Qatar Ranked Sixth in Asia and Fifth Among Arab Nations in Latest FIFA World Standings

DOHA - Qatar’s national football team has slipped three places to 54th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, settling at sixth among Asian teams and fifth among Arab nations with a total of 1,454.96 points.The dip follows a challenging campaign at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, where the defending Asian champions exited at the group stage after defeats to Palestine and Tunisia, along with a draw against Syria.Yet, beyond the setback lies a landmark achievement. Qatar successfully secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the Asian play-offs an historic first via the qualification route, after their automatic entry as tournament hosts in the 2022 edition.At the summit of world football, Spain continue to lead the global rankings, ahead of Argentina and France, with no changes among the top 33 teams. Regionally, Morocco stands tall as the highest-ranked Arab nation, climbing to 11th worldwide after lifting the Arab Cup, while Japan remain Asia’s top-ranked side at 18th.Among other Arab teams, Algeria sit 34th, followed closely by Egypt in 35th place, and Tunisia in 41st, underscoring the growing competitiveness of Arab football on the international stage. 

Qatar International Cup, Arab and West Asia Weightlifting Championships Continue in Doha

Doha: Competitions continued today at the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025 for Weightlifting, alongside the Arab Weightlifting Championship for youth, juniors and seniors, and the West Asia Weightlifting Championship for the same age categories. All three events are organized by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation and will run until 27 December.The second day of competition witnessed strong and highly competitive performances across the three championships, in various weight categories and across senior, youth and junior divisions.Arab Championship – 65kg CategoryIn the men’s competition, Saudi lifter Siraj Al-Sulaim claimed three gold medals, winning gold in the snatch with a lift of 129kg, gold in the clean and jerk with 166kg, and gold in the total with 295kg.Syrian lifter Jaafar Miya won two silver medals in the clean and jerk (146kg) and total (255kg), while Tunisian lifter Amin Bouhajba secured silver in the snatch with 117kg.Egyptian lifter Sadeq Mahmoud collected three bronze medals in the snatch (113kg), clean and jerk (138kg), and total (251kg).In the youth category, Saudi lifter Ali Majid swept three gold medals with lifts of 121kg (snatch), 160kg (clean and jerk), and 281kg (total).Syrian lifter Jaafar Miya added two silver medals in the clean and jerk (146kg) and total (255kg), as well as bronze in the snatch (109kg).Egyptian lifter Sadeq Mahmoud claimed silver in the snatch and bronze medals in the clean and jerk and total.In the junior competition, Saudi lifter Abdullah Ibrahim secured three gold medals with lifts of 115kg (snatch), 145kg (clean and jerk), and 260kg (total).Egyptian lifter Sadeq Mahmoud won three silver medals, while Algerian lifter Osama Mouwash earned three bronze medals.Women’s 48kg Category – Arab ChampionshipTunisian lifter Maysa Al-Khadhrawi won gold in the clean and jerk (77kg) and total (134kg), and silver in the snatch (57kg).Algerian lifter Nadia Qutbi captured gold in the snatch (58kg) and bronze in both the clean and jerk (75kg) and total (133kg).Saudi lifter Ghada Abdulrahman earned three bronze medals.In the youth division, Maysa Al-Khadhrawi claimed three gold medals, while Syrian lifter Sidra Daaboul took three silver medals.In the junior category, Saudi lifter Ritaj Hadi Ajeel swept three gold medals.West Asia Championship HighlightsIn the men’s 65kg category, Siraj Al-Sulaim once again claimed three gold medals, followed by Jaafar Miya with three silvers and Kuwaiti lifter Fahad Hamid with three bronzes.Similar results were recorded across youth and junior categories, with Saudi lifters dominating gold medal positions.Qatar International Cup ResultsIn the men’s 65kg category, South Korean lifter Kim Hyuk-Song claimed three gold medals with a total of 308kg.Saudi lifter Siraj Al-Sulaim earned three silver medals, while Uzbek lifter Arjashiev Adkhamjon secured three bronze medals.In the women’s 48kg category, Thai lifter Khemika Kamnodzria won three gold medals, followed by Uzbek lifter Odilova Monisa with three silvers, and Tunisia’s Maysa Al-Khadhrawi with three bronzes.Team Qatar PreparationsMeanwhile, the Qatar national weightlifting team continues intensive preparations for the three combined championships. Team Qatar is represented by six lifters competing in six different weight categories: Fares Ibrahim, Fares Ahmed Jaber, Nader Mohammed Bakr, Abdullah Al-Hashemi, Wesal Yakhlef, and Sara Al-Qassibi.Daily training sessions are conducted under the supervision of head coach Ibrahim Hassouna, focusing on physical and technical readiness to ensure strong performances and positive results.Sara Al-Qassibi will begin her competition in the 77kg category on Wednesday, followed by Nader Mohammed Bakr (94kg), Wesal Yakhlef (+86kg), Fares Ahmed Jaber (110kg – U20 and senior), and the +94kg U17 category.Olympic champion Fares Ibrahim will make his first appearance in the newly adopted 94kg category, following the International Weightlifting Federation’s recent weight category adjustments. This move forms part of his long-term preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, after the elimination of the 102kg category.Fares is also set to compete at the 2026 Asian Games (Aichi–Nagoya) in Japan, scheduled from 19 September to 4 October 2026.Coach Ibrahim Hassouna confirmed that preparations are progressing according to plan, emphasizing that the participation of six lifters across different categories reflects the development of weightlifting in Qatar. He highlighted the importance of these championships for gaining competitive experience and enhancing performance ahead of upcoming continental and international events.Hassouna added that Fares Ibrahim’s transition to the 94kg category is a well-calculated step within a long-term development plan, expressing confidence in the athlete’s ability to adapt quickly and compete strongly at the highest level.

