Qatar’s Ali Tamer shines with Silver at Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

DOHA  – Team Qatar swimmer Ali Tamer secured Qatar its first medal at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games, currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and running until November 21.Tamer clinched the silver medal in the men’s 100m freestyle event held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex, clocking an impressive 49.63 seconds.Saudi swimmer Zaid Al Sarraj claimed the gold medal with a time of 49.62 seconds, while his compatriot Emad Al Zabin took bronze in 50.4 seconds. Tamer had qualified for the final after recording 50.44 seconds in the preliminary heats and 50.53 seconds in the semifinals.Meanwhile, Mohammed Mahmoud advanced to the final of the men’s 50m breaststroke, scheduled for Wednesday, after finishing his semifinal heat in 28.68 seconds. His teammate Hamza Al Shalaan narrowly missed a place in the final. Mohammed Aziz Ismail concluded his campaign in the 100m butterfly semifinals.Marking the achievement, Mubarak Ali Al Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Swimming Association, expressed his pride in Tamer’s performance, describing it as a well-deserved result and a reflection of the team’s hard work and preparation ahead of the Games.“We dedicate this achievement to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee,” Al Nuaimi said. “Ali Tamer’s silver medal, along with the strong performances from his teammates, embodies the continued progress of Qatari swimming and the tremendous support provided by the Qatar Olympic Committee to national federations.”He added: “We are proud of our young swimmers, who have proven that investing in youth is the key to the future. We aim to keep building on this momentum in upcoming championships, especially with major regional and international events ahead. Our goal remains to win more medals and keep Qatar’s flag flying high.”Al Nuaimi concluded by emphasizing that the result serves as a strong motivation to intensify efforts in developing training programs and supporting promising swimmers to achieve even greater success for Qatar.Salah Al Saadi, Head of the Qatari delegation and Assistant Director of Sports Events at the Qatar Olympic Committee, also praised the achievement, noting that it highlights the success of the Committee’s strategy in nurturing young talents and developing future champions.“Today’s result reflects a clear vision focused on empowering Qatari athletes to compete at the highest levels,” Al Saadi said. “Ali Tamer’s silver medal in the 100m freestyle is a source of pride for all of us and an inspiration for other athletes to continue working hard for Qatar.”After the race, Ali Tamer expressed his joy and gratitude:“I’m extremely proud to win Qatar’s first medal in this edition of the Games. The race was tough, but I was highly motivated to swim for my country and raise its flag high. I dedicate this medal to the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Qatar Swimming Association, and everyone who supported us during the preparation period. I hope this silver medal marks the beginning of more achievements for my teammates.”He added: “This result is the outcome of teamwork between swimmers and the coaching staff. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent Qatar at such a major event, and this medal gives me even more motivation to keep training and improving my times in future competitions.”The Qatari delegation celebrated Tamer’s success with a special ceremony held at the Qatar camp in the Athletes’ Village, attended by Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Vice Head of Delegation Khalifa Jaber Al Nuaimi, delegation members, and several Qatari athletes participating in the Games.In other results, Mohammed Abdulwahab exited the men’s table tennis singles round of 16 after losing to Algeria’s Milane Amin Jelouli (4–1), while Abdullah Abdulwahab also bowed out following a 4–1 defeat to Algeria’s Mehdi Boulossa.In the men’s doubles, the Qatari pair Mohammed and Abdullah Abdulwahab will face Tajikistan’s Sultanov Ibroghimovich and Jamshid Hassanov in the round of 16 on Wednesday.In women’s karate, Qatar’s Muna Al Khurafi lost to Ivory Coast’s Abini Adiatou Adebayo in the round of 16 of the under-50kg category.The Qatar men’s volleyball team will play a decisive match against Bahrain on Wednesday as part of the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh 2025, aiming to secure a place in the bronze medal match and maintain their strong presence in the competition.The volleyball tournament follows a single round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the gold medal final, and the third and fourth competing for bronze.In weightlifting, Wisal Khalaf will compete in the women’s over-86kg category on Wednesday at Boulevard Seif Arena.For the first time, eSports are included in the Islamic Solidarity Games, featuring over 3,000 athletes from 57 countries competing across 23 sports from November 7 to 21.eSports competitions began Tuesday at Boulevard Riyadh City, featuring 28 players from 11 countries across Asia and Africa, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Bahrain, Tunisia, and Kazakhstan. The winners will be crowned on November 12.Players are competing in two officially recognized titles: Rocket League (team-based, 3+1 players) and Tekken 8 (individual knockout format).Turkey currently leads the overall medal table with 68 medals — 43 gold, 14 silver, and 11 bronze ، followed by Egypt with 27 medals (10 gold, 6 silver, 11 bronze), and Uzbekistan with 34 medals (9 gold, 16 silver, 9 bronze). Kazakhstan ranks fourth with 24 medals (7 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze), while Nigeria sits fifth with 14 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze).The sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted in Riyadh, continues until November 21, featuring a rich sports program that includes athletics, fencing, 3x3 basketball, swimming, handball, table tennis, volleyball, karate, boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, judo, weightlifting, futsal, camel racing, equestrian show jumping, wushu, Muay Thai, duathlon, ju-jitsu, para-athletics, and para-weightlifting.

