Team Qatar reach Arab Handball Cup final

Kuwait: Team Qatar booked their place in the final of the 10th Arab Men’s Handball Cup on Friday after an impressive 25–19 victory over Egypt in the semifinal. The tournament, hosted by Kuwait, concludes on Sunday.Qatar controlled the match from the outset, taking a 13–8 lead into halftime. They maintained their momentum in the second half, delivering a solid performance to seal a six-goal win and secure their spot in the final.Earlier in the competition, Qatar topped Group B with four points, having narrowly edged Tunisia 31–30 and convincingly beaten Saudi Arabia 31–22. With this win, they became the first team to qualify for the final and will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Kuwait and Bahrain, scheduled for later Friday.Meanwhile, in the placement matches for 5th to 9th positions, Tunisia defeated Morocco 35–32, and Saudi Arabia overcame Iraq 25–20.The championship features nine Arab nations: Kuwait (hosts), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, and Bahrain.Historically, Egypt claimed the inaugural two titles in 1975 and 1977. Kuwait (1979, 1988) and Tunisia (1986, 1993) each won twice, while Saudi Arabia (1998), Algeria (2000), and Bahrain (2002) each lifted the trophy once. 

Qatar Off to a Strong Start in West Asia Beach Volleyball Championship

DOHA – Team Qatar  got off to a strong start in the preliminary round of the West Asia Beach Volleyball Championship for men and women, which kicked off last night at Al Gharafa beach courts. The tournament features 19 teams from seven Arab countries in the West Asia region.Qatar is competing with three men’s teams, Qatar 1: Mahmoud Essam and Saif Al-Majid,Qatar 2: Mahdi Samoud and Abdullah Naseem, Qatar 3: Mohammed Al-Sharshani and Mohammed Ihab, The women’s side also features three Qatari teams, Qatar 1: Haya Abu Issa and Malak HashemQatar 2: Ladan Issa and Aisha Al-Alawi, Qatar 3: Lujain Mahmoud and Sara Jabbar, In the men’s competition, Qatar’s teams made an early impact with convincing wins. Al-Sharshani and Ihab defeated Kuwait’s Ibrahim Ahmed and Nawaf Al-Rasheedi 2–0 (21–10, 21–15), while Mahdi and Abdullah dominated another Kuwaiti pair, Abdulwahab Amer and Jassim, 2–0 (21–9, 21–10).In the women’s matches, Qatar’s Haya and Malak secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Kuwait’s Munira and Halima (14–21, 21–18, 15–12). However, Lujain and Sara lost 0–2 to Lebanon’s Mervat and Lara, before bouncing back to beat fellow Qataris Haya and Malak in a domestic showdown.Mohammed Salem Al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the West Asia Volleyball Association, expressed his delight at the strong launch of this major regional event—the first of its size in the region. He noted the smooth organization and high level of play across the board, reflecting the sport’s development in West Asia.“We hope this championship continues to foster competition and growth in the sport for both men and women,” he said.

World’s best high jumpers return to Doha for 2025 What Gravity Challenge at Katara Amphitheater

Doha: Fans worldwide will once again witness the world’s best high jumpers defy expectations at the second edition of the ‘What Gravity Challenge’, set to take place on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the iconic Katara Amphitheater.The highly competitive high jump-only event is the brainchild of reigning three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist Mutaz Barshim, who created a platform where top athletes can push their limits in front of a global audience.Barshim, speaking in front of the media, is focused on inspiring future generations: “This event started to honor and empower athletes, It’s about creating a movement, challenging limits, celebrating talents, and doing it in the heart of Qatar and beyond,” he said.This year’s edition will feature top male stars including Olympic medalists Shelby McEwan, and Hamish Kerr, alongside the event’s founder Mutaz Barshim. And for the first time, the challenge will also spotlight the world’s top women athletes such as World No. 1 Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Eleanor Patterson, and Christina Honsel, marking a major milestone in the event’s evolution toward greater inclusivity and global representation.The elite jumpers will battle it out for a $155,000 prize pool, with the winner taking home the unique trophy crafted by renowned Qatari artist Ahmed Al Bahrani, symbolizing both athletic excellence and cultural heritage.The 2025 What Gravity Challenge is proudly supported by Visit Qatar, Ooredoo, Puma, Cosette, Jetour, Bornan and in collaboration with Katara, Alkass, and Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.This event will be broadcast globally by Alkass, beIN SPORTS, World Athletics, and the Ukraine Public Broadcaster, ensuring that fans across continents can witness the competition. 

Asian Weightlifting Federation Reviews Preparations for 2026 Asian Games and 2025 Asian Indoor Games

Beijing: The Asian Weightlifting Federation held a high-level executive meeting in Jiangshan, China, to discuss preparations for major upcoming multi-sport events, including the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and the 2025 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Saudi Arabia.The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships, which will take place in Jianglang from May 9 to 15. It was chaired by HE Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation, and President of the Qatari, Asian, Arab, and Afro-Asian Weightlifting Federations.Attended by a host of prominent figures in Asian and international sport, the meeting addressed key developments in the sport of weightlifting across the continent. Discussions included strategies to enhance coordination between national federations, aligning their technical and organizational structures with the standards set by the International Weightlifting Federation.The participants praised Asia’s continued dominance in the global weightlifting scene, highlighting the impressive results achieved by both male and female athletes from the region. They emphasized Asia’s growing role as a global hub for competitive excellence in the sport.The meeting also reviewed the calendar of upcoming events. Among the most notable were the Asian Youth and Junior Championships, set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan from July 4 to 10. The inclusion of weightlifting in the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain was also confirmed, in line with the federation’s broader strategy to expand the sport among younger age groups.In addition to sporting matters, the executive board placed strong emphasis on advancing governance standards within the Asian Weightlifting Federation. Efforts are underway to further develop technical and administrative support systems that will help national federations grow sustainably.Speaking during the meeting, HE Al Mana commended the significant progress achieved by Asian countries in weightlifting, describing the advancements in technical performance, organizational quality, and athlete participation as a source of pride. He affirmed that the purpose of the meeting extended beyond reviewing past accomplishments — it was about shaping the future direction of the sport across the continent. 

Qatar to Face Egypt in Arab Men's Handball Championship Semifinals in Kuwait

Kuwait: Team Qatar will go head-to-head with Egypt on Friday in the semifinals of the 10th Arab Men’s Handball Championship, currently taking place in Kuwait and set to conclude on May 11. The tournament features nine national teams: Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, and Bahrain.Qatar advanced to the semifinals as the top team in Group B, following two strong victories — a 31-22 win over Saudi Arabia and a narrow 31-30 triumph over Tunisia. Egypt qualified as the best second-placed team, having defeated Iraq 39-31 before falling to Bahrain 36-32.In the other semifinal matchup, hosts Kuwait will take on Bahrain. Kuwait secured their spot by topping Group C with wins over Morocco (39-29) and the UAE (32-24). Bahrain emerged as Group A leaders after beating Iraq 28-26 and Egypt 36-32.The Arab Men’s Handball Championship has a rich history, with Egypt winning the first two editions in 1975 and 1977. Kuwait and Tunisia each claimed two titles in subsequent years — Kuwait in 1979 and 1988, and Tunisia in 1986 and 1993. Saudi Arabia captured the title in 1998, Algeria followed in 2000, and Bahrain were crowned champions in the last edition held in 2002. 

1st Round of the WAVA Beach Volleyball Tour kicks off in Doha

Doha: Team Qatar will begin their participation in the preliminary round of the 1st Round of the West Asia Volleyball Association (WAVA) Beach Volleyball Tour – Men & Women on Wednesday. The tournament is being hosted in Doha until May 10 with participation of 19 teams representing seven Arab nations from the West Asia region.In the men’s competition, Qatar is represented by three teams. Qatar 1 features Mahmoud Essam and Saif Al-Majid, Qatar 2 includes Mehdi Samoud and Abdullah Nassim, while Qatar 3 comprises Mohammed Al-Sharshani and Mohammed Ehab. On the women’s side, Qatar also enters three teams: Qatar 1 with Haya Abu Issa and Malak Hashem, Qatar 2 with Ladan Issa and Aisha Al-Alawi, and Qatar 3 with Lujain Mahmoud and Sarah Jabbar.According to the tournament schedule announced by the organizing committee, Qatari teams faced tough opening-day matchups. Lujain and Sarah took on Lebanon’s Mirvet and Lara, while Haya and Malak played against the Kuwaiti duo Muneera and Halima Rashid. Ladan and Aisha opened against Jordan’s Farah Attout and Nora Ayash, then followed with a match against Lebanon’s Nour and Aghari. The day also featured an all-Qatar showdown between the teams of Haya and Malak and Lujain and Sarah.In the men’s draw, Mohammed Al-Sharshani and Mohammed Ehab began their campaign against Kuwait’s Ibrahim Ahmed and Nawaf Al-Rashidi. Mehdi Samoud and Abdullah Nassim faced the Kuwaiti pair Abdulwahab Amir and Jassim Al-Sabbagha, while Mahmoud Essam and Saif Al-Majid competed against Oman’s Khalfan Al-Maamari and Saleh.