HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 begins

Doha: Qatar’s Fahad Jassim HK Al Thani dazzled on the opening day of the prestigious HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 at Al Shaqab on Thursday as the 25-year-old bagged two showjumping titles while the highlight CSI5* 1.50m class, under lights, was won by Spaniard Mariano Martinez Bastida before a thrilling competition saw Great Britain’s Millie Allen take the CSI5* - Two Phases - 1.45m top honours. Fahad stood out in CSI3*-W - Special Two-Phases - 1.35m, and CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.20m classes.He showed his mettle at the Longines outdoor arena claiming the CSI3*-W - Special Two-Phase - 1.35m class with finesse while combining with bay mare Ambre de Beaufour. Al Thani returned best times of 36.03 and 30.02secs respectively. Kuwaiti Ali Al Khorafi on chestnut mare Karaat was second clocking 39.80 and 33.10secs, while Saudi Arabia rider Abdullah Alsharbatly on bay stallion Atome des Etisses finished third (39.34secs & 33.21secs). Dr. Eman Al Ansari, Senior Advisor to the CEO of Al Abdulghani Motors, awarded the winners. In the CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.20m class, Fahad Al Thani rode chestnut mare Ciara LU to return with the fastest and flawless winning routine of 51.40secs. He was followed by compatriot Faris Saad AH Al Qahtani, who excelled on dark mare Hidiene with a flawless time of 51.58secs. The third podium spot was claimed by Moroccan Achraf Oualla on bay gelding Diamant D Amour. He clocked 52.75secs. Nasser Al Hajri, Sports Director of the event, honoured the podium winners. Setting the tone to the day was Jassim Al Kuwari, who first claimed CDI1* - Prix St-Georges dressage event at the Longines indoor arena in the morning. He rode Jack Sparrow, a chestnut gelding, to top the CDI1* - Prix St-Georges international dressage competition with a cumulative score of 67.647, finishing ahead of Great Britain’s Jessica Megan Waldon, on bay stallion San Francisco (63.970), and the third-placed Asma Yaser of Qatar, riding chestnut stallion Qatar, and finishing with a total score of 62.353. The winners were awarded by Omar Al Bouainain, Deputy Event Director of Doha International Tour. Home riders also excelled in the CSI1* - Special Two-Phase - 1.10m class as Qatar’s Mohammed Yousef Al Jaber on Serendipity (a chestnut mare) clocked the best and flawless times of 28.18 and 27.41secs respectively. Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Aljuaid on chestnut mare Dushi was second (31.32 & 27.86secs), while Qatar’s Mohammed Faisal Al Marri took the third podium place riding grey mare Miss Chili and returning flawlessly in 30.70 and 28.87secs respectively. The podium winners were honoured by Ali bin Yousuf Al Rumaihi, Board Member, Qatar Equestrian Federation. The Future Riders’ 60cm class saw Qatar’s Salman Faisal Al Marri (riding Sita) take the top podium place with a time of 59.87secs. Tamim Fahad H Al Marri astride Peter was the runner-up (59.69secs), while Youssef Mohanna N Al Nuaimi on Mackney Buster was third in 61.47secs. Bastida, Allen sizzle in CSI5* categories The top CSI5* - Faults & Time - 1.50m international class of the evening saw Spaniard Mariano Martinez Bastida excel under lights on his mount Origi Van’T Geyzeven, a bay gelding, to claim the honours with a flawless and swift routine in 65.17secs and win a prize of €7750. The second place was bagged by Austrian Gerfried Puck, riding bay gelding Equitron Ornaat V (66.48secs), while Frenchman Antoine Ermann astride chestnut gelding Floyd des Pres finished in third (70.23secs). The CSI5* - Two Phases - 1.45m class saw some intense action with Great Britain’s Millie Allen emerging as the winner riding her mount Quick Diamant HR (a bay mare) flawlessly for a routine in 44.42 and 27.57secs. Italian Roberto Previtali on bay gelding Hachiko was second (46.18 & 28.26secs), and Portuguese Duarte Seabra third with bay gelding Van Halen Z 946.60 & 28.72secs). His Excellency Gustavo Petro, President of the Republic of Colombia, honoured the podium winners. Earlier, the CSI3*-W - Faults & Time - 1.45m class was won by Gerfried Puck on bay mare Equitron Melody Vd Smidshoeve (61.46secs), while Abdullah Alsharbatly on Pegasus Bandit Savoie (63secs) was second and Khaled Almobty (KSA) was third riding Davenport VDL (64.34secs). Abdulrahman Al Kaabi, Member of the Organizing Committee, honoured the winners. The three-day HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival 2025 continues till Saturday. It is organized by the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Al Shaqab, and the Qatar Olympic Committee, and is officially sponsored by Doha Bank, Al Abdulghani Motors, Zabargad Jewellery, Visit Qatar, and Vodafone, in partnership with Qatar Airways as the official airline partner, Al Kass Sports Channels as the broadcast partner, So Cast as the social media partner, and Sahil Company as the media partner.  

