Three International, Asian and Arab Weightlifting Championships to begin in Doha on Saturday

Doha: Three international, Arab and Asian weightlifting championships will kick off simultaneously in Doha on Saturday and will continue until 27 December.The three championships comprise the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025, the Arab Weightlifting Championship for youth, juniors and seniors, and the West Asia Weightlifting Championship, held across the same age categories. The combined event reflects Qatar’s advanced standing on the map of global sports event organization and underscores its technical and organizational readiness to host major sporting events.The technical meeting for the three championships was held this evening. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation, and President of the Qatari, Arab, Asian and Afro-Asian Weightlifting Federations. It was attended by Mohammed Hassan Jalood Al Shammari, President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF); Mohammed Al Harbi, President of the Saudi Weightlifting Federation; Jassim Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Secretary General of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation; Dr. Abdullah Al Jarmal, Vice President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation; in addition to representatives of the participating delegations, organizing committees and officiating bodies.In his opening remarks, Al Mana welcomed the participating delegations and wished them success in the three championships. The meeting discussed the technical regulations, competition schedule and organizational rules, while emphasizing the application of the highest international standards in officiating and safety to ensure the smooth and professional conduct of the competitions.The meeting also addressed weigh-in and classification procedures, stressing the importance of adherence to schedules and coordination between technical and administrative teams. In addition, 36 international referees from the elite ranks of the International Weightlifting Federation were approved to officiate the competitions, ensuring the precise application of technical rules and equal opportunities for all participants.The three championships are being held with direct support from the Qatar Olympic Committee and are considered among the most important sporting events on Qatar’s 2025 calendar. They have been prepared in accordance with the highest international standards and will feature elite weightlifters from around the world, raising the level of competition and offering fans the opportunity to witness high technical standards.The three events are witnessing wide participation, with the Qatar Cup attracting around 25 countries from across the world, the Arab Championship featuring 19 countries, and the West Asia Championship welcoming 12 countries.The number of participating male and female athletes stands at approximately 252 lifters from various age groups. Most delegations are fielding both men’s and women’s teams, with the exception of a few countries participating in the men’s competitions only.The competitions will feature a number of world-class champions, led by Qatari Olympic champion Fares Ibrahim, gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; Iranian Olympic lifter Kianoush Rostami, gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games; and Syrian lifter Man Asaad, bronze medallist at the same edition.The Qatar national weightlifting team is represented in the championships by six male and female lifters competing in six different weight categories: Fares Ibrahim, Fares Ahmed Jaber, Nader Mohammed Bakr, Abdullah Al Hashemi, Wesal Yakhlef, and Sara Al Qassibi.The team is aiming to compete strongly for medals, with the championships also serving as an important opportunity to prepare and equip athletes for the upcoming Olympic qualification events, particularly those leading to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, in addition to preparations for the Qatar Cup 2026.On the sidelines of the three championships—the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025, the Arab Championship for youth, juniors and seniors, and the West Asia Championship for the same age groups—a refresher refereeing course will be organized under the supervision of the International Weightlifting Federation, in addition to an anti-doping education course aimed at developing human resources and promoting the values of integrity and fair play in sport.The organizing committee of the three championships is placing particular focus on the anti-doping committee, one of the most active committees, which will conduct more than 50 random sample tests daily. Educational materials will also be displayed in training and competition venues to highlight the dangers of doping and its negative impact on athletes’ health.Meanwhile, Doha will host tomorrow, Saturday, the electoral meeting of the Arab Weightlifting Federation, on the sidelines of the three major championships. The meeting comes as part of plans to enhance institutional work and develop weightlifting at the Arab level. It will witness the election of new members to the federation’s board, as well as discussions on a number of issues related to organizing championships, supporting athletes, and developing technical and administrative cadres.The Arab Federation’s electoral meeting will be followed by another electoral meeting for the West Asia Weightlifting Federation, scheduled for 22 December, further reinforcing Doha’s position as a comprehensive regional hub for the management and development of the sport of weightlifting.Commenting on the three championships, Mohammed Hassan Jalood Al Shammari, President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), praised the significant efforts made by the State of Qatar to develop weightlifting in recent years, noting the extensive work carried out by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation to ensure the successful organization of the three events.Al Shammari said in a press statement that the great success of previous championships hosted by Doha in recent years played a major role in the decision to once again select Doha to host the West Asia Championship and the Arab Championship, alongside the Qatar International Cup. He also commended the new sports equipment provided by the organizing committee.He stressed that this reflects the committee’s commitment to the comfort and safety of all participants, which will contribute to delivering high technical standards throughout the days of competition.

