Qatar claims silver and bronze medals at West Asian Beach Volleyball Tour in Jordan

Amman: Team Qatar concluded their participation in the second round of the West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Jordan with two podium finishes, securing a silver and a bronze medal in the men's competition. The tournament was held over six days with the participation of 13 men's teams and 11 women's teams from seven countries.The silver medal went to Qatar 2, represented by Mehdi Samoud and Mohammed Ehab, who finished runners-up after falling to Oman’s Mazen Al-Hashemi and Hood Al-Jalbubi in straight sets in the final. Despite delivering a strong performance, the Qatari pair were narrowly edged out in both sets, which ended 21-18, 21-18 in favor of the Omanis.The bronze medal was claimed by Qatar 1, consisting of Saif Al-Majid and Mahmoud Essam, who defeated Lebanon’s Paul Bou Akel and Charbel Khoury 2-0 to take third place.Earlier in the semifinals, Qatar 2 had secured their place in the final after defeating Qatar 1 in an all-Qatari showdown. The match ended 2-0 in favor of Mehdi and Mohammed, with close scores of 23-21 and 21-18.The second round of the championship featured strong competition across both categories. In the men’s tournament, national teams from Jordan (host), Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman competed. The women’s tournament included teams from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Yemen.These results further reinforce Qatar’s strong regional presence in beach volleyball and highlight the depth of talent in the national team.

Qatar 2025 U-17 World Cup Draw Set for Sunday as Tournament Expands to 48 Teams for First Time

DOHA - The draw for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will be held tomorrow, Sunday, in Doha. The tournament is scheduled to take place from November 3 to 27, marking the first time in the competition history that 48 teams will participate.FIFA previously awarded Qatar the hosting rights for five consecutive editions of the U-17 World Cup, beginning in 2025 under its new expanded format, which features 48 teams - a historic first across all FIFA tournaments.The upcoming tournament will see 104 matches played over a span of 25 days. All games will be held at eight stadiums within the Aspire Academy, while the final will take place at Khalifa International Stadium.Under the tournament format, the 48 qualified teams will be divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 32, totaling 32 teams in the knockout stages. The knockout rounds will proceed from the Round of 32 to the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final match on November 27.FIFA seeded the participating teams into four pots based on their performance in the past five editions of the U-17 World Cup. Each pot contains 12 teams. Host nation Qatar is placed in Pot 1 and will lead Group A, playing the tournament opener on November 3.Pot 1 includes: Qatar, Brazil, France, Mali, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, England, Japan, Paraguay, USA, and Senegal.Pot 2 includes: South Korea, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, Chile, Venezuela, Croatia, Colombia, Honduras, and Burkina Faso.Pot 3 includes: Costa Rica, Tajikistan, Panama, Indonesia, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, New Caledonia, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Haiti.Pot 4 includes: UAE, Portugal, Czech Republic, Ireland, Switzerland, Zambia, Egypt, Uganda, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, and Fiji.FIFA allocated qualification slots to the continental federations as follows:Asia (AFC): 9 teams - Qatar (as host), Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, UAE, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Tajikistan.Europe (UEFA): 11 teams - Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, and Switzerland.Africa (CAF): 10 teams - Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, Egypt, and Uganda.North, Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF): 8 teams - Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and USA.South America (CONMEBOL): 7 teams - Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia.Oceania (OFC): 3 teams - Fiji, New Caledonia, and New Zealand.The U-17 World Cup began in 1985, with Nigeria holding the record for most titles (five), followed by Brazil with four. Saudi Arabia remains the only Arab nation to have won the title, doing so in 1989. The current champions are Germany, who won the most recent edition in 2023. (QNA)Likewise,  The draw for the 11th edition of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will take place tomorrow, Sunday, in Doha.The tournament will be hosted by Qatar from Dec. 1 to 18, under the supervision of FIFA for the second consecutive time.FIFA adjusted the timing of the draw ceremony, initially scheduled for today, to tomorrow due to its previous conflict with the final of the 2025 Amir Cup between Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa at Khalifa International Stadium.The international football federation, which granted Qatar the right to host the next three editions of the Arab Cup in 2025, 2029, and 2033, used its Apr. 3 world rankings to determine the nine teams that will qualify directly for the finals, while the remaining teams will compete in a preliminary round on Nov. 25 and 26, just before the start of the tournament.Based on FIFA rankings, the teams that have qualified directly for the finals are: Qatar (host, ranked 55th), Morocco (12th), Egypt (32nd), Algeria (defending champion, 36th), Tunisia (49th), Saudi Arabia (58th), Iraq (59th), Jordan (62nd), and the United Arab Emirates (65th).The teams that will compete in the playoff round are: Oman (77th), Bahrain (84th), Syria (93rd), Palestine (101st), Mauritania (110th), Lebanon (112th), Sudan (114th), Libya (117th), Kuwait (134th), Yemen (158th), South Sudan (170th), Djibouti (192nd), and Somalia (201st). Seven teams will advance from the playoff to join the nine already qualified, completing the 16-team lineup.FIFA announced that Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt will head the four groups in the finals and will be placed in the top seeding pot. Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan will be in the second pot. The UAE, along with three playoff winners, will be placed in the third pot, while the fourth pot will include four other playoff winners.Before the finals draw, FIFA revealed the matchups for the playoff round. The 14 teams were split by geography between Asia and Africa, with the highest-ranked Asian team facing the lowest-ranked African team, and so on. According to the April rankings, the following fixtures were determined: Oman vs. Somalia, Bahrain vs. Djibouti, Syria vs. South Sudan, Palestine vs. Libya, Lebanon vs. Sudan, Kuwait vs. Mauritania, and Yemen vs. Comoros. Winners of the first three matches will join the UAE in Pot 3 for the finals draw, while winners of the remaining four matches will enter Pot 4.The previous edition of the FIFA Arab Cup, held in Qatar in 2021, was a resounding success. It was an exceptional tournament played in the same stadiums used for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, featuring high-quality football and record-breaking attendance. A total of 571,605 spectators attended the 32 matches, averaging nearly 18,000 per match.Algeria claimed the title by defeating Tunisia 2–0 after extra time in the final at Al Bayt Stadium, in front of more than 60,000 fans.  

