bronze medals after lifting 101kg, 125kg, and a total of 226kg.At the Arab Championship, Ikhlef outperformed Algeria’s Amina Mamoun Yahya, who earned three silver medals with lifts of 102kg (snatch), 129kg (clean and jerk), and a total of 231kg, as well as Egypt’s Shams Mohamed Ahmed, who secured three bronze medals with lifts of 101kg, 128kg, and a total of 229kg.In the West Asian Championship, the Qatari lifter completed a clean sweep of three gold medals, facing no serious challenge after delivering outstanding numbers—most notably in the clean and jerk, where she lifted 161kg, surpassing her previous personal best of 160kg.