Qatar to participate with 82 athletes in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced that it will participate with a delegation of 82 male and female athletes in the 6th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, which will be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh from November 7 to 21, with more than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries expected to take part.During a press conference held at the QOC Headquarters on Thursday, Mr. Khalifa Jabor Al-Naimi, Deputy Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation, confirmed that Qatar will compete in 16 sports: Athletics, Duathlon, 3x3 Basketball, Karate, Equestrian, Wrestling, Volleyball, Handball, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Judo, Weightlifting, Camel Racing, Swimming, Fencing, and Para Athletics.Al-Naimi highlighted that Qatar’s participation in the Islamic Solidarity Games reflects the QOC and the State of Qatar’s commitment to being actively present in Islamic, Arab, and Asian sporting events, and to strengthening sporting ties among nations.He added that the Qatari teams have completed their preparations through intensive training programs supervised by their respective federations in coordination with the QOC. He emphasized that the Qatari delegation aims to deliver outstanding performances and reach the podium, particularly in athletics, weightlifting, handball, and volleyball — the sports in which Qatar is expected to perform most strongly.Al-Naimi acknowledged the strong level of competition, given the large number of participating nations. He noted that the main objective is to maximize the technical benefits of the Games by offering opportunities to a wide range of Qatari athletes — both youth athletes being groomed for the Doha 2030 Asian Games and elite athletes capable of competing for medals.He concluded by reviewing Qatar’s proud history in the Islamic Solidarity Games, which began in Mecca 2005 with the first gold medal. That success was followed by Palembang 2013, where Qatar won five medals, and Baku 2017, which marked a turning point with 12 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze). In Konya 2022, Qatar maintained the same total with an improvement in quality — 4 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze. This brought Qatar’s historical total at the Islamic Solidarity Games to 30 medals: 8 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze, reaffirming Qatar’s strong presence and readiness to shine again in the Riyadh 2025 edition.The Islamic Solidarity Games program includes 23 sports: Athletics, Fencing, 3x3 Basketball, Swimming, Handball, Table Tennis, Camel Racing, Volleyball, Karate, Muay Thai, Judo, Weightlifting, Futsal, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Esports, Wushu, Boxing, Equestrian (Show Jumping), Duathlon, Jiu-Jitsu, Para Athletics, and Para Weightlifting.

Team Qatar cruise past Korea to reach U-17 World Handball Championship Semi-Finals

Rabat– The Qatari national team has booked its place in the semi-finals of the inaugural U-17 World Handball Championship, currently taking place in Morocco, following a commanding victory over South Korea with a score of 45–24 in the final round of Group B matches on Tuesday.With this impressive win, Team Qatar raised its tally to four points, securing second place in Group B behind Spain, which leads the group with six points. Tunisia finished third with two points, while South Korea concluded their campaign in fourth place without any points.Qatar advanced to the semi-finals as the best second-placed team across the tournament’s three groups, joining the group winners Spain (Group B), Egypt (Group A), and Germany (Group C).The achievement marks another milestone for Qatari handball, showcasing the rising talent and competitive spirit of the next generation on the world stage. 

Qatar to face Germany in U-17 Handball World Championship semifinals

Rabat: Qatar's under-17 handball team will take on Germany on Thursday in the semifinals of the U-17 World Championship, currently underway in Morocco.Qatar is aiming to reach the final for the first time in its history, having advanced to the semifinals with a string of strong performances. The team secured its spot with a decisive 45-24 victory over South Korea, finishing second in its group behind Spain and qualifying as the best runner-up.The Qatari squad will rely on its speed in transition, individual skill, and the players' ambition to replicate the success of previous national handball teams.Germany, known for its disciplined play, powerful shooting, and solid defense, is expected to pose a formidable challenge.In the other semifinal match, Egypt will face Spain, with the winners of both games set to meet in the championship final.

Stage set for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025

Doha: The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has reaffirmed Qatar’s readiness to host the historic youth tournament, taking place 3-27 November 2025.During a press conference held on Wednesday, LOC officials unveiled key tournament details, operational preparations and comprehensive measures to deliver an exceptional experience for the 48 participating teams and fans expected to attend the event.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is the first tournament of its kind to feature 48 teams, with as many as eight matches a day, for a total of 104 matches. The tournament will be contested across eight pitches at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex in Aspire Zone, with the Final set to take place at Khalifa International Stadium.Organisers announced that the tournament has already attracted wide international attention, with over 500 media organisations from 65 nations confirmed to cover the event.In addition, a dedicated Fan Zone will feature football competitions, e-gaming zones, live entertainment and cultural performances that reflect Qatari heritage and the diversity of the participating teams, creating a festive atmosphere on match days.In keeping with the LOC’s commitment to sustainability, organisers announced that the tournament will operate under proven environmental practices from the FIFA World Cup 2022, including comprehensive waste management and recycling programmes. Disabled fans can avail a number of accessibility services including audio descriptive commentary for select matches, as well as sensory rooms in the Fan Zone.Qatar’s modern transportation network will ensure barrier-free access for all spectators. The Sports City metro station on the Golden Line provides immediate access to Aspire Zone, while dedicated ride-sharing and taxi drop-off zones are also available for maximum convenience. Spectators opting for private vehicles can take advantage of expansive parking facilities, with clearly marked accessibility spaces for visitors with mobility requirements. Wheelchair-accessible taxis will also be available through the Karwa app.Around 500 volunteers will support operations across multiple functional areas, embodying the community spirit that define Qatar’s approach to hosting major international events.Fans can purchase FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 tickets at: www.roadtoqatar.qa. Tickets will be available as a Day Pass for QR20, which will enable fans to attend multiple matches a day as well as cultural and entertainment activities in the Fan Zones.Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage. Disabled fans can request accessible tickets by emailing: [email protected] 2025 edition marks the first of five consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cups that Qatar will host through 2029, reflecting the nation’s long-term commitment to developing youth football globally and cementing its status as a leading sports destination. 