Ali Sayed shines in Mare Nostrum 2025 series

Barcelona: Qatar’s swimming star Ali Sayed has added another milestone to his name after breaking the national record in the Men’s 50m Butterfly (long course) during the Barcelona leg of the Mare Nostrum 2025 series. Sayed clocked 24.45 seconds, surpassing the previous national best of 24.62 seconds, held by Mohammed Mahmoud.This performance comes on the heels of another historic feat. At the Mare Nostrum Monaco 2025, Ali became the first-ever Qatari swimmer to qualify for the World Aquatics Championships, scheduled to take place in Singapore later this year. He met the qualification standard in the 100m freestyle, finishing in 49.48 seconds.These back-to-back achievements not only highlight Sayed’s rising international stature but also reflect the progress of Qatari swimming, backed by strategic planning and sustained support from national sports institutions. 

World No. 1 Falls in Thrilling Battle

Doha: Top seed Lin Shidong faced his compatriot, fifth-seed Liang Jingkun, in an intense showdown at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships. Liang Jingkun dominated early, taking the first game 11-5 and following up with a commanding 11-8 win in the second, putting the no. 1 seeded player under immense pressure. With no coach to provide guidance in the all-Chinese affair, Lin Shidong struggled to find his rhythm.The third game saw a shift in momentum as Lin Shidong, trailing 3-7, staged a stunning comeback, winning eight consecutive points to secure the set 11-7. He carried that energy into the fourth, levelling the match at 2-2 with an 11-5 victory. Lin Shidong looked poised to take control in the fifth, leading 7-3, but Liang Jingkun fought back fiercely, closing the gap and ultimately taking the game 11-8.The Chinese top seed responded with another gritty effort in the sixth, winning 11-8 to force a deciding seventh set. But in the end, Liang Jingkun, a three-time bronze medallist, held his nerve, closing out the match 11-7 in a gripping contest that lasted over an hour. The final score read 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, securing Liang Jingkun’s victory and marking a major upset against the world no. 1.Newly crowned World Cup winner Hugo Calderano faced a tough battle against An Jaehyun in the quarterfinals. The third-seeded Brazilian began strongly, winning the first game 11-4, but was soon met with an unusual protest from his opponent. An Jaehyun objected to Calderano’s serve, claiming he couldn’t see the ball due to a closed palm and hidden thumb. Calderano explained that he has a medical condition preventing him from fully opening his palm. The referee intervened, allowing the match to proceed.Unfazed, Calderano continued his dominant run, securing the second game 11-6. However, An Jaehyun staged a fightback, taking a crucial timeout at 9-8 in the third set before winning 11-9 to stay in the match. The Brazilian quickly regained control, winning the fourth game 11-7 to take a 3-1 lead.The fifth set saw intense exchanges, with Calderano leading 10-7, but An Jaehyun saved two match points, pushing the game to deuce. Despite the challenge, Calderano held his nerve and closed the match 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, securing a historic medal for himself and Brazil – the first World Championships medal in the nation’s table tennis history.Next, he will face Liang Jingkun, known for toppling the no. 1 seed in two of the last four championships. Looking ahead to the semifinals, Calderano acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Very, very tough match, and he knows how to perform at the big stage, but I hope I will give him a good fight.Japan’s Shunsuke Togami faced Sweden’s seventh-seeded Truls Moregardh in an intense quarterfinal battle. The match began with a gripping first game, where Togami edged past Moregardh 16-14. He carried his momentum into the second, dominating with an 11-3 win.However, Moregardh fought