Qatar Gears Up for Pan Arab Men’s and Seniors Golf Championship in Saudi Arabia

DOHA  – The Qatari national golf team is set to compete in the Pan Arab Men’s and Seniors Championship, hosted at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.The prestigious event will bring together the Arab world’s finest golfers from 13 countries — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, and Palestine all vying for top honors in one of the region’s most anticipated golf tournaments.This year’s championship holds special significance as it coincides with the Golden Jubilee of the Arab Golf Federation (AGF), marking 50 years of unity, growth, and achievement in Arab golf. The milestone celebration reflects the Federation’s enduring commitment to promoting the sport and fostering collaboration across the Arab world.On the sidelines of the tournament, the AGF General Assembly will convene, with representatives from national golf federations discussing the sport’s future development, reviewing major accomplishments, and electing a new managing council to guide the Federation into its next chapter.Fahad Nasser Al Naimi, Secretary General of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), emphasized the importance of the championship, describing it as “one of the most competitive and prestigious tournaments in the Arab golfing calendar.”He confirmed that the Qatari team has completed its preparations and expressed confidence in the players’ ability to deliver a strong and honorable performance that reflects the steady progress of Qatari golf on the regional stage.Al Naimi also noted that the Qatari squad features a blend of experienced and rising talents, aiming for both individual and team success. “Our players are determined to reach the podium and strengthen Qatar’s standing in the AGF’s official rankings,” he said.Fahad Nasser Al Naimi will lead the Qatari delegation at the championship, representing Qatar’s continued dedication to advancing the sport and celebrating Arab golfing excellence.

Qatar's Abeer Al Buainain Named Vice-President of Arab Gymnastics Federation

Amman - Secretary-General of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), Abeer Al Buainain, was named Vice-President of the Arab Gymnastics Federation (AGF) during the AGF's General Assembly held in Amman, Jordan.The move is a culmination of the energized efforts undertaken by QGF to enhance the stature of Qatari gymnastics on the regional and global stages, demonstrating the profound confidence of the Arab sporting community in Qatar's national competencies.It also underscores the significant capabilities of Qatari talents across Arab and international forums and embodies Qatar's iron-clad commitment to backing Arab sports, particularly this sport.A meeting of the AGF's General Assembly witnessed the election of the new board of directors amid aspirations for further advancement of this sport on the Arab, regional, and global stages in the coming period. 