Team Qatar athletes continue their campaign at Asian Youth Games

Bahrain : Team Qatar continued its participation yesterday at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently taking place in the Kingdom of Bahrain and running until October 31, with over 5,000 athletes representing 45 Asian National Olympic Committees. The event also serves as a qualifier for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.The most notable result came from the jiu-jitsu competition, where Saud Al-Kahtari finished fourth in the 85kg category after losing to Bahrain’s Pedro Jesus. Al-Kahtari had earlier defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Linar Saribev in the round of 16, and Palestine’s Ali Al-Ayyan in the quarterfinals, before falling to Kazakhstan’s Muslim Arsmakov in the semifinal.In the same sport, Saeed Al-Abdullah won his round of 32 bout in the 62kg category against Kazakhstan’s Yerasyl Sabr, but exited the competition after losing to the Philippines’ Jacob Tudla in the round of 16.In judo, Saleh Al-Saadi lost to India’s Kartik Sehrawat in the round of 16 in the 66kg division, while in wrestling, Talal Al-Shaib was defeated by China’s Cheng Zhang in the same round of the 55kg division.In swimming, none of the Qatari athletes managed to qualify for the finals. Ziad Mursi clocked 2:04.06 minutes in the 200m freestyle heats, while in the 100m breaststroke, Adam Mursi finished with 1:07.23 minutes, and Hamza Shaalan recorded 1:05.66 minutes, missing the final by just 0.21 seconds.In volleyball, the Qatari women’s team concluded their campaign with a 0–3 loss to Hong Kong in the 7th–8th place playoff.Meanwhile, Team Qatar’s cycling squad wrapped up its participation in the individual road race, with Jassim Al-Jaber, Abdul Ali Hamza, Mohammed Saeed, and Abdulaziz Al-Adawi competing but not finishing among the top positions.Mohammed Abdul Salam, Head of Qatar’s delegation at the Games, praised the overall participation, describing it as a vital step for the next generation of Qatari athletes.“These young athletes represent the future of Qatari sport,” he said. “This participation is an essential milestone in preparing for the Doha 2030 Asian Games, as part of a broader strategy to develop athletes capable of reaching the podium in major continental competitions.”Abdul Salam added: “We are very satisfied with the performance across all sports. Our athletes competed in most of the events and achieved historic medals, including podium finishes in equestrian and 3x3 basketball for the first time. Their performances reflect the strong work being done across Qatar’s sports federations.”He concluded: “While medals are certainly important, many of our athletes are participating in a major Asian event for the first time. This experience provides valuable exposure and confidence that will help them achieve better results in the future.”So far, Team Qatar has won four medals at the Games: one gold by Idris Abubakar in the 110m hurdles, two silvers — by Dana Salem in the 100m sprint and the equestrian jumping team — and one bronze by the 3x3 basketball team.

West Asia Archery Championship begins

Doha: The 2nd West Asia Archery Championship kicked off today at the Lusail Shooting Range Complex, with competitions running until November 3. The event brings together around 100 male and female archers representing nine countries: Qatar (host), Kuwait, UAE, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, and Syria.The championship features Olympic recurve and compound bow competitions across individual, team, and mixed team categories.Day one saw intense and exciting action during the official practice sessions, as participants showcased strong performances and determination to excel throughout the remaining stages.Team Qatar is represented by 12 archers: Ahmed Al-Sada, Suleiman Boutaima, Maha Abdelhai, Reem Al-Saee, Sharefa Al-Obaidli, Amina Al-Jarman, Farhan Abdurrahman, Abdulaziz Al-Abadi, Hamad Al-Yafei, Omar Laram, Munira Al-Adsani, and Aisha Al-Saee.Competitions continue tomorrow (Thursday) with the qualification rounds for both categories. On Friday, the team and mixed team elimination rounds will take place, followed by individual eliminations on Saturday. The tournament will conclude on Monday, November 3, with the finals for all categories (individual, team, and mixed team) and the awards ceremony.Team Qatar entered the championship well-prepared, following several training camps abroad and participation in international tournaments.Saber bin Ibrahim, Technical Expert at the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation and Tournament Director, expressed his satisfaction with the strong start and the record participation from nine nations.He stated that preparations had been underway for almost a year, with the Federation providing all necessary resources and acquiring new equipment to ensure top-level technical standards — reflecting Qatar’s capacity to successfully host major sporting events.He praised the high turnout, noting that more than 70 archers took part in the official training sessions. Hosting this number of elite Asian archers, he added, offers a valuable opportunity for Qatari athletes to gain experience and enhance their skills, which will contribute to the growth of archery in Qatar.Regarding the Qatari participation, Mr. Saber confirmed that the 12 national athletes were well-prepared through international camps and World Cup events, in addition to intensive local training at Lusail ranges.He concluded by noting that the Federation had received widespread praise from participating delegations for the event’s smooth organization, adding that such excellence is nothing new for Qatar, and wishing success to all competitors.