QGF finalizes preparations for the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship

Doha: The Qatar Gymnastics Federation is intensifying its preparations to host the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship, set to take place on February 21-22 at Aspire Dome. The organizing committees are working diligently to ensure the event is held at the highest organizational standards. Ali Al-Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, confirmed that the equipment and logistics committee is working around the clock to finalize preparations for the main competition hall. He emphasized that all committees are following a precise schedule to complete all necessary arrangements ahead of the tournament’s launch.  

Alcaraz battles past Cilic amid windy conditions

DOHA - Carlos Alcaraz was forced to battle testing conditions at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Monday, but the debutant is up and running at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2025. The top seed earned a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 win against Marin Cilic to advance to the second round at the ATP 500. Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm in the windy conditions, but dialled in at the crucial moments, expertly denying a rise in form from the Croatian in the second set, to improve to 4-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. From 0/40 down, serving at 3-4 in the second set, Alcaraz reeled off 14 of the next 19 points to seal victory and extend his winning streak to six matches. The 21-year-old, who claimed his first indoor title in Rotterdam earlier this month, will next face Zhang Zhizhen or Luca Nardi in the second round. “I’m really pleased about saving that game and giving myself the opportunity to [stay] alive,” said Alcaraz. “Marin puts a lot of pressure when you’re serving, he’s a great returner. I’m really happy to stay calm in that moment, do my routine and make good shots. I’m really happy to win in two sets.” Cilic, the former World No. 3 and 2014 US Open champion, showed glimpses of his best tennis in the opening set, but lost serve in an 18-minute seventh game which proved decisive. Yet this did not stop 36-year-old from raising his level and applying further pressure in the second. The 36-year-old pushed Alacaraz from the baseline and carved out four break points in the second set, but was unable to convert any. With Monday’s one-hour, 38-minute win, Alcaraz improved to 10-1 on the season. He will have the chance to avenge his quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last month if the two both reach the semi-finals. Cilic was competing in his first event since November after recovering from an ongoing knee injury. It’s the same injury that caused him to miss almost the entirety of the 2023 season before undergoing surgery in 2024. Yet upon return last year, Cilic claimed the title in Hangzhou, which was his 21st tour-level crown, and first since 2021. Earlier, Jiri Lehecka sealed his spot in the second round in Doha with a 6-4, 6-4 win over seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov. With his 11th victory in 2025, the 23-year-old tied Alex de Minaur and Miomir Kecmanovic for most on the ATP Tour this season. Lehecka, who triumphed at the ATP 250 in Brisbane and reached the fourth round at the Australian Open last month, improved to 4-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Dimitrov. The Czech player won 88 per cent (35/40) of first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to setting a second-round meeting with Fabian Marozsan. The World No. 15 Dimitrov was playing in his first match since retiring to Francesco Passaro in the first round at the Australian Open due to a hip injury, which forced the 33-year-old outside the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since March last year.  

Team Qatar aims for strong finish against Kyrgyzstan in AFC U-20 Asian Cup

Shenzhen, China – The Qatar U-20 national team will take on Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday at the Training Center Stadium in Shenzhen in their final Group A match of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025. The tournament, featuring 16 teams, is currently underway in China and runs until March 1. Qatar, placed in Group A alongside host nation China, Australia, and Kyrgyzstan, has already been eliminated from the race to the quarterfinals after back-to-back losses—a 2-1 defeat to China in the opener and a 3-1 loss to Australia. Despite missing out on a knockout stage berth, Qatar is determined to end their campaign on a high note with a morale-boosting victory. Spanish head coach Félix Sarrió Garti is counting on key players like Ibrahim Al-Hassan (Calahorra, Spain), Tahseen Mohammed, Mohammed Khaled, Mohammed Hani, and Bassam Adel to deliver a strong performance. "Our goal is always to win," Garti said ahead of the match. "We will step onto the pitch against Kyrgyzstan with the same energy, passion, and determination. We want to give our best." Elsewhere in Group A, Australia, the current group leader, will face China in a decisive clash on Tuesday. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, with the top four teams securing a spot on the global stage.  