back, taking the third set 11-7. Down 5-8 in the fourth, the Swedish paddler showcased his resilience, winning five consecutive points to claim the set 11-8, levelling the match at 2-2.Togami regained control in the fifth, leading 10-8, but Moregardh responded brilliantly, levelling the score and snatching the game 12-10 to take a 3-2 lead. A well thought out timeout at 9-8 in the sixth game helped Moregardh maintain his composure, and he converted his only match point to secure victory 14-16, 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.With this win, Moregardh ensured his second podium finish, following his silver medal in 2021. After the hour-long battle, he expressed his joy, saying, “I am super happy to be able to win.” For Shunsuke Togami and Japan, the 46-year wait for a men’s singles medal continues.Lin Yun-Ju, the 13th seed from Chinese Taipei, had two game points in the first set against no. 2 seed Wang Chuqin but failed to convert, losing 10-12. The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Chinese player trailing 6-8 before staging a comeback to win 11-8, securing a 2-0 lead.Wang Chuqin maintained his dominance in the third, claiming another 11-8 victory. Lin fought hard in the fourth set, managing to save a match point, but Wang Chuqin, the crowd favourite, proved too strong, closing out the match with a 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 win to book his spot in the semifinals.Japan’s Mima Ito delivered a commanding performance to knock out China’s Wang Yidi in their battle for a spot in the last four. The fourth-seeded Wang Yidi started strong, winning the first game 11-8, but Ito responded swiftly, levelling the score at 1-1.In the third game, Ito shifted tactics, combining deft pushes and aggressive top spins to take control, winning 11-6. She then raced to a 7-0 lead in the fourth, but Wang fought back, closing the gap. A timely timeout by Ito’s coach helped her regroup, and she secured the game 11-8.Unforced errors in the fifth game briefly set Ito back, forcing her to dig deep. However, she kept her composure and converted her only match point on serve, sealing a 4-1 victory (6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9), to reach the semifinals in style.Satsuki Odo, the seventh seed, surprised world no. 1 and top seed Sun Yingsha by taking the first game 11-9 in their women’s singles quarterfinal clash. Matching Sun Yingsha stroke for stroke, Odo put up a resilient fight, but the reigning champion quickly regrouped and claimed the second game 11-8.The world no. 1 raised her game in the third, racing to a 7-1 lead and closing the set 11-4. The fourth game turned into a thrilling battle, with Odo saving two game points before eventually falling 11-13. The two-time world champion then shifted into top gear in the final set, securing an 11-5 win to stay on course for another championship.The final score 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 13-11, 11-5 suggests a commanding victory, but Satsuki Odo made Sun Yingsha work hard for every point, making it one of the most gripping matches of the tournament.In another quarterfinal clash, China’s third seed, Chen Xingtong, delivered a dominant performance, securing a straight-sets victory over Japan’s sixth seed, Hina Hayata with a final score of 12-10, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.In the last quarterfinal match, China’s second seed Wang Manyu faced Japan’s fifth seed, Miwa Harimoto. Wang Manyu established her dominance early, securing the first game 11-5. The 16-year-old Miwa fought hard in the second, but Wang’s experience helped her close it 11-8.In the third game, Miwa’s father and coach called a surprise timeout when she equalized at 7-7 after winning two consecutive points. However, the strategy failed to shift momentum, as Wang Manyu stayed composed to win 11-9. She wrapped up the match convincingly with a 4-0 victory (11-5, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5). 

