Top riders set for Doha Tour showdown at Al Shaqab

Doha: The Organising Committee of the Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025 on Wednesday announced the completion of all arrangements for the launch of the first round of the most awaited event, which will begin at the glorious Longines Arena at Al Shaqab from today and continue till Saturday. The event has attracted more than 150 riders from 30 countries. The Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025 has a total prize money of more than 1.7mn euros. The showjumping event comprises three international rounds, with the first and second rounds allocated to the one-star, two-star, and four-star categories, while the third and final round includes the one-star and three-star categories, in addition to the major five-star category. The second round of the championship will be held from January 16-18, and the third and final round is from January 23-25. This year’s edition has been organised by the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Al Shaqab and the Qatar Olympic Committee. At a press conference on Wednesday, Event Director Mohammed Jaber al-Khayarin confirmed that the Doha rounds are one of the most prominent international championships on the global equestrian calendar, as they attract an elite group of internationally ranked riders from around the world to compete in the various categories of the championship, with the number of participating riders reaching 277 riders from around the world. He pointed out that this version of the championship is to enhance the status of equestrian sports, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to modernize while preserving the ancient traditions and heritage values. He also revealed the total prize money for all international equestrian championships for the year 2025, amounts to more than 5.5mn euros, including 1.7mn euros for the Doha rounds. He added: “Organising this event requires exceptional effort and high professionalism to achieve the required success and contribute to the success of the championship competitions, so we extend our thanks and appreciation to all sectors that worked tirelessly to make this event come out in the best possible way. We invite everyone to attend this exceptional global event and spend a time full of fun and excitement.” Nasser Mubarak al-Hajri, the championship’s Sports Director, while delving into the technical aspect of the championship noted that the Tour witnesses the participation of a number of world-class riders such as Scott Brash and Janne Friederike Meyer, in addition to riders from many different and also neighbouring countries. The number of participants in the first round of the championship reached 150 riders from more than 30 countries, which reflects the high level and great diversity of participants. The largest number of participation is from Qatar with 86 Qatari riders, then Saudi Arabia with 41 riders, 35 European riders, Egypt with 27 riders, in addition to riders from other countries. Regarding the registered horses, he explained the number has reached 410, including: 150 from Qatar, 135 from European countries, 86 from Gulf countries, in addition to horses from Arab countries. The championship will feature stables for different categories, with the stables for European riders hosting 134 horses, the stables for local riders hosting 133 horses, the stables for Gulf riders hosting 69 horses, the stables for Middle Eastern riders hosting 32 horses, and the stables for local Al Shaqab horses hosting 40 horses. He added: “To ensure a world-class sporting experience, the championship arena has been shaped by international course designers with experience in designing the arenas of dozens of international championships. International judges were also consulted alongside a local jury, with the aim of enhancing local expertise in line with the highest international standards, which contributes in raising the level of the championship and enhancing its position on the global stage. “ Abdullah al-Qashouti, Director of Marketing and Communications of Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025, informed that the organising committee has allocated a special area for the public that has many recreational facilities including a variety of foods and drinks for all, besides the multiple options of cafes and shops, in addition to many entertainment events for all age groups and segments of the society. Accompanying events will be held on the outer perimeter of the Longines Arena, where contracts have been signed with service providers, business owners and the artist community to provide an exceptional experience for the fans, demonstrating Qatari hospitality and heritage. The Longines outdoor arena also includes games for children and an area for visual artists, ensuring an enjoyable and enriching experience for all visitors. He also informed that in an effort to provide an exceptional experience for the riders. “A Riders’ Corner has been allocated in a distinguished location directly overlooking the competition field. A ticket has been provided for one person at a price of 800 euros for the event, or a private table reservation for 6 riders at a price of 3,500 euros for the tournament inside the pavilion. “As for the fans, they can purchase tickets from the official platform Qtickets, with general audience ticket prices ranging from QR50 per day for adults, QR25 for children aged 7-12, while entry is free for children under the age of 7. Other options include hospitality packages and VIP tickets, which offer multiple benefits such as exclusive access to the platform, premium seating service and valet parking,” he added. The event is sponsored by Doha Bank, Al Abdulghani Motors, and Zabargad Jewellery. The Tour is also partnered by Qatar Airways as the official airlines, Visit Qatar, Al Kass Sports Channels as the broadcasters, So Cast as the social media partner, and Sahil as media partner.  

Qatar Handball Team set to face Algeria in a friendly match

Ljubljana: The Qatar national handball team will meet Algeria tomorrow in their final friendly match during their ongoing training camp in Slovenia. This match marks the conclusion of their preparations for the 29th IHF Men's Handball World Championship, set to take place in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway from January 14 to February 2. Yesterday, Qatar faced Slovenia in a challenging match, falling 38–30. Prior to their Slovenian camp, the team played three test matches in Doha last week. They secured back-to-back victories against Argentina (30–25 and 30–27) but narrowly lost to Bahrain in the third match (28–27). Qatar has been drawn into Group C, alongside France, Austria, and Kuwait. Their World Championship journey begins on January 14 with an opening match against France, followed by a game against Austria on January 16, and concluding the group stage against Kuwait on January 18. This will be Qatar’s 10th appearance at the World Championship. Their previous participations include Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, Egypt 2021, and Poland and Sweden 2023. Qatar’s standout performance came in the 2015 edition, hosted at home, where they claimed the silver medal. Qatar secured their spot in this year’s championship by topping Group A in the main stage of the 21st Asian Men's Handball Championship, held in Bahrain last January. They went on to win the title for the sixth consecutive time, defeating Japan 30–24 in the final.  