Qatar lose to China in AFC U-20 Asian Cup

Shenzhen: China PR produced a strong start to defeat Qatar 2-1 in their opening AFC U-20 Asian Cup Group A match on Wednesday. A dominant first half performance that saw China PR swarm Qatar paved the way for the victory as they went level on points with Australia, who beat Kyrgyz Republic 5-1 earlier in the day.  The hosts went on the offensive from the opening whistle, pinning Qatar in their own half with a curling Wang Yudong free-kick being an early test for goalkeeper Abubaker Osman.   Building up momentum, China PR’s high intensity paid off in the 17th minute as Mao Weijie won the ball off Moath Ibrahim high up the pitch to set up Kuai Jiwen for a low shot into the bottom corner.  A shell-shocked Qatar side had little time to regroup before they went further behind four minutes later after Chen Zeshi’s through pass found Liu Chengyu, whose first touch took him past the onrushing Osman before rolling the ball into an unguarded goalmouth.  Qatar provided a reminder to China PR that they were still in the game with a Mohamed Gouda mazy run that ended with his effort bouncing off the post before Osman came to the rescue to turn away another Wang free-kick as the score stayed unchanged until half-time.  Qatar appeared for the second half with determination and were quicker to challenges, which led to them pulling a goal back in the 55th minute when Mohamed Hani Faragalla turned in Tahsin Jamshid’s cutback from the right.  After weathering Qatar’s aggression, China PR regained control of the match with Chen producing a long range strike that Osman did well to tip over the bar just after the hour mark.  A tired looking Qatar tried but could not find further breakthrough as China PR held on until the final whistle to start the campaign on a positive note.  China PR next face Kyrgyz Republic on Saturday, while Qatar play Australia.  

Qatar Gymnastics Federation Announces Details of the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship

Doha: The Qatar Gymnastics Federation has unveiled the details of the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship, set to take place in Doha on February 21-22 at Aspire Academy.  The event will feature a distinguished group of young female gymnasts from six countries—Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq—who have been divided into 16 teams.  The announcement was made during a press conference held yesterday at the Millennium Hotel, attended by Ali Al-Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation; Abeer Al-Buainain, Secretary-General of the Federation; and Nasser Al-Hamad, the Federation’s Technical Secretary and the tournament’s Technical Director.  At the beginning of the press conference, Ali Al-Hitmi welcomed attendees and said, "The Qatar International Friendship Championship serve as an opportunity for clubs and academies to participate, gain valuable experience through strong competition, and assess the skill levels of young gymnasts. It is also an essential step in preparing them for major international tournaments."  "The championship will be held at Aspire Academy, with an expected large audience, giving it an official status and allowing the gymnasts to feel they are competing at the highest levels. There are few competitions for this age category, making this event a valuable opportunity for all participants." He added:  Regarding the number of participants, he said "We have 225 gymnasts from six countries, which is a very large number. Everyone is keen to participate and benefit from high-level competition."  On the organizational side, Al-Hitmi emphasized "We have extensive experience in hosting events. The organizing team for this championship is the same team that has been managing the FIG World Cup series for the past 17 years. This reflects our professionalism in organizing events and our commitment to making this championship a steppingstone for future tournaments, including competitions for boys and other age categories." Abeer Al-Buainain expressed her excitement about the event, stating "We are delighted to organize a competition for young female gymnasts aged 7 to 16. There are very few tournaments for this age group, making this championship a valuable opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills and compete at the highest levels."  From a technical perspective, Nasser Al-Hamad provided insights into the tournament's schedule, saying" "The first day, February 20, will be dedicated to the arrival of delegations, judges' meetings, and team meetings. The competition will officially begin on February 21, featuring five levels of competition running from 8 AM to 9 PM. The final day, February 22, will see contests held across two levels, with winners being crowned in each age category separately."  " All competitions will adhere to the regulations of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to ensure the tournament maintains an official status." He added.  Regarding audience attendance, Al-Hamad said, "Tickets will be available for spectators starting at QAR 30. A significant crowd turnout is expected, as competitions in this age group tend to attract considerable interest."

