Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship Set to Kick Off at Aspire Academy

Doha: The Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship is set to commence on Friday at Aspire Academy, bringing together 225 young gymnasts from six countries—Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. The two-day event will see participants compete in 16 teams, promising an exciting and competitive atmosphere. The championship will begin with five levels of competition on Friday, running from 8 AM to 9 PM, while the final day on Saturday will feature contests across two levels. Winners in each age category will be honored in individual award ceremonies, and all competitions will adhere to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) regulations, ensuring a high level of professionalism and fair play. Ali Al-Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation, affirmed that Aspire Academy is fully prepared to host the tournament, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to world-class sporting events. "All preparations have been finalized, and we are ready for the championship’s launch. The organizing teams have been working diligently to ensure a seamless experience for all participating delegations," he stated. He also emphasized the tournament’s role in nurturing young talent, offering clubs and academies the chance to compete against strong teams, evaluate player performances, and prepare for elite international competitions. Hosting the event at Aspire Academy with a live audience further enhances its prestige and competitive atmosphere, providing gymnasts with an authentic championship experience. Abeer Al-Buainain, Vice President of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the excitement surrounding the event, saying: "The championship has generated great interest, and we are all looking forward to a fantastic competition alongside excellent organization." She added: "All delegations have arrived and are fully prepared for the tournament. The training sessions have showcased high levels of focus and skill, indicating that we can expect an intense and competitive championship." Samira Said, Tournament Director, confirmed that all facilities and logistics are in place, with teams having completed their final training sessions. The organizing committee has meticulously reviewed every detail to ensure smooth operations. "This championship is a fantastic opportunity for young gymnasts to gain international experience and develop their skills. It also helps promote the culture of gymnastics from an early age, particularly in Qatar, by exposing local athletes to strong competition against talented gymnasts from various countries," she noted. With all preparations complete, the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship is set to deliver an exciting and well-organized competition, reinforcing Doha’s reputation as a premier destination for international sporting events.   

Qatar basketball team flies off to Astana for Asian qualifier against Kazakhstan

Doha: The Qatar basketball team left for Astana for their FIBA Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers match against Kazakhstan – to be played on Friday (Feb 21). Prior to the team’s departure the roster of players for FIBA Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers was named with Hakan Demir as the coach. The team comprises 13 players: Mustafa Fouda, Tyler James Harris, Michael O’Neill Lewis, Mahmoud Darwish, Ndoye Elhaj Sidou, Aladji Bobo Magassa, Faris Avdic, Omar Mohamed Saad, Mohamed Hashem, Donte Grantham Mustafa Ndaw, Babacar Deng, and Alen Hadzibegovic. The administrative and technical staff includes Jassim Ashkanani and Nabil Juma as team managers, along with technical manager Hakan Demir, assistant coaches Cengiz Kardag and Goktaj Dalbazar, fitness coach Ihadji Abdo, physical trainer Mikel Al-Sandrosi, physical therapist Dr. Adel Khadir, and masseur Nicasio Segaino. The announcement followed Qatar’s participation in the second edition of the Doha International Friendly Basketball Championship (Feb 14 to 16), featuring four teams: Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, and the Philippines. Qatar are also set to host India on February 24 at the Al Gharafa Hall, as part of Group Five, which also includes Iran. Currently, the Iranian team leads the group standings with 7 points, followed by Qatar in second place with 6 points, and India team in third with 5 points, tied with Kazakhstan in fourth.  

Top amateurs vying for Qatar Open C’ship glory

Doha: The 39th Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship will get underway off at the picturesque Doha Golf Club (DGC) on Thursday. Organized by the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the three-day tournament brings together around 100 top amateur golfers, all competing for a shot at glory and a coveted spot in the prestigious Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The QGA said all preparations have been finalized to host the event in a befitting manner. The competition follows an individual stroke play format, with players battling through two rounds. The top 50 will advance to Saturday’s final round, where the champion will be crowned. This year’s winner will earn a rare opportunity to compete alongside some of the world’s best professionals in Qatar’s premier golf event on the European Tour calendar. QGA President Hamad Abdullah Al Mana emphasized the tournament’s rich history, saying that the first edition was played on sand courses in Mesaieed and Dukhan in 1983 before moving to DGC in 1999. Over the years, it has evolved into a prestigious event that attracts players from across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. “The Qatar Open has built a strong reputation as a gateway for emerging golfers,” Al Mana said. “Winning this event is more than just a title - it’s a stepping stone toward professional success.” With elite amateurs looking to make their mark and seasoned players aiming to cement their legacy, the championship promises intense competition. With windy and overcast conditions in Doha, golfers are expected to face a tough test throughout the tournament. England’s Calum Fitzgerald registered a three-shot victory to claim the title last year with Qatar’s Saleh Al Kaabi finishing second in the tournament.  

