Qatar Curling Team triumphs over Saudi Arabia at Asian Winter Games

Harbin, China – The Qatar curling team delivered a strong performance, defeating Saudi Arabia 10-4 in their opening match of the team curling competition at the 9th Asian Winter Games – Harbin 2025, currently underway in China until February 14. Despite a valiant effort, the Qatari team faced a tough challenge in their second match, falling to Japan 2-12. The Qatar national curling team showcased a strong lineup, featuring Abdulrahman Qassem Al-Yafie, Ahmed Saad Al-Fahad, Nasser Abdulrahman Al-Yafie, and Mohammed Hassan Al-Nuaimi. On the women's side, the Qatar curling team faced a challenging start in their opening match against the Philippines, falling 1-13 despite their determined efforts. Representing Qatar in the women's competition were Sarah Hamoud Al-Qaet, Fatima Ahmed Al-Fahad, Husseina Hassan Al-Fahad, and Amina Hamoud Al-Qaet. The Qatari squad for the tournament comprises 12 talented athletes: Men’s team: Abdulrahman Qassem Al-Yafei, Ahmed Saad Al-Fahad, Nasser Abdulrahman Al-Yafei, Mubarak Salem Al-Marri, Mohammed Hassan Al-Nuaimi, and Nayef Badr Al-Rumaihi. Women’s team: Al-Dana Ahmed Al-Fahad, Sarah Hamoud Al-Qaet, Fatima Ahmed Al-Fahad, Haseena Hassan Al-Fahad, Mubarka Salem Al-Abdullah, and Amina Hamoud Al-Qaet. This edition of the Asian Winter Games marks a historic milestone, boasting a record-breaking 1,275 athletes (755 men and 520 women) representing 34 National Olympic Committees across the continent.  

Lusail Boulevard gears up to host Inaugural QOC Half Marathon 2025 on Tuesday

DOHA – The highly anticipated Qatar Olympic Committee Half Marathon 2025 is set to make its grand debut on Tuesday morning at Lusail Boulevard, bringing together a vibrant mix of professional athletes and amateur runners from across the globe. With participants representing over 100 nationalities, this landmark event will be a spectacular celebration of Qatar’s National Sports Day, reinforcing the nation's commitment to health, fitness, and inclusivity. The race features four main categories, ensuring accessibility for all age groups and fitness levels: Half Marathon (21 km) – starts at 6:00 AM, 10 km Race – starts at 7:00 AM, 5 km Race – starts at 7:30 AM, Fun Run (1 km) – starts at 8:30 AM. In celebration of Qatar’s National Sports Day, the QOC will host a dynamic lineup of sports and entertainment activities in Team Qatar Village in Al Sa’ad Plaza, Lusail.. This initiative, in collaboration with various national sports federations, will showcase exciting events across multiple disciplines, including athletics, football, basketball, handball, shooting & Archery, volleyball, Golf, Taekwondo, Judo and Karate. The organizing committee has fully planned and executed all logistical, technical, administrative, and medical preparations to ensure a flawless experience for participants and spectators alike. Along the race route, hydration stations and first-aid points have been strategically positioned to prioritize the safety and well-being of all runners. Meanwhile, the race headquarters at Al Sa’ad Plaza in Lusail Boulevard has officially opened, welcoming thousands of eager participants as they collect their race kits and familiarize themselves with the course. The atmosphere is electric, as competitors gear up to vie for prestigious prizes across various categories. Mr. Salah Al Saadi, Assistant Director of the Sport Events Department at the QOC, emphasized that the seamless and meticulously organized process of welcoming runners, distributing race kits, and providing course guidance has been met with overwhelming praise from participants. "Our goal is to deliver an extraordinary edition of the QOC Half Marathon in the iconic Lusail Boulevard—a venue of immense historical significance that witnessed the unforgettable final moments of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This legacy will continue to inspire generations of Qataris, instilling a deep sense of pride for years to come." The QOC Half Marathon 2025 enjoys the support of an esteemed group of national partners and sponsors, including: Official Sponsors: Doha Bank & Al Rayan Bank, Host Partner: Qatari Diar,  Supporting Partners,  The Look, Lab Recovery, Baladi Express, Al Rayan Mineral Water, Government & Infrastructure Partners: Ministry of Interior & Qatar Rail, Sporting Partners: Qetaifan Islands & Qatar Athletics Federation. To ensure seamless execution, the organizing committee conducted an orientation session for volunteers at the QOC headquarters on February 5. Volunteers received comprehensive training, including a detailed briefing on event logistics, site layout, and designated roles within Lusail Boulevard. Assigned to four key operational zones, volunteers will play a crucial role in upholding Qatar’s esteemed reputation for delivering world-class sporting events. Following the briefing, volunteers were issued their official race accreditations and will participate in a site visit to Lusail Boulevard on Sunday, February 9. During this visit, they will receive their official uniforms and finalize their on-ground responsibilities to ensure a smooth and engaging race experience for all. Driven by its unwavering commitment to sports excellence and community engagement, the QOC aims to foster a strong sporting culture and encourage nationwide participation in physical activities. This initiative is a testament to Qatar National Vision 2030 and aligns seamlessly with QOC’s vision: "To Become a Leading Nation in Bringing the World Together Through Sustainable Sport Development."  