Qatar's Ahmed Al Shaabi Elected AHF's Representative to IHF

DOHA  - President of the Qatar Handball Association Ahmed Al Shaabi was elected by acclamation as the Asian Handball Federation's (AHF) representative to the International Handball Federation (IHF) during the 25th Ordinary General Assembly of the Asian Handball Federation in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday.Al Shaabi's election to this important position underscores the high level of trust placed in him and his extensive experience within the handball system. It also reflects the prominent presence of Qatari talent and its active role in international sports decision-making.The General Assembly meeting also elected by acclamation Kuwait's Badr Al Theyab as President of the AHF for the 2025-2029 term.The new board includes Iran's Alireza as first vice president; Jordan's Sari Hamdan, Bahrain's Ali Ishaqi, and Chin's Wang Tao as vice presidents, and Pakistani Muhammad Shafiq as Secretary General. It also included Thai Sombat Kuruphan, Emirati Mohammed Julfar, Iraqi Ahmed Riyadh, Omani Ameen Al Barwani, South Korean Jung Choi, and Kazakh Gulnara Turlykhanova.

Strong Opening for Qatar Cup and Regional Weightlifting Championships in Doha

DOHA  – The Qatari capital, Doha, witnessed Saturday strong opening of the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025 for Weightlifting, held alongside the Arab Weightlifting Championships for youth, juniors and seniors, as well as the West Asia Weightlifting Championships for the same age categories.Organized by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, the championships will continue until 27 December, attracting wide participation and showcasing an outstanding technical standard.The competitions got underway with the 60kg category, which delivered intense, closely fought contests and a high level of performance, as weightlifters across all divisions impressed with their strength and skill.In the men’s competition, Saudi lifter Aqeel Abdullah Al Jassim claimed three gold medals after lifting 123kg in the snatch, 141kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 264kg.His compatriot Mansour Abdulrahim Al Sulaim secured second place with three silver medals, posting 115kg in the snatch, 140kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 255kg.The bronze medals went to Algerian weightlifter Chaabi Kassi, who lifted 95kg in the snatch, 115kg in the clean and jerk, for an overall total of 210kg.In the youth category of the same weight class, Saudi lifter Mohammed Nawaf Al Ajain continued his outstanding form, winning three gold medals after recording 107kg in the snatch, 130kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 237kg.Algerian wieghtlifter Chaabi Kassi finished second with three silver medals, while Syrian lifter Najm Al-Din Khattab earned two bronze medals in the clean and jerk and total with a lift of 111kg and an overall total of 197kg. Kuwaiti lifter Mohammed Humaid captured the bronze medal in the snatch with a lift of 87kg.The junior competitions in the 60kg category produced identical results, as Mohammed Nawaf Al Ajain once again dominated with three gold medals, followed by Chaabi Kassi with three silvers, while the bronze medals were shared between Najm Al-Din Khattab of Syria and Mohammed Humaid of Kuwait.At the level of the Qatar International Cup, the men’s 60kg category saw Aqeel Abdullah Al Jassim crowned with three gold medals, ahead of his fellow Saudi Mansour Abdulrahim Al Sulaim, who took three silvers, while Syrian lifter Najm Al-Din Khattab collected three bronze medals.For his part, Mr. Zayed Mubarak Al Khayarin, Executive Director of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, affirmed that hosting the three championships simultaneously represents a major milestone in the sport’s journey at the local, Arab and continental levels, and reflects the great confidence enjoyed by the State of Qatar and the Qatar Weightlifting Federation within the international weightlifting community.In a press statement, Al Khayarin explained that staging the 10th Qatar International Cup, alongside the Arab Championship and the West Asia Championship, in a single event demonstrates the federation’s high organizational capabilities and accumulated expertise in managing major championships in line with the highest international standards.He added that the wide participation of countries, male and female lifters underlines the prestigious status these championships have attained, noting that the federation has been keen to provide all organizational, technical and logistical requirements to ensure an ideal competitive environment for all participants.Al Khayarin also praised the presence of senior officials from continental and international federations, describing it as direct support for the ongoing development of weightlifting in Qatar and the region, and a clear indicator of the success of the growing partnership between the Qatar Weightlifting Federation and its Arab, Asian and international counterparts.