Alcaraz, De Minaur make it to the quarterfinals

Doha: Carlos Alcaraz averted a scare on Wednesday to remain alive at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Wednesday. The 21-year-old top seed withstood a late charge from Italian qualifier Luca Nardi to prevail 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and advance to the quarter-finals at the newly upgraded ATP 500 event at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. Trailing a set and 1-4, Nardi produced some redline tennis to stun the World No. 3, reeling off six consecutive games to force a decider. Yet in typically composed fashion, Alcaraz regrouped to seal a one-hour, 53-minute victory. “At 4-1, 40/40 [in the second set], he played a few good points and then it seemed like he started to play like the World No. 1,” said Alcaraz after his maiden Lexus ATP Head meeting with Nardi. “I couldn’t do anything, I just tried to stay there, stay strong mentally. My energy levels probably went down a little bit, but credit to him. I’m really happy [that I] forgot everything and restarted in the third set. “It was a good level mentally, I was really strong. I just tried to [let him know] that I’m there, screaming ‘Vamos’, to push me up and get the good energy again. I played really good tennis in the third set, but I’m really proud of my energy levels in that set.” After triumphing in Beijing last October and claiming his first indoor title in Rotterdam earlier this month, Alcaraz is now on a 12-match win streak at ATP 500 events. The four-time major winner, who is making his debut in Doha, will next face Jiri Lehecka, who earlier eased past Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-2 in 63 minutes. Alcaraz and Nardi, the No. 85 in the PIF ATP Rankings, are no strangers. Born just three months apart in 2003, the two came through the junior ranks together and know each other’s game well. The relaxed nature of their friendship came to the fore in the fifth game of the final set, when Nardi pulled off a stunning tweener followed by a perfect drop shot to leave even Alcaraz, who offered a fist bump, in awe. Leading a set and a break, while playing and moving freely, Alcaraz appeared to have one foot in the locker room. Yet Nardi, chasing his first ATP Tour quarter-final, produced an inspired turn in form, during which he shifted to a more aggressive approach on return and found comfort behind his serve. The Italian won 15 of the last 16 points of the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and won three consecutive service games to love, to spark hopes of a stunning comeback. It wouldn’t have been the first time that Nardi had produced a major shock on the ATP Tour. Eleven months ago in Indian Wells, the 21-year-old pulled off one of the upsets of the season by defeating the then-World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. But Alcaraz, aiming to win back-to-back titles, found another gear in the deciding set to extend his winning streak to seven matches. Alex de Minaur continued his red-hot start to the season brushing past Botic van de Zandschulp to reach his third consecutive quarter-final of the year. The Australian earned his 200th tour-level hard-court win in his first-round victory against Roman Safiullin and quickly made it 201 with a controlled 6-4, 6-4 victory against Dutchman Van de Zandschulp. The second seed demonstrated trademark lighting speed at times in Doha, where he flew around the court to track down Van de Zandschulp’s flat groundstrokes. The Aussie also saved all four break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, advancing after two hours. De Minaur has earned a Tour-leading 13 victories in 2025, having reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open for the first time and the title match in Rotterdam. Chasing his first trophy of the season, the No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings will next meet Andrey Rublev at the ATP 500 after the fifth seed beat Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4. Rublev triumphed in Doha in 2020 and will be aiming to build on recent runs to the semi-finals in Montpellier and quarter-finals in Rotterdam. In other action, Daniil Medvedev wasted little time in reaching the quarter-finals. The fourth seed dispatched Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-1 in just 56 minutes to earn his 300th tour-level hard-court win. The 29-year-old arrived in Doha holding a 4-3 record on the new season. Aiming to rediscover form this week, the 2023 champion committed just six unforced errors compared to 29 from Bergs to back up his opening-round win against Karen Khachanov. Medvedev will next meet Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight. The Canadian received a walkover from Hamad Medjedovic earlier on Wednesday. The Serbian, the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion, suffered a hamstring injury in the latter stages of his win against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday night and was forced to withdraw from the ATP 500 event ahead of his meeting with Auger-Aliassime.  

