Qatar’s national 3x3 basketball teams make quantum leap in world rankings

Doha: The Qatar national 3x3 basketball team achieved a significant milestone in the FIBA world rankings rising to 18th place with a total of 1,131,976 points, moving up from 23rd and surpassing teams such as Poland, New Zealand, Canada, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, the Philippines, and Australia.Meanwhile, the QatarU-23 3x3 national team has made a remarkable leap of 19 places to secure the fifth position in the world with 832,921 points, outpacing established teams like China, Japan, Latvia, Algeria, the Netherlands, and Italy, thus achieving its highest ranking to date, previously being ranked 24th.The impressive progress is indicative of the extensive efforts being made by the Qatari sports system, particularly by the Qatar Basketball Federation.This advancement is a direct result of the strong performances exhibited by both teams in various international tournaments, which have played a crucial role in elevating their global standings and solidifying their status among the elite teams worldwide.This notable improvement in the rankings of the Qatar basketball teams also signifies that the sport is on the brink of a new era of excellence, amidst widespread aspirations for further accomplishments in future events. This will bolster Qatar’s presence in international arenas and actualize the national vision towards a sustainable sporting culture rooted in competition, passion, and achievement.The Qatar U-23 3x3 national team has firmly positioned itself on the continental stage, having won the third and sixth stages of the FIBA 3x3 Nations League - Asia-Pacific, which was hosted by the Qatar Basketball Federation in Doha from May 28 to June 3, featuring 12 of the world’s leading teams.Qatar amassed 520 points during these competitions, securing victories in two stages and finishing as runners-up in the first, second, and fourth stages. This achievement places them in a favorable position to qualify for the World Championships set to take place in Xiong’an, China, from September 17 to 21, pending the conclusion of the remaining continental qualifiers.QBF President Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb expressed his great pride in the achievement, stressing that this accomplishment is the result of long-term planning and continuous efforts from everyone.He said: “We are very proud of this advancement in the world rankings, as it reflects the hard work undertaken by the national team at all levels. We faced difficult challenges and achieved positive results that helped us improve our ranking. This unprecedented position is a major morale boost and confirms that Qatar basketball is heading in the right direction. On this occasion, I can only extend my thanks and gratitude to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for his continuous support and constant interest in the sport of basketball.”For his part, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, QBF Secretary-General, also expressed his happiness with this achievement, describing it as the culmination of a period of hard institutional work and continuous development.He said: “What has been achieved is the result of organized teamwork, reflecting the Federation’s commitment to developing the game at all levels. The world ranking is not just a number; it is an indicator of the maturity of the sporting project led by Qatar, and proof that our technical plans are on the right track. We promise the Qatar fans more achievements and championships in the coming period.”Meanwhile, Captain Yassin Ismail, Director of the National Basketball Teams (3x3), commended the achievements of the first and under-23 teams, considering their advancement in the world rankings the fruit of long-term commitment and discipline from the players and the technical staff.“We have made significant progress in the 3x3 category, and have benefited from hosting the various stages of the Nations League, where the national team has shown a high level of technical performance. Winning two stages and being on the podium in most of the stages reflects our consistent performance. We are close to securing a place in the World Championship, and this is a major goal that we are working towards with all seriousness. What has been achieved so far is honorable, but we aspire for more,” he said. 

Rakan Al Harith Shines at Asian Championships, Reaches Pommel Horse Final in South Korea

Jecheon, South Korea: In a groundbreaking achievement for Qatari sport, national gymnastics team member *Rakan Al Harith* has qualified for the *pommel horse final* at the *12th Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, currently being held in **Jecheon, South Korea*. The event features a stellar lineup of Asia’s top gymnasts, including Olympic champions and internationally ranked athletes.Al Harith delivered an outstanding performance in the qualifying round, scoring *13.733 points, made up of a **difficulty score of 5.0* and an *execution score of 8.733*, showcasing his remarkable improvement and confirming that Qatari gymnastics is steadily advancing toward excellence and elite competition.His qualification to the final marks a significant milestone—not only as his first-ever appearance in an Asian final, but also because it came amid fierce competition from some of the continent’s and world’s best gymnasts. This reflects both the level of challenge he overcame and the quality of his performance.This achievement represents an important chapter in the journey of the *Qatar Gymnastics Federation, which continues to reap the rewards of its investment in national talent and technical infrastructure. Qatar has now firmly established its presence in one of the most competitive continental championships, thanks to a young gymnast who secured a place among the **top eight* on the pommel horse.The Federation’s leadership emphasized that this success is the result of collective effort and reflects the overall progress of gymnastics in Qatar, supported by the country’s strong sporting leadership. They noted that qualifying for an Asian final of this caliber is a win for Qatari sport as a whole—and for Qatari gymnastics in particular.As the final rounds of the championship approach, gymnastics fans in Qatar and the Arab world are eagerly anticipating Rakan’s performance, hopeful that he will achieve a top placement and continue making history at this prestigious event. 