HH the Amir attends FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 closing ceremony

Doha: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the closing ceremony of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 at Lusail Stadium on Thursday evening.The closing ceremony was attended by HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani.Speaker of the Shura Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, along with a number of Their Excellecies Sheikhs and Ministers also attended the closing ceremony.Also present were HRH Crown Prince of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, President of FIFA HE Gianni Infantino, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) HE Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, and Minister of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud.The ceremony was also attended by a number of senior officials from fraternal and friendly countries, heads of delegations, heads of Olympic committees and Arab and international federations, Their Excellencies the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the state, and a large audience.HH the Amir handed over the championship trophy to the Moroccan team, who secured the title after a 3-2 victory over Jordan.

Qatar to host 3 International Weightlifting Championships

Doha:  The Qatar Weightlifting Federation is preparing to host three international championships starting the day after tomorrow, Saturday, and running until 27 December. These include the 10th Qatar Cup 2025, organized by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation; the Arab Weightlifting Championship for youth, juniors and seniors, held under the supervision of the Arab Weightlifting Federation; and the West Asian Weightlifting Championship, organized by the West Asia Weightlifting Federation across the same age categories.Around 252 male and female lifters from various age groups will take part in the competitions, with most participating countries fielding both men’s and women’s teams, while a few countries are represented by men’s teams only.The Qatar Cup will feature athletes from 25 countries, while 19 countries will participate in the Arab Championship, and 12 countries in the West Asian Championship.The championships will see the participation of a number of Olympic medallists, which is expected to raise the level of competition and motivate all athletes to deliver their best performances. Among the participants are Olympic champion Fares Ibrahim, who won an Olympic medal at Tokyo 2020; Iran’s Kianoush Rostami, an Olympic medallist at Rio 2016; and Syrian lifter Man Asaad, who claimed the bronze medal at the same Games.A total of 36 international referees accredited by the International Weightlifting Federation will officiate the three championships.Team Qatar will be represented across the three events by six male and female athletes competing in six different weight categories: Fares Ibrahim, Fares Ahmed Jaber, Nader Mohammed Bakr, Abdullah Al Hashemi, Ouissal Ikhlef, and Sara Al Qassibi.Team Qatar weightlifting is aiming to compete strongly for medals. These championships also represent a valuable opportunity to prepare and equip weightlifters for a new phase of Olympic qualification, particularly those leading to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, in addition to preparations for the 2026 qualifying edition of the Qatar Cup.In this context, H.E. Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation, and President of the Qatari, Arab, Asian and Afro-Asian Weightlifting Federations, said:“We are proud to host this major sporting event, which brings together elite athletes from across the region in weightlifting competitions that reaffirm Qatar’s advanced position on the global sports map.”He added: “Organizing three championships simultaneously over a short period reflects the scale of our ambitions to develop this sport and support its champions. We are committed to providing the best possible conditions for the participating teams through close coordination with all relevant stakeholders. We also emphasize the importance of these championships in strengthening the competitive spirit of athletes and preparing them for major international competitions, particularly the upcoming Olympic qualifiers.”Al Mana explained that the three championships are being held with the support of the Qatar Olympic Committee, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who has provided unlimited support, adding: “We will continue our journey towards achieving Qatar’s ambitious sports vision in weightlifting at both continental and international levels.”