Qatar ExxonMobil Open set to begin on Monday

Doha: The stage is set for an exciting week of tennis as the Qatar ExxonMobil Open kicks off on Monday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. This year's tournament has been upgraded from an ATP 250 to an ATP 500 event, further cementing Doha’s position as a key destination on the global tennis calendar. Headlining the tournament is Novak Djokovic, a two-time champion in Doha, who returns to action following his recovery from a left leg muscle tear. Djokovic, placed in the same half of the draw as Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, faces a challenging opener against Matteo Berrettini. World No. 3 Alcaraz is making his debut at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open as the top seed. The Spaniard, who holds a 3-1 record against his first-round opponent Marin Cilic, will be looking to make a strong start as he aims for his first title in Doha. In the lower half of the draw, second seed Alex de Minaur begins his campaign against Roman Safiullin, eager to rebound from his recent loss to Alcaraz in the Rotterdam final. Former Doha champion Andrey Rublev, seeded fifth, could set up a quarter-final showdown with De Minaur if both advance. Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 champion, is expected to arrive in Doha following his run at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille. Medvedev will start his tournament against fellow former champion Karen Khachanov in what promises to be an early blockbuster match. The winner could face sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals, with Tsitsipas set to open against Hamad Medjedovic. Felix Auger-Aliassime also looms as a potential second-round opponent for Tsitsipas. With a competitive field featuring top-ranked players and past champions, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open promises thrilling matchups as the tournament gets underway on Monday.

Stage set for Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship

Doha: The organizing committee of the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship, set to take place in Doha from February 21-22 at Aspire Academy, is working tirelessly to finalize preparations for the tournament’s kickoff. Continuous meetings are being held under the leadership of Ali Al-Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, along with Abeer Al-Buainain, Secretary-General of the Federation, Nasser Al-Hamad, the tournament’s Technical Director, and the heads and coordinators of the various committees. This upcoming edition of the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championships holds great significance for the Qatar Gymnastics Federation and all its members. The federation and organizing committee are committed to ensuring the success of this tournament, presenting Qatar’s gymnastics scene in the best possible way, and continuing the achievements of previous editions. Moreover, they aspire for the championship to be officially included in the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) calendar in the future. Following a recent committee meeting, Ali Al-Hitmi emphasized that Qatar has earned the trust of both the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the Arab Gymnastics Federation after successfully hosting numerous international and continental championships. These events have been distinguished by exceptional organization and the world-class facilities provided by Qatar, ensuring the success of every hosted competition. He urged all working committees to exert maximum effort in presenting the championship in a way that reflects Qatar’s reputation for excellence in organizing sporting events. Al-Hitmi also highlighted the remarkable participation in the upcoming edition, which will feature 225 gymnasts alongside Qatari athletes. He expressed hope that the participants will gain valuable experience from the event. "Through this championship and the previous tournaments hosted by Qatar, we aim to promote gymnastics and expand its presence. This has been the federation’s goal since its establishment in 2001. We have made significant progress in raising awareness about the sport, which serves as a foundation for all other sports." He also called on the media to support the federation’s efforts in promoting gymnastics across society, emphasizing its importance and Qatar’s ambition to make it an integral part of sports culture. He pointed out that expanding gymnastics requires additional facilities, and the federation is keen on providing more training spaces to accommodate the increasing interest in the sport. Tournament Director Abeer Al-Buainain announced the launch of a dedicated website for the championship, which will provide real-time updates, player information, competition schedules, and athlete rankings. The website will be updated continuously throughout the event to ensure all stakeholders have access to the latest information. She also emphasized the strong participation of gymnasts in this edition and noted that Aspire Academy will serve as the venue, giving international delegations an opportunity to witness Qatar’s world-class sports infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Equipment Committee is preparing to start its work, with ongoing meetings to ensure all competition apparatus and training halls are fully operational before the official start of the championship.  

HH The Amir’s Grand Prix for Shotgun: Al Athba wins skeet gold

DOHA - The second edition of HH The Amir’s Grand Prix for Shotgun continued at Lusail Shooting Range Complex on Sunday with thrilling skeet competitions, featuring elite shooters from around the world. In a fiercely contested final, Qatari marksman Rashid Saleh Al Athba claimed gold in the men’s skeet, edging out Georgia’s Yaroslav Startsav, who took silver, while Kuwait’s Mohammed Al Daihani secured bronze. Slovakia’s Danka Harbekova dominated the women’s event, winning gold ahead of Kazakhstan’s Olga Panarina and Zoya Kravchiko, who settled for silver and bronze, respectively. Kazakhstan’s Artem Saidalnikov topped the youth category, with Chile’s Raimundo Roche and Saudi Arabia’s Naif Al Mutairi finishing second and third. In the young women’s division, Kazakh shooter Diana Sabikova clinched gold, followed by Britain’s Bethany Norton and Poland’s Viktoria Wlodarczyk. At the conclusion of the competitions, Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, along with Dr. Mishaal Ibrahim Al Nasr, President of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, and Secretary General Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti, presented medals to the top finishers. The prestigious event, which runs until February 21, has drawn 250 male and female shooters from 34 countries, including 12 Olympic champions and 42 Qatari participants.