Qatar hosts FIG Trampoline Technical Committee meeting

Doha: Further strengthening its position as a premier global sports destination, the Qatar Gymnastics Federation is hosting the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Trampoline Technical Committee meeting from 4–9 December, bringing together leading experts and officials responsible for shaping the future of trampoline gymnastics worldwide.The hosting of this meeting reflects the ongoing trust the FIG places in Qatar—trust built on the nation’s world-class sports infrastructure, advanced facilities that meet the highest international standards, and its proven track record in staging major global championships, training camps, technical courses, and specialized conferences. These strengths continue to establish Doha as a preferred and enduring headquarters for international sports bodies.Throughout the five-day meeting, the committee will address several pivotal topics aimed at advancing trampoline gymnastics. Discussions will cover the latest updates to judging regulations, assessments of organizational and technical performance at recent world events, and reviews of preparations for upcoming international competitions. The agenda also includes proposals designed to elevate technical and judging standards in the sport.The committee’s work spans three core disciplines within trampoline gymnastics: trampoline, double mini-trampoline, and tumbling.Members of the FIG Trampoline Technical Committee expressed deep gratitude for the exceptional support of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation, commending the high level of professionalism and the meticulous organization that helped create an optimal environment for productive and successful deliberations.Participants emphasized that Doha has become a trusted host for technical and leadership meetings across multiple sports, thanks to its professional ecosystem that supports global sports development and strengthens cooperation with international federations—aligning seamlessly with Qatar’s vision of using sport as a catalyst for development and a bridge between nations.

ISSF Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun World Cup Finals begin in Doha

Doha: The ISSF Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun World Cup Finals Doha 2025 officially kicked off on Friday at the Lusail Shooting Complex, bringing together 144 of the world’s top shooting athletes for four days of elite competition.The event, hosted by Qatar for the second time, features Olympic and World Cup gold medalists, World Championship podium finishers, and the highest-ranked shooters from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), representing 33 countries across all three disciplines: shotgun, rifle, and pistol.The opening ceremony was attended by Luciano Rossi, President of the ISSF; Kimberly Rod Harriman, ISSF Vice President; Alessandro Nicotra, ISSF Secretary General; Dr. Meshal Ibrahim Al Nasr, President of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation; Jassim Shaheen Al-Sulaiti, Tournament Director and Secretary General of the Federation; along with several senior officials from the national and international shooting bodies.In his opening remarks, Dr. Meshal Ibrahim Al Nasr welcomed the athletes who had gathered “from all corners of the globe in Qatar — a nation of sport, excellence, and innovation.”He emphasized that the World Cup Finals represent much more than a sporting event, describing them as “a global stage that unites the world’s best shooters and reflects the Olympic values of respect, excellence, and fair competition.”Dr. Al Nasr added that hosting the Finals underscores the ISSF’s confidence in Qatar’s exceptional organizational capabilities and in the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, operating under the vision of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the leadership of the State of Qatar.ISSF President Luciano Rossi also praised Qatar’s organization of the championship, noting that Doha has “set a new benchmark for hosting world-class shooting events—whether in organizational quality, world-leading facilities, or the safe and ideal competition environment provided for athletes.”The ISSF World Cup Finals will continue through Monday, with champions to be crowned in all rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories. 

2025 ISSF Shooting World Cup Finals to Kick Off in Doha

Doha:The 2025 ISSF Shooting World Cup Finals for rifle, pistol, and shotgun will begin on Friday at the Lusail Shooting Complex, featuring top shooters and world champions from around the globe.The event will run until Monday, with the best 12 male and 12 female shooters competing in each discipline.Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti, the tournament director, said this is the second time Qatar hosts the finals, which serve as preparation for the World Championship in November, offering the first 36 qualifying spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. A total of 144 athletes from 133 countries will participate, including Qatar's 16 shooters.The competition will apply the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time to ensure fairness. Over 60 top international referees, supported by a strong Qatari officiating team, will oversee the events.Luciano Rossi, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), praised Qatar's organizational capabilities, describing the facilities, logistics, and infrastructure as exceeding all expectations and cementing Doha's status as a global hub for major sports events.The finals are also seen as a critical step for Qatari shooters to gain experience ahead of the 2025 World Championship, with new coaches helping athletes enhance performance and prepare for Olympic qualification.

