Harimoto clinches second Doha title

Doha: Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto delivered a commanding performance on Saturday to claim his second Men’s Singles crown in Doha, defeating Denmark’s Jonathan Groth in the final of WTT Star Contender Doha 2025. Harimoto showcased his brilliance with a straight-sets victory (11-9, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6), repeating his triumph from 2021. Groth, appearing in his first WTT Star Contender final, showed great form throughout the tournament and had his moments in the title match. A pivotal moment came in game two, where Groth held a 7-10 lead and earned multiple game points at 10-11. However, Harimoto’s resilience shone through as he saved all four points, snatching the game 13-11. From there, Harimoto seized the momentum and closed out the match with confidence, securing games three and four to seal the championship in style. China’s rising star Kuai Man claimed her first Women’s Singles trophy at a WTT Star Contender event, delivering a breathtaking display against former Doha champion Miyuu Kihara in the final. Kuai’s emphatic four-game victory (11-6, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3) underlined her immense potential and set the tone for an exciting season ahead. Kihara, who was looking to reclaim her Doha glory, had no answer to Kuai’s relentless attack, as the Chinese prodigy announced herself on the global stage with a near-flawless performance. With Harimoto and Kuai lifting the Men’s and Women’s Singles trophies, WTT Star Contender Doha 2025 concluded on a high note. The excitement now shifts to Oman as the WTT Series continues with WTT Contender Muscat 2025 already underway.  

QTTA to host Qatar International Combined Championships 2025

Doha: The Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) has announced it will host the Qatar International Combined Championships 2025 in collaboration with World Table Tennis (WTT). The event, set to take place at the Aspire Zone Women’s Sports Hall from January 27 to February 8, will feature three tournaments including WTT Youth Contender Doha 2025, WTT Youth Star Contender Doha 2025 and WTT Feeder Doha 2025.  This championship aligns with QTTA's vision to support the development of age-group players who represent the future of table tennis in Qatar. It also reflects QTTA's strategic plan, which complements the Qatar Olympic Committee’s efforts to prepare elite athletes for the Doha 2030 Asian Games. The event will serve as a valuable rehearsal for hosting the 2025 World Championship finals, scheduled for May 17–25.  Ahmed Khalil Al Mohannadi, Director of the Qatar International Table Tennis Championships 2025, confirmed that all arrangements are in place following the successful conclusion of the 30th edition of the Qatar International Championship (WTT Star Contender Doha 2025). In press statements, Al Mohannadi highlighted the participation of numerous distinguished players from various countries and announced that the Women’s Sports Hall is fully equipped to host the event. The Qatari national team will compete in all categories, including men’s, women’s, and youth divisions. Prominent players such as Muhammad Abdul Wahab, Abdullah Abdul Wahab, Ahmed Eid, Rawad Al Nasser, Aya Muhammad, and Maryam Ali will represent Qatar. Al Mohannadi emphasized that hosting these championships in Doha provides an excellent preparation platform for the national team ahead of upcoming events. It also offers players valuable experience through competition with elite athletes from around the world.  

Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation hosts Combat Challenge at Barzan Youth Center

DOHA – The Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation (QBWF) held a one-day Combat Challenge event on Saturday evening at the Barzan Youth Center in Umm Salal Ali. This event, part of the QBWF’s internal activities, showcased the talents of promising Qatari boxers competing in six weight categories. The event was attended by Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the QBWF, along with Mr. Abdullah Hamad Al-Musaifri, QBWF Assistant Secretary-General and Board Member; Mr. Ghanim Al-Kuwari, Head of National Boxing Teams and Board Member; and Mr. Fawaz Abdullah Al-Musaifri, Board Member and Head of the Jiu-Jitsu Committee. The boxers demonstrated outstanding skills and sportsmanship. The winners in each weight category were as follows: •    60 kg: Abdulaziz Abdulatef (1st place), Youssef Al-Sayed (2nd place). •    63.5 kg: Mohamed Al-Fagay (1st place), Faisal Al-Nuaimi (2nd place). •    71 kg: Hamad Waleed Al-Shebi (1st place), Mesaed Abdulmalek (2nd place). •    71 kg: Moussa Retma (1st place), Firas Ghrimil (2nd place). •    75 kg: Saeed Jehad Saeed Hussein (1st place), Mohamed Al-Mansour (2nd place). •    +92 kg: Faris Ali (1st place), Mohamed Mahdi (2nd place). During the award ceremony, Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani and the QBWF Board Members honored the winners in an atmosphere filled with competitive spirit and camaraderie. This event supports the QBWF’s mission to promote boxing, inspire youth participation in the sport, identify new talent, develop their skills, and prepare future athletes for local and international competitions.  