Qatar’s Sokolov, Egypt’s Abou El Ela excel on opening day of Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship

Doha: Qatar’s Daniil Sokolov and Egypt’s Issa Abou El Ela both displayed exceptional skill under challenging conditions at the Doha Golf Club, carding an identical four-under-par 68 to share the lead after the opening round of the 39th Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship on Thursday. The duo managed to secure a two-shot advantage over Qatar’s Ali Al Shahrani, who also impressed on the first day with a strong performance. In fourth place was Cam Krahner, who finished with a one-over-par 73, while Andrew Ikstrums and Qatar’s top golfer, Saleh Al Kaabi – last year’s runner-up – were tied for fifth after ending the round two shots off the lead. Joe Jones took seventh place with a round of 76, while defending champion Calum Fitzgerald followed in eighth with a 77. Gary Barrowman (78) and Olivier van Lelyveld (79) rounded out the top ten positions. The three-day tournament, which has attracted around 100 of the world’s top amateur golfers, offers the winner an incredible opportunity: a coveted spot in the prestigious Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.  

Al-Khelaifi claims trap bronze medal at HH The Amir Shotgun Grand Prix

Doha: Team Qatar’s shooter Ahmed Al-Khelaifi claimed the bronze medal in the youth trap event as the second edition of the HH The Amir Shotgun Grand Prix concluded at Lusail Shooting Complex. The tournament featured a strong field of 250 shooters from 34 countries, including 12 Olympic champions and 42 shooters from Team Qatar. The Trap event saw intense competition, with 101 male shooters, 30 female shooters, 10 youth shooters, and 4 junior female shooters battling it out across two rounds, each consisting of 50 targets (25 per round). The top six shooters from each category advanced to the final round. In the trap youth category, Ahmed Al-Khelaifi secured the bronze medal after finishing third. Kazakhstan’s Nikita Mousayev won gold, while his compatriot Yegor Tsarev took silver. In the men’s category, James Willett of Australia secured the gold medal, while Iran’s Mohammad Biran Vand took silver and Italy’s Angelo Scalzone claimed bronze. In the women’s category, Penny Smith of Australia won gold, followed by Finland’s Mäkelä Satu, who secured silver, and Lebanon’s Ray Bassil, who claimed bronze. In the junior women’s category, Kazakhstan dominated the podium with Eleonora Ibrahimova securing gold, Rivika Sigetova taking silver, and Nargiza Sarmanova claiming bronze. The tournament’s final medal ceremony was attended by H.E. Mohamed bin Yousef Al-Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), along with Dr. Mishaal Ibrahim Al-Nasr, President of the Qatar Shooting Federation, and Hazem Hosni, President of the Egyptian and African Shooting Federations. Earlier in the tournament, the Skeet events concluded with Rashid Saleh Al-Athba of Qatar winning gold in the men’s category, while Danka Harbekova of Slovakia secured gold in the women’s category. Artyom Sidilnikov of Kazakhstan won gold in the youth category, and Diana Sabyekova of Kazakhstan claimed gold in the junior women’s category. The HH The Amir Shotgun Grand Prix serves as a crucial step in preparing Team Qatar for upcoming global championships, offering shooters valuable international exposure and competition experience. H.E. Mohamed bin Yousef Al-Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, lauded the remarkable success of the tournament, attributing it to the hard work of the organizing committee. He congratulated the Qatar Shooting & Archery Federation, led by Dr. Mishaal Ibrahim Al-Nasr, for successfully hosting a world-class event featuring elite Olympic and world champions. "Qatar’s shooting sport is heading in the right direction," he added. "With Rashid Saleh Al-Athba winning the gold medal in Skeet and Ahmed Al-Khulaifi securing bronze in the youth Trap event, it is evident that our strategic planning and investments are paying off, paving the way for a bright future for Qatari shooting." Dr. Mishaal Ibrahim Al-Nasr, President of the Qatar Shooting & Archery Federation, expressed his delight with the success of the second edition of the tournament. "We are satisfied with our shooters’ performances," he said. "Rashid Hamad Al-Athba achieved a strong score of 122 out of 125 in the Trap event, finishing sixth overall. Khaloud Al-Khalaf also performed well in the women’s category, and Ahmed Al-Khulaifi secured the bronze medal in the youth category. Our team features top talents who will continue to raise Qatar’s flag on the international stage." Al-Nasr also highlighted the positive feedback received on the tournament’s organization, emphasizing that Qatar’s achievements in shooting sports are a direct result of the unwavering support from H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.