GCC U10 Tennis Championship begins

Doha (Agencies) – The GCC U10 Years Tennis Championship began yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.The participants’ list features a number of young players from Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Qatari players Sara Khalifa, Aisha Al Thani and Abdullah Al Mannai, alongside Omani player Omar Al Shaibani, Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al Barqan and Bahrain’s Abdullah Mohammed.Khalid Al Khelaifi, Head of the National Teams Committee at the Qatar Tennis Federation, said that hosting competitions for this age group contributes significantly to the development of Qatari players and the enhancement of their technical level, given the strong competitive exposure it provides against different Gulf tennis schools.Al Khelaifi added that the championship reflects the Federation’s commitment to promoting tennis across the Gulf region and providing a competitive environment, while also serving as an opportunity to strengthen bonds of brotherhood among the peoples of the GCC states.

Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana re-elected as President of AWF

Doha: The Executive Office of the Arab Weightlifting Federation (AWF) held a meeting on the margins of the Combined Weightlifting Championships, hosted by Doha, featuring the Qatar Cup, the Arab Weightlifting Championship, and the West Asia Weightlifting Championship, amid wide Arab and Asian participation and high-level attendance from the sport's leadership.During the meeting, AWF renewed its confidence in HE Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana by electing him as President of AWF for a new term extending from 2025 to 2029, after he was elected unopposed in a move that demonstrates the massive confidence in the current leadership, along with the apparent gains earned both on the coaching and administrative levels throughout the previous cycle, in terms of promoting the Arab presence in international fora, elevating the game system, as well as the refereeing and coaching talents.HE Al Mana retained his position as Pesident of the AWF, in addition to his international and regional posts, as he serves as First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation (QWF), President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, and President of the Afro Asian Weightlifting Council of Weightlifting, underscoring his sports influence and prominent standing in the global weightlifting landscape.The new term witnessed the creation of the post of First Vice President of the AWF, in an organizational step aimed at strengthening governance and expanding the scope of executive work, with Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi, President of the Saudi Weightlifting Federation, elected unopposed to assume this post, in recognition of his outstanding role in advancing the sport on the national and Gulf regional stages.The new formation of vice presidents was also approved, including Talal Rasheed Al Jassar (Kuwait) and Dr. Abdullah Al Jarmal (Yemen) as vice presidents representing the Asian region, alongside Mohamed Abdelmaksoud (Egypt) and Kamel Saidi (Algeria) as vice presidents representing the African region.The executive office elected unopposed also includes Mohammed Kadhem Mza'al (Iraq), Dr. Basil Al Ibrahim (Syria), Ishaq Ibrahim Ishaq (Bahrain), Abdel Ilah Laarash (Morocco), Abdulrahman Al Jatlawi (Libya), and Dr. Khaled Al Wadaia (Palestine), reflecting geographical diversity, extensive technical expertise, and broad administrative experience.Attending the meeting were representatives from 19 countries among the executive members, alongside a record number of officials from Arab federations and heads of delegations participating in the Combined Championships, led by Mohammed Hasan Jalood Al Shammari, President of IWF, Abdel Aziz bin Mohammed Al Enazi, Secretary General of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, and Dr. Astrit Hasani, President of the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF).This attendance reemphasizes the advanced status achieved by the Arab championships and the growing role of AWF within the international weightlifting framework.HE Al Mana asserted that renewing confidence in him is a colossal responsibility prior to being an honor, stressing that the upcoming period will be marked by extensive work to meet the aspirations of the Arab federations.This election by acclamation reflects the spirit of Arab consensus and the confidence of the member federations in the pathway of the AWF, as a robust momentum to continue the work and advance this game at all coaching and administrative levels, he underlined.Al Mana added that the next phase will focus on expanding the participation base, qualifying coaching and refereeing cadres, and strengthening developmental programs for juniors and youth, contributing to the preparation of Arab champions capable of competing on continental and global stages.