Stage set for Qatar TotalEnergies Open

DOHA -  The stage is set for an electrifying edition of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2025, with defending champion Iga Swiatekpoised to launch her quest for a historic fourth straight title in Doha. The official draw ceremony, held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, determined the early matchups for this WTA 1000 event, promising intense battles from the outset. Swiatek, the second seed, could face a tough opening challenge against either former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari or a qualifier as she aims to extend her dominance in the Qatari capital. Meanwhile, top seed and 2020 champion Aryna Sabalenka is set to begin her campaign against either former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who enters as a wild card, or Linz champion Ekaterina Alexandrova. Fifth seed and last year’s runner-up Elena Rybakina is the only top-eight seed who will not face a former top-20 player in her opening match. However, both Dayana Yastremska, a Linz finalist who reached a career-high of No. 21, and Peyton Stearns could provide a stern test as she looks to go one step further in 2025. All top-eight seeds have received first-round byes and will enter the competition in the second round. With a star-studded field, the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2025 is set to deliver another week of world-class tennis as the world’s best battle for the prestigious WTA 1000 title in Doha.  

Qatar Curling Team set to face Saudi Arabia and Japan at the Asian Winter Games on Sunday

Harbin, China – The Qatari curling team is poised to make its highly anticipated debut in the team competition this Sunday at the ninth Asian Winter Games (Harbin 2025), currently underway in China. The prestigious event, featuring 1,275 elite athletes from 34 nations, runs until February 14. The Qatari men's curling team will open its campaign with two crucial matchups on Sunday—first against Saudi Arabia, followed by a challenging encounter with Japan. The competition will intensify as they take on China on Monday, Hong Kong on Tuesday, and Thailand on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Qatari women's curling team will embark on its journey with a face-off against the Philippines on Sunday. Their demanding schedule continues with matches against China and Japan on Monday, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei on Tuesday, Thailand and Hong Kong on Wednesday, and a final showdown against South Korea on Thursday. The Qatari squad for the tournament comprises 12 talented athletes: Men’s team: Abdulrahman Qassem Al-Yafei, Ahmed Saad Al-Fahad, Nasser Abdulrahman Al-Yafei, Mubarak Salem Al-Marri, Mohammed Hassan Al-Nuaimi, and Nayef Badr Al-Rumaihi. Women’s team: Al-Dana Ahmed Al-Fahad, Sarah Hamoud Al-Qaet, Fatima Ahmed Al-Fahad, Haseena Hassan Al-Fahad, Mubarka Salem Al-Abdullah, and Amina Hamoud Al-Qaet. This edition of the Asian Winter Games marks a historic milestone, boasting a record-breaking 1,275 athletes (755 men and 520 women) representing 34 National Olympic Committees across the continent.  