PSG beat Flamengo to clinch Intercontinental Cup

Doha: Goalkeeper Matvei Safonov emerged as the unlikely hero as Paris Saint-Germain edged a resilient Flamengo to win the Intercontinental Cup, sealing their sixth trophy of the season after a dramatic penalty shootout at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Wednesday.Safonov, preferred again, with regular goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier still regaining fitness from an ankle injury, saved an astonishing four penalties as PSG triumphed 2-1 in the shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. The 26-year-old Russian’s heroics ensured the Parisians ended a glittering year on the highest possible note.Already crowned Ligue 1 champions and winners of the Coupe de France, the Trophee des Champions, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup, Luis Enrique’s side became only the third club to complete a sextuple, after Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern Munich in 2020.Before last night, no French side had won the Intercontinental Cup, which was contested for over four decades until 2004, when it was rebranded as the Club World Cup. FIFA revived the competition last year following the revamp of the Club World Cup into a 32-team summer tournament. PSG had lost to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final in the United States in July, having won their maiden Champions League title in May.By no stretch of the imagination was it a smooth sailing for PSG on the night. South American champions Flamengo pushed the Parisians to the limit, matching them stride for stride before Safonov’s brilliance from the spot finally settled the contest.“We're proud of ourselves, we played a very, very good match, a very good final, against a good team that played with a lot of intensity,” said PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery. “I hope we can continue like this throughout the season. This team has a lot of character; we're showing that we're a team, a collective. That's what the coach wanted when he arrived here. He has always emphasised that to us: the collective comes first. It shows our strength, the kind of team we are.”Much of the pre-match focus centred on whether newly-crownedFIFA Best Player award winner Ousmane Dembele would start after having been sidelined in the last two matches due to illness. Ultimately, he began on the bench, as did Chevalier, with Safonov retaining his place in goal.PSG asserted their authority early, dominating possession and pinning Flamengo deep in their own half. Lee Kang-in tested the Brazilian side inside three minutes, while Joao Neves soon followed with another probing effort. The Parisians thought they had struck in the ninth minute when Fabian Ruiz slotted the ball into the net after Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi mishandled a clearance, but VAR ruled that the ball had already crossed the line earlier in the move.Rossi was again involved in a decisive moment eight minutes before half-time. Desire Doue’s low cross appeared to have too much pace, but the Argentine keeper diverted it straight to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who reacted quickest to tuck home from close range and give PSG a deserved 1-0 lead.Flamengo, however, returned with renewed intent after the break. PSG became increasingly passive, and the equaliserarrived just after the hour when skipper Marquinhos clipped Giorgian de Arrascaeta inside the area. Following a VAR review, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho sent Safonov the wrong way with a stuttering run-up to make it 1-1.Dembele was introduced with 12 minutes of regulation time remaining as PSG searched for a winner. The clearest chance fell to Marquinhos, but the defender sliced wide from inside the six-yard box, sending the final into extra time.Both sides had opportunities to settle it in the additional period. Flamengo substitute Luiz Araujo snatched at a chance, while Dembele scooped one wide from close range. With no decisive blow landed, penalties were required.Flamengo converted their opening kick through Nicolas de la Cruz, but that proved to be their only success. Safonov denied Saul Niguez, Pedro, Leo Pereira, and Araujo in succession, displaying remarkable composure and anticipation as Flamengo’s hopes evaporated. Even missed attempts by Dembele and Bradley Barcola did not cost PSG.When the final save was made, teammates swarmed Safonov in celebration.