Qatar grabs four medals in Arab Shooting and Airgun Championship

Muscat: Qatar's shooters secured four medals (two silver and two bronze) at the start of their campaign in the Arab Shooting and Airgun Championship, currently underway at the National Olympic Complex in Muscat, Oman. The championship features 141 marksmen representing 14 countries and concludes on December 26.The Qatari medalists were: Abdulrahman Al Sulaiti, who won silver in the 10-meter airgun individual youth category; Ritaj Al Yafai, who also won silver in the 10-meter airgun individual junior women's category; Khalid Al Sharshani, who won bronze in the 10-meter airgun individual men's category; and the women's team of Maha Al-Ali, Dalal Al-Qubaisi, and Fatima Al Abdulrahman, who each won bronze in the 10-meter airgun team event.The Qatari shooting team is participating in the Arab Championship with a delegation of 17 shooters (men, women, and juniors from both genders) competing in the rifle and pistol events. The delegation is headed by Executive Director of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Aji.Al Aji praised the strong performances of the Qatari shooters on the first day of the championship, noting their winning of four medals in the rifle competition.Al Aji said that the competition was intense and exciting among most of the participating shooters from various Arab countries. He added that the Qatari shooters demonstrated high level of skill and ability to compete with Arab champions, securing four medals: two silver and two bronze in the rifle event.He said that Tuesday's competitions will include the 10-meter air pistol, 25-meter pistol, and 50-meter rifle events.

Logo of the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 unveiled

Doha: The Organizing Committee of the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 unveiled today the official logo of the Games during a ceremony held at Old Doha Port, in the presence of a number of officials, representatives of sports federations, and members of the media.The official logo of the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 draws its inspiration from the palm tree, one of the most prominent symbols rooted in the environment and heritage of the Gulf region. The palm tree reflects the shared values of Gulf societies, including resilience, endurance, generosity, patience, and a deep connection to the land—values that have shaped the Gulf identity across generations.The logo is composed of six palm fronds, representing the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, presented in a contemporary visual style defined by flowing lines that reflect the sporting character of the Games. The harmonious arrangement of the fronds creates a central negative space that forms the number “4”, offering a clear reference to the fourth edition of the GCC Games.The logo was unveiled through a creative and interactive approach, based on the execution of an artistic mural using a “paint-by-numbers” concept. Attendees and members of the public took part in gradually completing the logo by filling the numbered sections with their designated colors, in a scene that highlighted the importance of community participation and reinforced the concept of collective effort—values that the Games seek to promote.The Qatari capital, Doha, will host the competitions of the 4th GCC Games from 11 to 22 May 2026, with the participation of elite Gulf athletes competing in 18 sporting disciplines, held across nine sports venues.On this occasion, Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, General Director of the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 expressed his pride in unveiling the official logo of the Games, affirming that the logo embodies the shared meanings that unite GCC countries and reflects the depth of historical and cultural ties among their peoples.He noted that the logo’s design was the result of a carefully considered vision aimed at translating common Gulf values into a contemporary visual identity, explaining that the choice of the palm frond was deliberate and based on its firmly established symbolism in the region’s heritage, and what it represents in terms of authenticity and cohesion among Gulf states.He added that the Organizing Committee was keen to ensure that the logo unveiling took place through an interactive and innovative method, allowing the public to participate in the moment of announcement and reflecting the Games’ approach to engaging the community at various stages. He emphasized that this approach aligns with the Games’ message of strengthening bonds among Gulf youth and reinforcing the values of cooperation and collective action through sport.Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid also confirmed that preparations for hosting the Games are progressing in line with the approved plans, drawing on Qatar’s extensive organizational experience in hosting major sporting events. He expressed the Organizing Committee’s aspiration to deliver an outstanding edition of the GCC Games that contributes to the development of Gulf sport and further enhances Doha’s position as a leading destination for hosting regional and international sporting events.