Epic mixed doubles final goes the distance in Doha

Doha: Miwa Harimoto and Sora Matsushima have been crowned Mixed Doubles champions at WTT Star Contender Doha 2025, laying claim to their first trophy of the season with a 3-2 victory over Shi Xunyao and Huang Youzheng (6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7). Both sets of finalists started the week in the qualifying rounds, but stood out from the rest of the playing field, working their way through the draw at breakneck speed. Starting the final on the front foot, Shi and Huang looked in sync in the early stages of Saturday’s title match, leaning on each other’s strengths to pick up two of the opening three games. However, Harimoto and Matsushima stuck together in the face of adversity, bouncing back in the fourth to keep the dream alive. Then, in an all or nothing decider, the Japanese pair hit the jackpot, striking the ball with real venom to leave Shi and Huang in their dust. As the sun begins to set in Doha, Miwa Harimoto and Sora Matsushima return home with silverware in their grasp, and will move into the Mixed Doubles World Top 20 in Week 3’s ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings thanks to their showing at Lusail Sports Arena.  

Qatar to Host Asian Shotgun Cup 2026

Doha: The Qatar Shooting & Archery Association has been awarded the hosting rights for the Asian Shotgun Cup 2026, which will take place from November 15 to 26, 2026, at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Doha. Renowned for its expertise in organizing international shooting events, the Qatar Shooting & Archery Association is set to deliver a world-class competition. With state-of-the-art facilities at Lusail Shooting Complex and a highly skilled team, the association aims to provide an exceptional experience for participants and officials alike. The Asian Shotgun Cup 2026 will bring together top shooting talent from across Asia, featuring thrilling Shotgun events. This prestigious tournament will serve as a vital platform for Asian athletes to hone their skills and compete at the highest level.  

Paranang Stuns Harimoto in WTT Star Contender Doha 2025

Doha: Orawan Paranang stole the spotlight on Thursday evening at the WTT Star Contender Doha 2025 with a stunning 3-2 victory over Women’s Singles No.2 seed Miwa Harimoto. Under the bright lights of Lusail Sports Arena, the Thai star delivered an unforgettable performance, edging past the World No.6 in a dramatic clash (7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7).   Having lost their only prior encounter at WTT Contender Tunis 2024, Paranang flipped the script with a fearless display, attacking with precision and poise. Despite trailing in the deciding game, Paranang staged a remarkable comeback, closing the match with an emphatic 11-7 finish to seal her career-defining win.   Another compelling showdown saw Spain’s Maria Xiao renew her rivalry with Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi. Meeting on the world stage for the first time since 2014, Xiao once again emerged victorious, showing confidence and composure to win in four games (6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9).   In Men’s Singles action, Milosz Redzimski delivered a stunning upset, eliminating No.9 seed Oh Junsung in straight games (15-13, 11-4, 12-10). Despite being ranked 35 places below his opponent, Redzimski held his nerve in crucial moments to secure one of the biggest wins of his career.   Darko Jorgic, the No.4 seed, had a shaky start against Hwan Bae, who eliminated former Doha champion Andrej Gacina in the first round. After dropping the opening game, Jorgic regained control, winning three consecutive games (9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8) to avoid a second-round upset.   The evening also featured exhilarating Men’s Doubles semifinal action. Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar came agonizingly close to reaching the final but were edged out by China’s Xiang Peng and Xu Yingbin in a nail-biting decider (11-9, 7-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-7).   The WTT Star Contender Doha 2025 continues to deliver high-octane drama and unforgettable moments as the competition heats up. Stay tuned for more electrifying action.