Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad attends renewal of cooperation agreement signing ceremony between OCA and Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

Manama:  H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, attended today the signing ceremony for the renewal of the Cooperation Agreement between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Youth Games currently being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The agreement was signed by Mr. Timothy Fok, First Vice President of the OCA, and Mr. Mustapha Berraf, President of ANOCA.This renewed agreement aims to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two bodies, develop joint initiatives to address shared challenges faced by athletes and professionals across both continents, enhance technical exchange programs, train sports administrators, and coordinate efforts in preparation for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.Also present at the signing were H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for West Asia, and H.E. Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.It is worth noting that H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani is the sole candidate for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia, with the election scheduled to take place during the OCA General Assembly in January next year. 

Draw for Gulf U-23 Cup to be held on November 4

Doha: The Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), headquartered in Doha, announced that the draw for the Gulf U-23 Cup will take place on November 4.In a statement on its official website, the AGCFF confirmed that the draw ceremony will be held at the Qatar Football Association headquarters in Doha via video conference, with the participation of representatives from all Gulf teams, in addition to Iraq and Yemen.The tournament will be hosted in Doha from December 4 to 16, as part of a series of competitions organized by the Federation — which include the Gulf Cup for senior national teams, the youth and junior championships recently held in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the Gulf Champions League for clubs, played in a home-and-away format featuring eight teams divided into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals.The AGCFF’s tournaments have achieved remarkable success both at the national team and club levels, attracting significant media coverage and fan engagement. They have also helped uncover a new generation of young talents who are expected to become key players in their respective national teams in the future.Through these championships, the AGCFF reaffirms its commitment to developing Gulf football and strengthening its regional and international presence, further enhancing the standing of Gulf teams across all levels. 

Qatar Olympic Committee participates in OCA Executive Board Meeting

Manama: H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for West Asia, and His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games, participated in the Executive Board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia, held today in the Kingdom of Bahrain on the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Youth Games.The meeting reviewed the latest developments related to the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Nagoya, Japan in 2026, in addition to the ongoing preparations for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which will be hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh.The meeting also discussed the arrangements for the upcoming OCA General Assembly, scheduled to take place in January 2026 in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. Several topics on the agenda were also addressed, with appropriate decisions taken to support the advancement of the Olympic movement in Asia and meet the aspirations of the sporting community across the continent.

67 Qatari Athletes Compete in 16 Sports.. QOC President attends opening ceremony of the Asian Youth Games

Manama: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), attended today the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain until 31 October.H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King of Bahrain for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, officially declared the Games open during a grand ceremony held at the Exhibition World Bahrain, in the presence of presidents of Asian National Olympic Committees and senior sports officials from across the continent.Also in attendance were H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the QOC, and H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the QOC.The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular show that included various segments and artistic performances blending modernity with the rich heritage of Bahrain. It also featured the parade of participating nations, official speeches by the Organizing Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and the raising of the Games’ flag.The 3rd Asian Youth Games features 26 sports, with more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, making it the largest edition in the event’s history. The Games also serve as qualifiers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.The state of Qatar is represented by 67 athletes competing in 16 sports, namely: athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, equestrian (show jumping), golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, cycling, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling, volleyball, beach volleyball, and boxing. Female athletes are participating in four of these sports: athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.On the other hand, Qatar’s youth volleyball team lost to Chinese Taipei today in straight sets (0–3), with set scores of 17–25, 17–25, and 16–25.Qatar’s athletes will begin competition tomorrow in 3x3 basketball, athletics, golf, boxing, equestrian, and triathlon.Team Qatar aims to make a strong impression at the Games and compete for medals across several sports. This participation is also part of the nation’s long-term preparation for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.

Team Qatar secure Semi-Final Berth in FIP Asia Padel Cup 2025

DOHA – Qatar’s men’s national padel team delivered an emphatic performance on Tuesday, defeating Pakistan 3-0 to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the FIP Asia Padel Cup 2025, currently underway in Doha.The victory lifted Qatar to four points in Group B, level with Australia, who edged past Kuwait 2-1 in their group encounter. The two group leaders will clash on Wednesday in a decisive match to determine the group winner.In Group A, both Iran and the UAE confirmed their places in the semi-finals. Iran triumphed over Lebanon 3-0, while the UAE outlasted Jordan 2-1. Each team now holds four points, and they will meet tomorrow to settle first and second place in the group standings.In the women’s competition, Japan and Iran advanced from Group A after recording identical 3-0 victories against the UAE and Saudi Arabia, respectively. They will face each other on Wednesday to determine the group leader.Meanwhile, in Group B, Australia blanked Thailand 3-0, and Indonesia matched that result with a dominant win over the Philippines. Indonesia lead the group with four points and can secure top position with a win against Thailand. Both Thailand and Australia, with three points apiece, remain in contention for a semi-final berth. Australia will next take on the Philippines.The semi-finals for both the men’s and women’s events are scheduled for Thursday, followed by the finals on Friday, marking the conclusion of the inaugural edition of the FIP Asia Padel Cup. 

Qatar girls’ volleyball team reach quarterfinals of Asian Youth Games

Manama: Qatar’s girls’ volleyball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain after defeating the host nation 3–0 on Tuesday.The Qatari team delivered a commanding performance, winning in straight sets (25–8, 25–6, 25–13), finishing second in Group A behind Iran to secure a place among the last eight teams.In the men’s competition, Team Qatar lost 0–3 to Iran in its second match, with set scores of (12–25, 8–25, 13–25). Earlier, Qatar had also lost its opener to China 1–3, ending its chances of progressing to the quarterfinals.Meanwhile, in the beach volleyball competition, Qatar’s duo Ahmed Ziad and Moussa Al Khair suffered two defeats — losing 0–2 to Thailand (13–21, 10–21) and 1–2 to Sri Lanka (18–21, 21–8, 12–15). The pair had opened their campaign with a 2–1 victory over the Maldives.Twelve teams are competing in beach volleyball, divided into two groups. Group A includes Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Mongolia, while Group B features Qatar, Bahrain, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals.In the women’s beach volleyball event, Qatar’s duo Celine Mahmoud and Siwar Al Asal lost 0–2 to Malaysia in Group A, which also includes China, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka.Elsewhere, Qatar’s delegations in athletics, 3x3 basketball, equestrian, taekwondo, boxing, and triathlon arrived in Bahrain today to join the competition.The 3rd Asian Youth Games feature 26 sports, with more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, making it the largest edition in the event’s history. The Games also serve as qualifiers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.Qatar is represented by 67 male and female athletes competing in 16 sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball (3x3), equestrian (show jumping), golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, cycling, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling, volleyball, beach volleyball, and boxing. Female athletes are participating in four sports — athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.Team Qatar aims to make a strong impression at the Games and compete for medals across several sports. This participation is also part of the nation’s long-term preparation for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.Qatar previously won two silver medals in athletics at the inaugural Singapore 2009 Asian Youth Games and three medals (one gold, two silver) at the Nanjing 2013 edition, including gold in handball and two silvers in shooting.