Qatar Women’s Volleyball Team Set for Asian Games Opener Against Vietnam

AICHI-NAGOYA – Qatar’s women’s volleyball team will launch their Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games campaign on Wednesday against Vietnam in Group D, as the Qatari side begins its quest for a place in the quarterfinals.The opening encounter will start at 7:00 a.m. Doha time, with Qatar facing South Korea on Thursday before meeting Hong Kong on Friday in their final Group D match.The top two teams in each of the four groups will progress to the quarterfinals, with 14 teams competing in the women’s volleyball tournament.Qatar’s Group D opponents are Vietnam, South Korea and Hong Kong. Japan, Indonesia and Nepal make up Group A; China, Kazakhstan and the Philippines are in Group B; while Group C consists of Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia.The Qatari team will seek a strong start against a group that includes sides boasting considerable continental experience. The squad will be aiming to reach the knockout stage while showcasing the significant development achieved by women’s volleyball in Qatar in recent years.The women’s volleyball competition is scheduled for September 16-22, ahead of the official opening of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Saturday. The Games will run until October 4 across Japan.Qatar’s 243-athlete delegation features 184 men and 59 women representing 18 sports federations. The contingent is looking to build on Qatar’s performance at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, where the country collected 14 medals , five gold, six silver and three bronze.

Coll Advances to Qatar Classic Quarterfinals as El Sherbini’s Title Defence Ends

DOHA – Defending champion and World No. 2 Paul Coll continued his title defence at the QTerminals Qatar Classic 2026 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Switzerland’s Dimitri Steinmann, booking his place in the quarterfinals with a clinical 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 triumph.Coll, who produced a composed and authoritative display throughout, will face France’s Victor Crouin in the last eight. Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad also progressed to the quarterfinals after securing a straight-games victory.In the women’s draw, World No. 2 Amina Orfi produced another impressive performance, sweeping aside compatriot Nardine Garas to set up an all-Egyptian quarterfinal clash with Fayrouz Abo El Kheir. Britain’s Jasmine Hutton also advanced to the last eight.The day’s biggest upset came in the women’s competition, where Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold ended the title defence of 2024 champion Nour El Sherbini with a 3-1 victory.Speaking after his match, Coll highlighted his movement and concentration as key factors behind his performance, while Orfi reiterated her ambition of reaching the world No. 1 ranking after recently claiming the London Classic title. 

QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash Championship Continues as Top Seeds Advance

DOHA -  The 2026 QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash Championship continued successfully on Sunday, with the tournament featuring some of the world's leading players and organised by the Qatar Squash Federation.Seven second-round matches were played on Sunday, with the remaining matches scheduled for Monday on the main glass court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.Egypt's Mostafa Asal, the world No. 1, advanced to the quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Switzerland's Yannick Wilhelmi, winning 11-5, 11-4, 11-3. Asal's victory underlined his strong form and kept him firmly in contention for the title. He will contest his quarter-final on Tuesday.England's Marwan ElShorbagy also booked his place in the last eight after defeating compatriot Curtis Malik 3-0, winning 11-5, 11-9, 11-7.France's Gregoire Marche secured another quarter-final berth after overcoming American Timothy Brownell 3-1 in a closely contested encounter. Marche lost the opening game 5-11 before responding strongly to win the next three 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.Brownell had produced one of the tournament's biggest upsets in the opening round on Saturday, defeating third-seeded Peruvian Diego Elias, a two-time Qatar Classic champion in 2021 and 2024, 3-2.In the women's competition, defending champion and world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy of Egypt reached the quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over England's Lucy Turmel.El Hammamy controlled the contest from the outset, winning 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 to continue her title defence in impressive fashion. Fellow Egyptian Nouran Gohar also progressed to the quarter-finals after overcoming compatriot Malak Khafagy in a marathon 91-minute battle.Gohar prevailed 3-2 in a fiercely contested match, winning 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 12-14, 11-9.Malaysia's world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam also advanced after defeating Egypt's Salma Hany 3-0. The Malaysian won 12-10, 11-6, 11-5.Belgium's Tinne Gilis completed the list of women's quarter-finalists from Sunday's matches after overcoming rising Indian star Anahat Singh in a five-game battle.Gilis won 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3 to progress to the next round. Singh, the reigning world junior champion, had caused a major upset in the opening round on Saturday by defeating Egypt's Farida Mohamed, the world No. 16, 3-2.  

Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation Caps FISU World University Weightlifting Doha 2026 with Another Chapter of Success