Main Rounds of Qatar International Table Tennis Open to begin on Wednesday

DOHA - The main rounds of the 30th Qatar International Table Tennis Open (WTT Star Contender) Championship, organized by the Qatar Table Tennis Federation in cooperation with the World Table Tennis (WTT), will kick off tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Lusail Sports Arena and will continue through Jan 11. The women's singles main round matches will witness strong competitions on Wednesday, during which Qatari player Aya Magdy will face a tough match against Japanese player Mayu Kihara, ranked 29th in the world, while the Qatari duo Mohammed Abdul Wahab and Abdullah Abdul Wahab will also face a tough match tomorrow against the Chinese pair Huang Yuzheng and Zhou Qihao. The other Qatari duo, Maryam Ali and Aya Magdy, will face Serbian Andrea Todorovic and Kazakhstani Sarvinoz Mirkaderova.  

FIBA Basketball World Cup – Qatar 2027 LOC Signs Cooperation Agreement with Education Above All Foundation

Doha: The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the FIBA Basketball World Cup – Qatar 2027 (FBWC Qatar 2027) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), aiming to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while showcasing Qatar’s leadership in leveraging sports to support education and social development. The signing ceremony was attended by Sara Khalid Al-Mesnad, Executive Director of Communications & Guest Relations at the Local Organizing Committee – FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, and Ali Turki Al Sobai – Executive Director of Human Resources of the Education Above All Foundation As part of the agreement, the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) and the Local Organizing Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup – Qatar 2027 will develop a coordinated events calendar, ensuring the integration of Education Above All (EAA) into their upcoming initiatives and activities. This collaboration will include initiatives such as hosting joint events to engage with prominent visitors to Qatar, organizing field visits and creative gatherings to promote the tournament, and supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in areas like education, youth empowerment, and employment. Additionally, the partnership will see the activation of QBF’s social responsibility efforts to support EAA’s educational initiatives, the development of a basketball scholarship program to nurture young talent.   Commenting on the partnership, Sara Khalid Al-Mesnad stated: “This partnership underscores Qatar’s commitment to using sports as a powerful platform for positive change, promoting universal values, and driving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It lays the foundation for delivering a truly exceptional edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027 which will support the right to educate children through the beautiful game of Basketball “ “Through this partnership with the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organizing Committee, Education Above All Foundation reaffirms its commitment to leveraging the transformative power of education and sports to drive sustainable development. This collaboration reflects our shared vision to make education accessible to every child, regardless of their circumstances. Together, we aim to inspire hope, foster opportunities, and empower youth to achieve their full potential,” said Ali Turki Al Sobai, Executive Director of Human Resources at the Education Above All Foundation. Al-Mesnad extended her appreciation to the Education Above All Foundation for their dedicated efforts in advancing global education. She expressed her optimism that the partnership would fulfill its mission to create a brighter future for upcoming generations.  

Preliminary Rounds of Qatar International Table Tennis Open Championship Begin

DOHA -  (QNA) - The preliminary rounds of the 30th edition of the Qatar International Table Tennis Open Championship (WTT Star Contender) began Monday. The tournament is organized by the Qatar Table Tennis Federation, in collaboration with the World Table Tennis (WTT) at the Lusail Sports Arena. The Qatari championship is the first international table tennis championship for 2025, and 27 matches were held on the first day in two morning and evening sessions, which witnessed strong competition between male and female players. The preliminary qualifiers will continue  on Tuesday, in two sessions, with about 60 matches to determine the qualifiers for the main round, which will start on Wednesday. The championship is witnessing the participation of 180 male and female players representing more than 42 countries, and its competitions will continue until January 11, with the participation of the most prominent champions and top ranked players in the world. The winner of the men's and women's singles will receive a cash prize of USD 10,000 and 600 points in the international ranking, while the second-place winner will receive USD 7,525 and 420 points. In the doubles competition, the champion will receive USD 3,500 and 600 points, while the runner-up will receive USD 2,500 and 420 points. The tournament represents a World Cup rehearsal for the Organizing Committee of the World Table Tennis Championship "Qatar 2025". During this world championship, the Qatar Table Tennis Federation will review all the preparations, organizational and logistical matters, and training grounds, especially since the Lusail Arena will be the main hall for the global event that will be held next May. Today, a number of Qatari table tennis players participated in the men's singles competitions, namely: Youssef Abdulzaher, Rawad Al Nasser, Issa Al Haddad, Abdullah Abdulwahhab, and Ahmed Eid Qarni, and they performed well, but none of them qualified to play in the main round of the tournament. As for the women's singles competitions, they will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, where Qatari player Maryam Ali will face Ukrainian player Margarita Pyutska in the morning. The promising player Serena Shaikh will also play against Hong Kong player Wing Lam.   

Team Qatar to take on Slovenia in friendly Ahead of World Championship

Ljubljana,  - The Qatar handball team will face Slovenia in their first friendly match on Tuesday, as part of the ongoing training camp in Slovenia ahead of the 29th IHF Men's World Championship, slated to take place in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway from Jan. 14 to Feb. 2. This contest is essential for Qatar to encounter one of the most preeminent European teams prior to facing Algeria on Thursday in the final camp ahead of the world tournament. Additionally, the Qatar handball team played three friendly matches in Doha last week, along with two matches against Argentina, winning the first 30-25 and repeating victory in the second match with a score of 30-27, and lost to Bahrain 27-28 in the third game. The Serbian coach Veselin Vukovic co-opted 20 players to represent the team in the World Championship after it was placed in Group C, alongside France, Austria, and Kuwait, will embark on this saga by facing France on the opening day on Jan.14, and will encounter Austria on Jan.16, before winding up the group-stage matches by facing Kuwait on Jan.18. The Qatar national handball team is participating in the World Championship for the tenth time in history, after competing in Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, Egypt 2021, Poland and Sweden 2023, and subsequently snagged the second place in the 2015 edition held in Qatar.