Qatar Volleyball Team Triumphs Over Saudi Arabia at Islamic Solidarity Games

Riyadh - Qatar’s men’s volleyball team secured an impressive 3-1 victory over hosts Saudi Arabia on Monday in a thrilling match at the Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Riyadh until November 21. The result boosts Qatar’s chances of advancing to the tournament’s knockout rounds.The Qatari side produced a dominant display, winning with set scores of (21–25, 25–16, 25–20, 25–21). Playing in front of a large crowd at Riyadh Boulevard Arena, the team showed superior organization and determination throughout the match.With this vital win, Qatar moves closer to the semifinals and remains firmly in contention for a medal. The team will next face Bahrain on Wednesday in a decisive game that could seal their qualification.Following the match, Ali Ghanem Al-Kuwari, President of the Qatar Volleyball Association, expressed his delight with the result, noting that the victory carried special significance given the strength of the Saudi team and the excitement of the contest.“This win is an important milestone for our players,” Al-Kuwari said. “They faced a strong opponent on home soil, but managed the pressure well, showing high focus and discipline in key moments. It’s a reflection of the team’s fighting spirit and unity.”He added that the performance demonstrates the steady progress of Qatari volleyball, crediting the players, coaching staff, and the continued support of the Qatar Olympic Committee for their success.“The team is now moving in the right direction,” he added. “We’re confident they can continue their strong performances and achieve another positive result against Bahrain.”In swimming, Ali Tamer advanced to the 100m freestyle final, clocking 50.44 seconds in the heats and 50.53 seconds in the semifinals. His teammate Mohammed Aziz Ismail narrowly missed qualifying for the 200m butterfly final, while Hamza Al-Shalaan was forced to withdraw from the 200m breaststroke final due to injury after qualifying earlier.Saud Al-Juhani, Board Member of the Qatar Swimming Association, praised the young athletes’ efforts, saying their participation marks an important step in developing the next generation of Qatari swimmers.“Our swimmers have shown great potential,” he said. “These experiences will shape a strong future for Qatari swimming.”Qatar is represented by 82 athletes across 16 sports at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, competing alongside more than 3,000 athletes from 57 nations in 23 disciplines. Qatar has a proud history at the event, with 30 medals won since its first participation in 2005 — including 8 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze. 

Team Qatar Gears Up for Zimbabwe Test Ahead of Arab Cup Challenge

DOHA - Spanish tactician Julen Lopetegui has unveiled his latest Qatar squad for the international friendly against Zimbabwe, to be held on November 17 at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.The encounter comes at a vital moment for team Qatar as they build momentum for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, set to light up Doha from December 1 to 18.Lopetegui’s selection combines experience with fresh energy, though a few stars from the World Cup qualifying campaign will sit out this time.Qatar will face a competitive Group A at the Arab Cup, joining Tunisia, Palestine, Libya, and the winner between Syria and South Sudan.

Qatar Ends Group Stage with a Goalless Draw Against Bolivia

DOHA - Qatar’s U-17 national football team wrapped up their group-stage campaign with a goalless draw against Bolivia on Saturday at Mansour Muftah Stadium in Aspire, in the third and final round of Group A fixtures at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, which continues until November 27.In the same group, Italy cemented their top spot with a 3-1 victory over South Africa, raising their tally to nine points. South Africa followed with four points, while Qatar finished third with two, and Bolivia ended the stage without a point.The match saw a balanced contest, though Qatar started brightly with high pressing and swift transitions down the flanks—particularly through Zaid Faisal and Tamim Al Qadi—creating several promising opportunities in the first half.Qatar nearly took the lead within the opening minute when Tamim Al Qadi’s cross from the left deflected off a defender and found Adam Riyadh, whose close-range effort was cleared off the line by the Bolivian goalkeeper.Bolivia replied in the 19th minute with a curling strike from Nassif Nabil that drifted narrowly over the bar. Qatar continued to press, as Yazan Hani unleashed a powerful shot from inside the box that was superbly saved by goalkeeper Jovia Geronimo in the 30th minute, before Adam Riyadh’s header went just over. Despite Qatar’s dominance in attack, the first half ended without goals.After the restart, Qatar intensified their pursuit of a winner. Zaid Faisal hit the right post in the 51st minute and later missed a one-on-one opportunity in the 62nd minute. Substitute Issa Waleed also came close near the end, but his shot was deflected for a corner, sealing a goalless stalemate at full time.This year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup marks a historic edition, featuring 48 teams for the first time. The participants are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group alongside the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32.