Qatar defeat Kuwait in U23 Gulf Cup

Doha: The Qatari national team began their campaign in the Gulf Cup U-23 football tournament with a resounding 3-0 victory over Kuwait in their match Friday at Aspire Academy.The Qatari goals were scored by Mustafa Al Sayed in the 3rd minute, Mohammed Abdul Fattah in the 37th minute, and Ahmed Riyadh in the 45th minute of added time.This win gives Qatar their first three points, placing them second in Group A behind Saudi Arabia on goal difference. Kuwait sits in third place with no points, ahead of Bahrain, who are last in the group.In another match in the same group, Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain 5-0. The goals were scored by Abdulaziz Al Alawi (2 goals in the 50th and 83rd minutes), Majed Abdullah (54th minute), Tamer Al-Khaibri (90th minute of added time), and Abdullah Saeed (90th minute of added time).According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals, where the first-place team in Group A plays the second-place team in Group B, and the first-place team in Group B plays the second-place team in Group A.The winners of these matches then face each other in the final.The Gulf Cup U-23 tournament, organized by the Gulf Football Federation, is being held in Doha until December 16th, with the participation of Gulf national teams in one of the most important youth tournaments in the region. 

Qatar to face Switzerland, Canada and potentially Italy in FIFA World Cup 2026

Santa Clara: Qatar will open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 13. The Asian champions will then face co-hosts Canada in Vancouver before moving to Seattle to take on the winner of European Play-Off A, which features Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.At the draw ceremony in Washington on Friday night, Qatar avoided the big guns from Pot 1, though they could still face four-time winners Italy, who are favourites to emerge from European Play-Off A despite struggling in the qualification stage. Italy finished as Group I runners-up and have been forced into the qualifying play-offs for the third consecutive time. The Azzurri will play Northern Ireland in the semi-final on March 26, 2026, in Bergamo. If they progress, they will face the winner of Wales versus Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final.The 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar secured their first-ever qualification on merit in October, edging the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Doha to top Group A of Asia’s fourth-round playoffs. Goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel sent fans into raptures at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, marking a milestone for a team who had previously appeared only as hosts.The Qataris will aim to improve on their debut World Cup performance, where they lost all three group games and scored just one goal. Their prospects have been boosted by the arrival of Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui in May. The former Spain and Real Madrid coach replaced Luis Garcia after a poor start to Asian qualifying. Under Lopetegui, Qatar have enjoyed a fine run to secure a spot at the global finals.This will be Lopetegui’s first time coaching a team at the World Cup. He led Spain to Russia 2018 but was famously dismissed on the eve of the tournament after it emerged he had already signed a deal to take over at Real Madrid.Meanwhile, reigning champions Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and first-time qualifiers Jordan in group J. Five-time winners Brazil play 2022 semi-finalists Morocco as well as Scotland and Haiti in group C, while France are in Group I take on Senegal, Norway and a qualifier from the playoffs.

Curtain comes down on Qatar Asian Junior Tennis Championship

Doha: The Qatar Tennis Federation has concluded the third edition of the Qatar Asian Junior Boys and Girls Under-14 Championship, held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, with the participation of several rising talents from across Asia.The final results saw Russia’s Sofi Himmelreich claim the Girls’ Singles title, while Turkmenistan’s Solgun Ishankulyeva finished as runner-up.In the Girls’ Doubles competition, the title went to the duo of Mumtzbagim Akramova from Uzbekistan and Solgun Ishankulyeva from Turkmenistan. The Kazakh-Russian pair of Yasmina Yusupova and Sofi Himmelreich finished in second place.In the Boys’ category, Bosnia’s Danijel Meskic won the Singles title, with Cameroon’s Alexandre Mikheev placing second.The Boys’ Doubles title went to India’s Roni Vijay Kumar and Arjun Dua, while the Iraqi-Saudi duo of Hassan Griyari and Elyas Al-Ghafli finished as runners-up.The award ceremony was overseen by Mr. Ahmed Butti, Director of Public Relations at the Qatar Tennis Federation, in the presence of a large audience.On this occasion, Mr. Tariq Zainal, Secretary-General of the Qatar Tennis Federation and President of the Asian Tennis Federation, said:“This championship represents an important milestone within the Asian Tennis Federation’s program to develop young talent. It also reflects the Qatar Tennis Federation’s commitment to supporting young players by providing a competitive environment that contributes to raising their level, serving the future of tennis across the continent.”Zainal emphasized that the continued hosting of such tournaments by the Qatar Tennis Federation highlights Qatar’s position as a leading sports destination in Asia and its active role in promoting tennis.