Qatar Curling Team defeat Thailand at Asian Winter Games

Harbin: Team Qatar Curling defeated Thailand 6-4 in their final match at the 9th Asian Winter Games – Harbin 2025, currently taking place in China and running until February 14.  Team Qatar’s squad included Abdulrahman Qasim Al-Yafei, Ahmed Saad Al-Fahad, Nasser Abdulrahman Al-Yafei, and Mohammed Hassan Al-Nuaimi.  This marks Team Qatar’s second victory in the tournament, following their opening 10-4 win over Saudi Arabia. The team also suffered three losses against Japan (2-12), China (1-11), and Hong Kong (2-10). Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Team Qatar suffered two defeats today, falling 1-10 to Thailand and 1-15 to Hong Kong.  The women’s squad featured Fatima Al-Fahad, Husseina Al-Fahad, Amina Al-Qaite, and Dana Al-Fahad. Team Qatar’s women’s team will conclude their campaign tomorrow with a match against South Korea.  Mr. Rashid Majed Al-Sulaiti, President of the Qatar Winter Sports Committee, emphasized the significance of Team Qatar’s participation in the 9th Asian Winter Games – Harbin 2025. He highlighted the Qatar Olympic Committee’s commitment to winter sports, underlining the importance of competing against top Asian teams to gain valuable experience and enhance future performances. 

Swiatek stays on course in Qatar Open

Doha: Three-time champion and reigning titleholder Iga Swiatek achieved a remarkable comeback  6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4 victory against Linda Noskova in one of the most exhilarating matches of the round of 16 yesterday. The Czech player challenged the Polish athlete to her utmost limits, demonstrating a strong belief in her ability to secure victory, which resulted in intense and high-caliber exchanges determined by narrow margins.  This encounter added another significant chapter to their rivalry: Linda managed to take the first set from Iga in Doha since her debut in 2022. However, Swiatek responded with an immediate resurgence and showcased her instinct for winning during critical moments. This comeback victory propels Swiatek into the quarterfinals, where she will compete against Elena Rybakina. Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko scored her first Top-10 win since 2023 with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini in the third-round match yesterday. The 27-year-old trailed 2-0 in the second set but responded by reeling off the last six games of the match to seal victory and progressed into the quarters in just 63 minutes. Having already posted consecutive wins this week for the first time since reaching last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals, Ostapenko has now notched her 12th career Top 5 win. The last time she defeated a Top 10 opponent was in the 2023 Beijing third round, where she bested Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur reached her third quarterfinal at the Qatar Total Energies Open after knocking out the USA's Sofia Kenin in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) yesterday.  Jabeur, the 2022 and 2023 Wimbledon finalist, had accounted for the (6-3, 6-4) defeat of another American, McCartney Kessler, in the Round of 64 before staging an emphatic 6-4, 6-2 victory over the formidable Zheng Qinwen, the reigning Olympic champion, in the second round of the Doha tournament. Jelena Ostapenko awaits the 30-year-old winner of five singles titles on the WTA Tour in the quarterfinals. Elena Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals yesterday, securing a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Rebecca Sramkova. The fifth seed faced challenges with inconsistency during the initial set, having initially established a 3-0 lead and missing three set points in the 10th game. However, she regained control during the tie-break. The former Wimbledon champion broke the serve of world No. 46 Sramkova to commence the second set and dominated by winning the first four games, ultimately concluding the match in 84 minutes.  

HH the Amir Participates in National Sports Day

Doha, February 11 (QNA) - HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani participated in National Sports Day activities this morning at Our Habitas Ras Abrouq Resort. HH the Amir played padel with a number of players from the Qatari junior padel team, in addition to a number of students from Dukhan Primary School for Boys, as part of the interest in practicing various types of sports and encouraging the community to adopt healthy practices. (QNA)