Qatar shooters win 3 medals at Asian Shotgun Cup in China

Linfen: Team Qatar delivered a commendable performance at the Asian Shotgun Cup 2025, securing three medals across individual and team skeet events in Linfen, China, yesterday. In the skeet women’s Individual category, Hajar Mohammed impressed with her poise and precision, earning a well-deserved bronze medal amid strong competition from Asia’s top shooters. Qatar’s women’s skeet team, consisting of Hajar Mohammed, Reem Al-Sharshani, and Aisha Al-Ansari, added to the medal tally by claiming silver in the team event, finishing just behind gold-medal winners China. In the skeet men’s team event, Qatar’s squad - Rashid Saleh Al-Athba, Abdulaziz Al-Attiyah, and Ali Al-Ishaq - secured the bronze medal, standing strong against regional powerhouses. Kuwait won gold, with China taking silver.

Qatar keep FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive in 1-0 win over Iran

Doha: Qatar kept their FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive on Thursday as Pedro Correia scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the 10 men of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Doha to confirm his side’s progress to the playoffs of the AFC Asian Qualifiers- Road to 26.The back-to-back AFC Asian Cup champions made the most of Milad Mohammadi’s 35th minute sending off to secure a win against the already-qualified Iranians as Qatar moved into fourth place in Group A and advance to the playoffs, where an additional two slots to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be at stake.Correia netted in the 41st minute and victory in Julien Lopetegui’s first game in charge takes the Qataris onto 13 points from nine games and leaves the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts a point behind the United Arab Emirates with Tuesday’s clash with Uzbekistan remaining.

Keen Qatar all geared up to face Iran at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in crucial tie

Doha: Qatar will look to reignite their World Cup AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 2026 campaign when they meet Iran at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday at 9.15 pm.Though they face a formidable opponent, the Al Annabi will aim for a winning start under their new coach Julen Lopetegui.While Iran have already confirmed their FIFA World Cup 2026 appearance, Qatar’s hopes depend on them advancing from the playoffs, with automatic qualification no longer an option.With an automatic spot out of reach, former Spain and Real Madrid manager Lopetegui has to ensure the West Asian side finish a minimum fourth to book a spot in the playoffs, where an additional two FIFA World Cup tickets will be at stake.On a positive note, they sit four points ahead of Kyrgyz Republic but with Iran and then Uzbekistan to follow, Qatar must tread with caution.Lopetegui exuded confidence as he addressed the media on eve of the match. “This is my first match with the Qatar, and I understand the importance of facing Iran, regardless of our position in the group. It’s a challenge, and we are ready for it. I am happy with the environment in the team,” he said.“The training camp was productive and we had the opportunity to closely observe the players, especially those we followed in recent local competitions. Our focus is always on our team, and we are fully prepared for this match,” Lopetegui stressed.“I trust in our players’ abilities. We know Iran are a tough side. They are only one of the two teams [in Asia] who have qualified for the World Cup. We have studied our opponents thoroughly. We are focusing on our strength and we know it will be a tough match.It’s my first game as the head coach of the Qatar team, but we’re approaching it with confidence and composure. Our goal is clear: to win tomorrow’s match and continue progressing in the qualifiers. We also look forward to strong support from the fans. It means a lot to the players,” he added.Qatar mercurial striker Akram Afif said his team needs to focus more on themselves.“It’s an important match for us. The match against Iran won’t be easy and we have to focus on ourselves. It’s our last qualifier at home, in front of our fans, and our goal is to win,” said Afif.“We, as players, are fully prepared and understand the difficulty of the match. I can’t stress enough how much we need our fans’ support. On the field, we complement each other, and the entire Qatari fanbase shares the same dream, to see Qatar qualify for the 2026 World Cup. We’re expected to win, and the fans’ ambition is also our ambition.”

Qatar to Open Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup Campaign Against Australia

Doha: The Qatari national volleyball team will kick off their campaign in the 2025 Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup with a Group B clash against Australia on June 17.The tournament, set to take place in Bahrain from June 17 to 24, will feature 12 teams from across Asia competing for the continental title.Qatar will return to the court for their second group stage fixture against Kazakhstan on June 19.The Qatar Volleyball Association has confirmed that the team will depart for Bahrain on June 14, following an intensive preparation phase under the guidance of Argentine head coach Camilo Andres Soto.Preparations have included a comprehensive training camp focused on technical, tactical, and physical conditioning, along with a series of friendly matches designed to boost match readiness and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the official competition.The tournament format consists of group-stage play, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The knockout rounds will ultimately determine the new Asian champions.Qatar enter the competition with high hopes of delivering a strong performance that reflects the team’s progress in recent years. Backed by thorough preparations and a drive to achieve continental success, the squad aims to make a meaningful addition to Qatari volleyball’s growing legacy. (QNA)