Jarvis’s fairytale run ends, Togami stages a miraculous escape

Doha: England’s Tom Jarvis saw his remarkable journey at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships - Doha 2025 come to an end with his spirited charge being halted by China’s fifth seed Liang Jingkun 4-2 (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6) on Thursday.One of the surprise stars of the tournament with notable wins over Slovakia’s Benedek Olah, Germany’s 10th seed Dang Qiu and Romania’s Iulian Chirita, Jarvis made the perfect start to the round of 16, striking an unlikely lead against the Chinese superstar.Keeping pace with Liang in the fast exchanges, Jarvis looked pumped, believing he had all the tools to conjure another magical upset in Doha. Razor-thin margins separated the two players for most of the match, with Jarvis playing his heart out on Table 1. But his dream would finally end as Liang entered another gear, charging full speed ahead to crush his young opponent’s hopes.While his World Championships Finals campaign is now over, Jarvis leaves Doha with his head held high, returning home a hero following an unforgettable week from the 25-year-old from Skegness.Meanwhile, Japan’s Shunsuke Togami pulled off an astonishing comeback in his clash with Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, defying the odds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Saving match point at 9-10 in the sixth game, Togami would then recover a 6-9 deficit in the decider before going on to save another match point at 9-10 in that final game.Frustrating Jorgic with his refusal to back down, the Japanese ace had saved his tournament not once but twice. Taking full advantage, Togami pressed home the attack to complete a dramatic 4-3 victory (9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 1-11, 12-10, 12-10).The upsets continued in Men’s Doubles as the event lost its third seeds. Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Kao Cheng-Jui were responsible for the surprise, outclassing China’s Lin Shidong and Lin Gaoyuan in four pulsating games (11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8).Making it all the way to the Singapore Smash 2025 final on their debut as a pair, Lin and Kao have looked extremely impressive all week in Doha, and produced another sublime performance in the quarterfinals. Hitting hard and fast, the Chinese Taipei pair led from start to finish in the opener and were just as imperious in the second game, piling the pressure on their higher-seeded opponents.Unsettling their Chinese opponents with their relentless approach, the third seeds managed to respond in the third game, but Lin and Kao were in a league of their own. Everything they touched turned to gold, and in the end, it was the Chinese Taipei pair who emerged as deserved winners.Earlier in the Mixed Doubles, two-time defending World Champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha were put through their paces, facing an early setback in their encounter with Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto.But the Chinese pair would eventually find their groove, holding the edge in games two, three and four to brush off any suggestion of an upset (6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9). Despite the early stumble, the defending champions showed their championship mettle to advance to the semi-finals. 

Vice President of the Organising Committee of the World Table Tennis Championships – Doha 2025 Welcomes the IOC President at Lusail Arena During the World Championships

Doha – His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Vice President of the Organising Committee of the World Table Tennis Championships – Doha 2025 and Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, today welcomed The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Dr. Thomas Bach to Lusail Arena for a visit to the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025, one of the premier global events on this year’s international sports calendar.The visit comes exactly one month ahead of Olympic Day, which will mark the end of President Bach’s distinguished 12-year tenure as head of the IOC. His term has shaped the modern Olympic Movement and guided its evolution through a period of global challenge and transformation.The tour of Lusail Arena included IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach, ITTF President Petra Sörling, ITTF Senior Executive Vice President and President of the Asian Table Tennis Union Khalil Al-Mohannadi, IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell, and Qatar Table Tennis Association President. During the visit, H.E. Jassim Al Buenain provided insight into Qatar’s approach to elite event hosting, with particular emphasis on athlete experience, venue legacy, and integrated operations.Together, they observed the quarterfinal stage of the competition, which features 640 athletes from 127 countries and is sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation, one of the world’s largest and most globally represented International Federations, with 227 member associations.During the visit, H.E. QOC Secretary General presented President Bach with a commemorative shield on behalf of the ITTF World Championships, in recognition of his leadership and longstanding support for international sport and the Olympic Movement.Lusail Arena, originally constructed for the IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in 2015, continues to serve as one of Qatar’s leading multi-sport venues. It will play a central role once again as a host site for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027, demonstrating not only the versatility of Qatari infrastructure but the strategic foresight behind its long term venue planning and reuse model.During the tour, President Bach was briefed on the operational framework of the Championships, including athlete support zones, broadcast and competition technology, delegation logistics, and the integration of sustainable event practices. Particular attention was drawn to the athlete first design philosophy underpinning QOC’s event delivery, a model now recognized across the Olympic Movement as a benchmark for excellence.President Bach was reported to have commended the standard of the venue, noting the exceptional condition of Lusail Arena, the professionalism of event staff, and the vibrant sporting atmosphere inside the arena. His Excellency Al Buenain emphasized the significance of the visit in the context of both the Championships and Qatar’s broader sporting vision."We are honoured to welcome President Bach to Doha for what may be his final visit as IOC President,” said H.E. Al Buenain. “This is a moment of both reflection and renewal, an opportunity to show how Qatar continues to evolve as a destination for high impact sport and how we remain committed to strengthening the values and institutions of the Olympic Movement."President Bach’s visit, set against the backdrop of a continent leading Championship and a world class venue, reflects Qatar’s influence in international sport and its leadership role within the Olympic ecosystem. Under the direction of QOC President H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar continues to invest in events, institutions, and athlete development programs that advance the Olympic agenda, from GCC Games Qatar 2026 to the Asian Games Doha 2030 and a continuous calendar of world championship events across Olympic disciplines.As the global sports community looks toward the next phase of Olympic leadership, today’s visit reinforces the strength of the relationship between the IOC and QOC, a partnership rooted in shared values, institutional trust, and a forward looking vision for sport as a force for development and international cooperation.The 2025 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships represent one of the sport’s flagship events. The Championships will conclude on Sunday, 25 May, with finals in men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions.