Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025 Tournament Kicks Off Monday

DOHA  - Hosted by Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF), the main rounds of the Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025 is scheduled to run from April 14 to 19, featuring the world's top male and female players.The tournament will be held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, with the participation of 48 men's teams and 40 women's teams, on six specially equipped courts.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), QTSBF Secretary-General Tariq Zainal, confirmed the completion of all necessary preparations for the competitions tomorrow, noting that all participating teams in both categories have arrived in Doha.Zainal said that all committees working on the tournament have completed their preparations, in coordination with all sponsors, to reach full readiness and provide all the requirements for the tournament's success.He noted the great turnout of players participating in the tournament, which reflects their confidence in the organizational level provided by Doha through its hosting of major international tournaments.The Secretary-General pointed out that the Qatar Tennis Federation has previously successfully hosted the World Padel Championship on its courts, and the tournament held in Qatar in 2021 was the strongest and most prominent among all the padel tournaments held since then.The Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025 will be the third major tournament hosted by Qatar Tennis Federation, following the successful hosting of the Qatar TotalEnergies Women's Open and the recently concluded Qatar ExxonMobil Men's Open.The tournament will feature the world's top padel stars, with Spain's Arturo Coello and Argentina's Agustin Tapia posing the biggest challenge for all competitors as the world's top ranked players.The women's ranking is led by Spain's Ariana Sanchez and Paula Jose Maria.For his part, Executive Director of QTSBF Saad Al Mohannadi said that creativity and excellence on the global sports map will continue this week with the hosting of the Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025, following the great success achieved after the hosting of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open for women's tennis and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open for men.Al Mohannadi noted Qatar's rapid return to global events with the launch of the padel tournament, which will see the participation of 48 men's teams and 40 women's teams. 

Qatar Concludes Beach Games with 7 Medals, Receives Flag for 2026 Gulf Games

Muscat – Qatar officially received the flag to host the fourth edition of the Gulf Games, which will take place in Doha next year. The flag was handed over to Mr. Abdullah Hassan Hashem, Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation at the Gulf Beach Games, during the closing ceremony of the event held in the Omani capital, Muscat, from April 5 to 11. The event featured the participation of more than 300 male and female athletes from the six Gulf countries.The third edition of the Gulf Games was previously held in Kuwait in 2022, where Team Qatar earned an impressive total of 52 medals: 16 gold, 21 silver, and 15 bronze.Team Qatar concluded its participation in the 2025 Gulf Beach Games in Muscat with a commendable haul of seven medals, including three gold. The gold medals were secured by the national beach volleyball team, represented by Sherif Younis and Ahmed Tijan, along with equestrian athletes Ali Hamad Al-Athba in the individual lance event and Rashid Fahad Al-Dosari in the individual hanging rings event in tent pegging.The team added a silver medal in athletics through Hamdi Ali, who excelled in the high jump. Qatar also claimed three bronze medals: one in sailing, earned by Tamim Khalid Shams in the Optimist individual event for juniors, and two in tent pegging. The bronze in the team hanging rings event went to Faisal Al-Hajri, Rashid Al-Dosari, Ali Al-Athba, and Ibrahim Al-Hammadi, while Ali Al-Athba added another bronze in the individual category of the same event.Qatar’s delegation featured 18 athletes competing across five disciplines: beach volleyball, athletics, sailing, open water swimming, and equestrian (tent pegging).

Qatar Olympic Academy concludes module two of Advanced Sport Management Course

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) has successfully concluded the second module of its Advanced Sport Management Course, which focused on the topic of Strategic Planning in Sports Organizations. The lectures took place from April 8 to 10, offering participants an in-depth exploration of strategic frameworks used in modern sports management.The sessions were led by Professor Thierry Zintz, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at the University of Louvain in Belgium and Executive Director of the MEMOS Professional Master’s Program, which is accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Professor Zintz also serves as Vice President of the Belgian Olympic Committee and is a member of the World Archery Council for Europe, among other notable international roles.The program featured a blend of theoretical instruction and practical application, with Professor Zintz guiding participants through the fundamentals of strategic planning—defined as identifying the best alternatives to reach a specific goal within a defined timeframe and available resources.He emphasized that a sound strategy acts as a roadmap, helping organizations transition from their current status to a desired future. This involves clearly outlining what needs to be done, who is responsible, and how the organization's values align with its mission and actions.The strategic planning process, as outlined in the course, includes five key steps: preparation, diagnosis, goal setting, planning, and evaluation. Participants explored essential considerations in developing a strategic plan, such as why the plan is needed, internal and external influencing factors, methods of development, stakeholder engagement, budget allocation, and timeline.A key highlight of the lectures was a case study on the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s strategic plan, focusing on its Performance Peak framework, which emphasizes inclusive collaboration with sports federations and stakeholders to maintain high organizational performance.Professor Zintz also stressed the importance of environmental diagnosis, involving the identification of stakeholders such as board members, athletes, coaches, media, sponsors, and government entities. He noted the widespread use of SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) in assessing both internal and external factors.Professor Zintz emphasized that strategic objectives should be precise, actionable, and time-bound, ensuring clarity on what changes are needed, how they will be implemented, who will carry them out, and over what period.He also highlighted the critical role of monitoring and evaluation in strategic planning, stating that it is a board-level responsibility essential for measuring progress and ensuring accountability.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were introduced as tools to assess progress toward goals. Examples included athlete results, the number of athletes selected for competition, coaching support programs, and membership growth—such as achieving ten medals at a national championship.The lectures provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of strategic planning in sports, equipping them with tools and insights to enhance performance and long-term sustainability within their organizations. 

Rabia Al-Kuwari ranked second in ITTF World Ranking for U-12 category

Doha : Team Qatar’s table tennis player Rabia Al-Kuwari has claimed second place in the April 2025 world ranking for the Under-12 category, according to the latest update released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).This achievement highlights the rising global status of the promising young athlete, who has impressed with strong performances in international tournaments and notable results over recent months.Al-Kuwari’s high ranking marks a new milestone for Qatar’s table tennis program and reflects the Qatar Table Tennis Association’s commitment to nurturing young talent through advanced technical and training programs.Officials of the Qatar Table Tennis Association expressed pride in Al-Kuwari’s success, affirming their dedication to providing full support to him and his peers to continue their development and achieve further success at both continental and international levels. 

Qatar Beach Volleyball Team one step away from Gold at 3rd Gulf Beach Games

Muscat – Qatar’s beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan delivered a stellar performance to propel Team Qatar (A) into the final of the 3rd Gulf Beach Games, following a straight-sets victory over host nation Oman (A) in Wednesday’s semifinal.The dominant Qatari duo outplayed Oman’s Haitham Al-Shereiqi and Noah Al-Jalboubi, securing the win with set scores of 21-14, 21-10. Their impeccable teamwork and precision ensured a smooth passage to the gold medal match.The Gulf Beach Games are currently underway in Muscat, Oman’s capital, and continue until next Friday, featuring over 300 athletes from the six GCC nations competing across multiple disciplines.Team Qatar (A) is now set to face Team Oman (B) in the final today. The Omani pair, Mazen Al-Hashmi and Hood Al-Jalboubi, booked their place in the championship match after a convincing straight-sets win over Team Bahrain (B) in the other semifinal.In equestrian events, Qatar’s tent pegging team claimed sixth place in the sword category, held on Wednesday. Bahrain clinched the gold medal, with Saudi Arabia earning silver and Kuwait taking bronze.The swimming competitions of Muscat 2025 got underway on Wednesday with the 10-kilometer open water race. Oman triumphed in the team category, capturing the gold medal, followed by Saudi Arabia with silver and Bahrain with bronze.Individually, Saudi swimmer Mohammed Al-Zaki took home the gold, while Omani athletes Ayman Al-Qasmi and Nidal Al-Harasi claimed silver and bronze, respectively.Looking ahead, the 5-kilometer race is scheduled for Friday, with Qatar represented by swimmers Tamim Mohammed Al-Humaidah and Mohammed Aziz Ismail, both aiming for podium finishes.Qatar is represented at the 3rd Gulf Beach Games by a strong contingent of 18 athletes, competing in five sports: beach volleyball, athletics, sailing, open water swimming, and equestrian (tent pegging. 

150 athletes to compete at Artistic Gymnastics World Cup

Doha: The 17th edition of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup is set to take place at Aspire Dome in Doha from April 17 to 20, with 150 male and female athletes from 20 countries confirmed to compete.Ali Al Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation and Chairman of the tournament's Organizing Committee, said on Thursday that preparations are well underway to deliver another successful edition of the championship.He highlighted the extensive work being carried out by the organizing committee to uphold the tournament’s high standards, which have become a hallmark of Doha’s annual hosting of this prestigious international event.Al Hitmi expressed his satisfaction with the readiness of the competition and training equipment, praising the professionalism demonstrated by the various committees involved. He reaffirmed the federation’s full commitment to ensuring the success of the tournament at all levels.Qatar has hosted the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup for the past 17 consecutive years, earning a global reputation for its world-class organization, high technical standards, and exceptional hospitality — making it a favorite destination for top gymnasts from around the world.