DOHA – The 10th edition of the World University Weightlifting Championships Doha 2026 concluded in Doha today, Saturday, following five days of intense competition from September 8 to 12. Organized by the Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation and held at Education City, the championship featured 116 athletes representing 21 countries from around the world, competing in 16 weight categories, with eight categories for men and eight for women.H.E. Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation, extended his sincere congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, and H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, on Qatari weightlifter Wissal Yakhlel’s achievement of winning three gold medals in the women’s +86kg category and   the outstanding success of the FISU World University Championship Weightlifting Doha 2026. He expressed his appreciation for their valued support for sport, emphasizing that this success represents a continuation of Qatar’s distinguished track record in hosting and organizing major international sporting events.H.E. Dr. Al Nuaimi extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to H.E. Mr. Mohammed Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, commending the Federation’s fruitful cooperation and valued efforts in successfully organizing this outstanding edition of the championship, which received widespread praise and acclaim. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to Qatar Foundation for hosting the championship and for its instrumental role in ensuring the success of this sporting event.H.E. Dr. Al Nuaimi also congratulated Wissal Yakhlef, team Qatar lifter, on winning three gold medals, describing her achievement as the perfect finale to the championship and a source of pride for Qatari university sport. He expressed his pride in her accomplishment and wished her continued success and excellence, with further achievements in her upcoming Asian and Olympic competitions.The closing ceremony was attended by Mr. Rashid Saeed Adiba, Secretary-General of the Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation; Dr. Milan Mihajlovic, FISU TCC Weightlifting; and Ms. Sarita Morales Brenes, FISU ICC member, along with a number of prominent sports and academic figures and members of the QCSF Board.Addressing the audience and athletes at the closing ceremony, Mr. Rashid Saeed Odhaiba, Secretary-General of the Qatar University Sports Federation, said: “On this special evening, we come to the conclusion of the FISU World University Championship Weightlifting Doha 2026, bringing to a close five days filled with competition, passion and determination. We succeeded in delivering an event worthy of the stature of this global sporting occasion, and this success would not have been possible without your collective efforts, dedication, perseverance and spirit of teamwork.In her remarks, Ms. Sarita Morales Brenes, Member of the International Control Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), extended her sincere thanks and appreciation, on behalf of FISU, to the Qatar University Sports Federation and all officials, guests, volunteers, coaches, technical officials and athletes for their contributions to the success of the World University Weightlifting Championships Doha 2026. She noted that, over five days, the championship brought together the values of hard work, focus, respect and friendship.In the men’s 110kg category on Saturday , American George Upmeyer asserted his dominance, sweeping all three gold medals in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total. He posted 168kg in the Snatch, 201kg in the Clean and Jerk and 369kg in the Total to complete a commanding performance.Romanian Paul Ionita enjoyed a strong showing on the podium, collecting three medals ,  two silver and one bronze. He secured silver in the Clean and Jerk with a 196kg lift and in the Total with 359kg, while adding a bronze medal in the Snatch after lifting 163kg. American Caleb Weakland also finished among the medalists, claiming three medals , silver in the Snatch with 164kg, bronze in the Clean and Jerk with 192kg, and bronze in the Total with 356kg.Dr. Milan Mihajlovic, FISU TCC Weightlifting , presented the medals to the top three finishers in the men’s 110kg category, in a celebratory atmosphere that reflected the significance of their achievements and the competitive spirit that defined the championship.In the women’s 86kg category, Chinese Taipei’s Yulin Peng dominated the competition, claiming all three gold medals. She took gold in the Snatch with a lift of 107kg, followed by gold in the Clean and Jerk with 125kg, before completing her sweep with gold in the Total at 232kg. South Korea’s Yubin Hong secured three silver medals, finishing second in the Snatch with 100kg, the Clean and Jerk with 124kg, and the Total with 224kg. Moldova’s Anastasia Palich completed the podium with three bronze medals, recording 93kg in the Snatch, 116kg in the Clean and Jerk, and 209kg in the Total.In the women’s +86kg category, Qatar’s Wissal Yakhlef also swept all three gold medals, winning the Snatch with 125kg, the Clean and Jerk with 155kg, and the Total with 280kg. South Korea’s Hyoebin secured three silver medals, with 103kg in the Snatch, 145kg in the Clean and Jerk, and 248kg in the Total. Slovakia’s Lenka Zimbova claimed three bronze medals, lifting 102kg in the Snatch, 127kg in the Clean and Jerk, and 229kg in the Total.H.E. Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, presented the medals to the top three finishers in the women’s 86kg and +86kg categories, as the Qatari athlete celebrated her outstanding achievement amid a festive atmosphere.In the men’s +110kg category, Iraqi lifter Jabar Mustafa dominated the podium, claiming all three gold medals after winning the Snatch with 170kg, the Clean and Jerk with 212kg, and the Total with 382kg. South Korea’s Dong Hyun Kim secured two silver medals, taking silver in the Clean and Jerk with 211kg and in the Total with 363kg.Moldova’s Stanislav Uja claimed two medals , silver and bronze after taking silver in the Snatch with 166kg and bronze in the Total with 357kg. Finland’s Hanno Keskitalo won bronze in the Snatch with 165kg, while South Korea’s Dong Hyun Kim claimed bronze in the Clean and Jerk with 198kg.The closing ceremony also featured the handover of the FISU flag to Ms. Sarita Morales Brenes, Member of the International Control Committee of FISU. Albania will host the 11th edition of the championship in two years. With the flag passed to the next host nation, the curtain came down on five days of competition that brought together around 116 male and female athletes from 21 countries, showcasing strong technical performances and fiercely contested competition across the various weight categories.

Qatar Swimming Champion Nada Wafa Elected Chair of ISSA Athletes Committee

RIYADH, (QNA) – Qatar swimming champion Nada Mohamed Wafa has been elected Chair of the Athletes Committee of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) during the Association’s General Assembly meeting held in Taif, Saudi Arabia, with representatives from its member countries in attendance.Wafa’s election reflects her distinguished sporting achievements and extensive experience on the regional and international stage. In her new capacity, she will lead the Athletes Committee in representing athletes and advancing their participation in the Association’s program, activities and events.Her election also underscores the growing confidence in Qatari sporting talent at the international level and further enhances Qatar’s presence within regional and international sports organizations. It also highlights Qatar’s continued contribution to the development of sport and its commitment to supporting and empowering athletes.Nada Mohamed Wafa is one of Qatar’s prominent sporting figures, having represented the country at numerous regional and international competitions. Her distinguished career includes participation in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in South Korea.

Sheikh Joaan Meets UAE Olympic Committee Vice President and British Ambassador

Doha: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, met separately today with Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Olympic Committee, and H.E. Neerav Patel, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar.During the two meetings, they reviewed cooperation between the State of Qatar and both the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, and discussed ways to further support and develop cooperation in the field of sport in the coming period.The meetings also covered a number of other topics of mutual interest.