Haotong Li takes two-shot lead into the final day

DOHA - China’s Haotong Li moved into a two-shot lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters with a third round 67 at the Doha Golf Club on Saturday. The three-time DP World Tour winner -- 2018 Dubai Desert Classic, China Open, 2022 BMW International Open -- advanced to 13-under to overhaul halfway leader Brandon Robinson-Thompson. A one-under 71 saw Robinson-Thompson move to 11 under, enough for second spot and a place in the final group today, with England’s Matthew Jordan and South African Jayden Schaper sharing third on nine under after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively. Haotong wasted no time in wiping out Robinson-Thompson’s two-shot overnight advantage as he birdied the first after hitting a superb second into the par five and gained another stroke at the next from five feet. England’s Robinson-Thompson had only one deviation from par over his first 15 holes and that was a bogey at the sixth, with Haotong taking the outright lead with a birdie from three feet at the seventh. “It felt not easy definitely,” said Haotong, who is seeking his first title since the 2022 BMW International Open, where he had claimed the remarkable victory defeating Belgium’s Thomas Pieters in a play-off after holing a 50-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole in Moosinning, Germany. “An opposite wind compared to the last two days. I holed some moments and par putts, especially the one on ten. Overall I’m very pleased. (Two opening birdies) definitely released a lot of pressure from that position. Especially with my driver being a little bit off today. I didn’t hit as many fairways as yesterday, I just need to create more chances tomorrow,” Haotong added. Haotong’s best Major Championship finish is third to date at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale. “So far this year my approach play has been really solid. I just need to keep the momentum going. I didn’t look at the leaderboard at all until number ten. Then I saw I was leading and I thought ‘okay’. It felt like a strange feeling. It’s been a while. Hopefully I can continue the momentum going into the final round,” the 29-year-old World No 73 said. Both of the leading protagonists reeled off a long string of pars to the 15th, before cashing in on the driveable 16th, where Robinson-Thompson recorded his first gain of the day. Haotong looked like finishing the day further ahead when he rolled in a 15 footer at the 17th, but Robinson-Thompson got up and down from the back of the 18th green to close the gap to two. Robinson-Thompson was tied for eighth in Bahrain last week and was pleased to keep his challenge on course over the closing holes. “It was a bit of a slow start, honestly,” the Englishman said. “Again the wind was up, pins were tucked a little bit and I kept hitting them to 30 or 40 feet. I kept giving myself chances but not close enough. You never know on this golf course, especially with this wind direction. You can always finish hot and luckily I picked up two towards the end there,” he said. Earlier, Jordan had moved through the field with five straight birdies from the 12th and, although he dropped a shot after three-putting the 17th, he holed a huge 56-birdie putt on the last. Schaper also finished strongly, as three birdies in his last four holes gave him a share of third. Scores after Round 3: 203 - Haotong Li (CHN) 69-67-67 205 - Brandon Robinson Thompson (ENG) 66-68-71 207 - Matthew Jordan (ENG) 69-71-67, Jayden Schaper (RSA) 69-69-69 208 - Martin Couvra (FRA) 71-69-68, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (DEN) 66-72-70, MK Kim (KOR) 69-67-72 209 - Andrea Pavan (ITA) 67-73-69, Adrien Dumont de Chassart (BEL) 69-71-69, Sam Bairstow (ENG) 67-72-70, Niklas Lemke (SWE) 70-68-71 210 - Ben Schmidt (ENG) 73-67-70, Jeff Winther (DEN) 72-67-71, Antoine Rozner (FRA) 69-70-71, Oliver Lindell (FIN) 68-70-72.  

Sheikh Joaan meets with senior sports officials on sidelines of Asian Winter Games

Harbin, China - His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) , held separate meetings with Mr. Otabek Umarov, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia for the Central Asia Region; Mr. Zulfiqar Jala Hamad Zada, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tajikistan; and Mr. Yerbol Mirza Bosinov, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 9th Asian Winter Games, currently being held in the city of Harbin, China. The talks centered on strengthening sports cooperation and exploring strategic initiatives to elevate collaboration in the coming period. The meetings were attended by HE Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and HE Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, Secretary-General of the QOC.