Qatar junior golf team win two gold at GCC Championship

Muscat: The Qatari junior golf team claimed two gold medals in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Junior and Women’s Golf Championship, hosted by Oman at the Ghala Golf Club in Muscat. Daniel Sokolov secured the gold medal in the under-16 singles category, finishing the tournament with a total of 218 strokes over three rounds. He dominated the leaderboard from the first day to the last, showcasing his skill and deserving the title. Omani player Adam al-Barwani came in second with 247 strokes, while his compatriot Brunesh Jakwani placed third. In the team competition for the same age group, the Qatari junior team excelled, winning the gold medal with a combined score of 480 strokes over three rounds. The Omani team finished second with 490 strokes, followed by the UAE team in third place with 519 strokes. In the women’s singles competition, Qatari player Nada Radwan delivered an impressive performance, securing fourth place with a total of 243 strokes after a fierce contest with players from the UAE team, who claimed the top three positions. Mohammed Faisal al-Naimi, head of Qatar’s delegation to the championship and Board Member of the Qatar Golf Association, praised the outstanding performances of the players, highlighting their consistent excellence throughout the championship amidst strong competition from top Gulf golfers. He also emphasised that investment in youth categories is yielding results and positioning Qatari golf for further success. Fahad Nasser al-Naimi, Secretary-General and Executive Committee Member of the Arab Golf Federation, underlined the importance of nurturing young players and involving them in tournaments that enhance their skills and refine their talent. He expressed optimism for a bright future for Qatari golf, with the younger generation holding great promise.  

Curtain comes down on Asian Weightlifting Championships in Doha

Doha: The Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships concluded this evening after six days of intense competition. The tournament marked the first of three events organized by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation. His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Yousef Al-Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, alongside Mr. Mohammed Hassan Jaloud Al-Shammari, President of the International Weightlifting Federation, and Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Harbi, President of the Saudi Weightlifting Federation and Secretary-General of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, crowned the best performers at the closing ceremony. India's Jyoshina Sabar was named the Best Female Lifter in the Youth category, while Vietnam's Kieu Duong won the Best Male Lifter award in the Junior category. Chen Guanling from Chinese Taipei was recognized as the Best Female Lifter in the Junior category, and Turkmenistan's Mayakup Shahzadbk received the Best Male Lifter award in the Youth category. Saudi Arabia won the Best Team award in the Junior category, outperforming Vietnam in second place and Uzbekistan in third. Iran secured the Best Team award in the Youth category, surpassing Uzbekistan in second and Saudi Arabia in third. Kazakhstan achieved dual recognition by winning the Best Team awards in both the Women’s Youth and Junior categories.  

Qatar beach volleyball team advances to 8th place in world rankings

DOHA: The Qatari men's beach volleyball team, consisting of Sherif Younes and Ahmed Tijan, has advanced to eighth place in the world ranking issued by the International Volleyball Federation, with 5660 points. The Swedish duo of David Ahler and Jonathan Helvig maintained their lead in the rankings with 7660 points, while the Norwegian duo of Anders Berntsen Mol and Sorum Christian Sandli came in second with 7400 points, followed by the German duo of Niels Ahlers and Clemens Wickler in third place with 6980 points, while the Dutch duo of Borremans and De Groot dropped to fourth place. The Qatari beach volleyball team ranked ninth in last month's International Federation ranking. The Qatari team recently won the bronze medal in the finals of the World Tour for men's and women’s professional beach volleyball, which was organized by Aspire Zone Foundation under the umbrella of the International Volleyball Federation in cooperation with the Qatar Volleyball Federation.  

Qatar’s semi-final hopes in balance after loss to Oman

DOHA - Qatar slumped to a disappointing 1-2 defeat against Oman in the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup at the Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Stadium in Sulaibikhat, Kuwait, on Tuesday. Almoez Ali gave Qatar an early lead in the 3rd minute, but Oman responded with two goals from Issam al-Sabhi, who converted a penalty in the 20th minute and scored again in the 52nd minute. After having drawn against the United Arab Emirates in their opening match on Saturday, Qatar remain on just one point, facing a mammoth task to reach the semi-finals. The Asian Champions face hosts Kuwait in their final Group A match on Friday. Meanwhile, victory propelled Oman to the top of group with four points, the same as Kuwait. Later in the day, hosts Kuwait rallied to beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in second Group A match at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. Caio Canedo put the UAE into lead in 5th minute with Mohammad Daham scoring the equaliser in 16th minute. After UAE were reduced to 10 men following marching orders for Kouame Autonne in 86th minute, Moath al-Enezi scored the winner with just one minute remaining in regulation time. Earlier, Qatar got off to a dream start when Ibrahim al-Hassan delivered a long ball to Almoez Ali, who surged into the penalty area and slotted the ball home. Oman equalised in the 20th minute after Lucas Mendez committed a foul, resulting in a penalty that al-Sabhi converted with ease. The first half ended 1-1, with neither side managing to break the deadlock despite exchanging periods of possession and control. In the second half, Oman upped their intensity and capitalised on a defensive lapse in the 52nd minute. Ali al-Busaidi delivered a precise cross, which al-Sabhi headed into the net, giving Oman the lead. Qatar pushed for an equaliser, with coach Luis Garcia making several attacking substitutions. Substitute Abdulrahman Mohammed delivered a cross that Almoez headed wide in the 69th minute. In the dying moments, Mohammed’s powerful shot hit the post in the 87th minute, and Almoez squandered a last-gasp header in stoppage time. The result leaves Qatar in a must-win situation in their final group-stage encounter against Kuwait, while Oman’s prospects of advancing have significantly improved. Garcia, who replaced Marquez Lopez as Qatar coach ahead of the tournament, expressed disappointment over the result, acknowledging his team’s good start but lamenting their lack of composure and failure to maintain possession. “We began well with an early goal but then lost our rhythm. In the second half, we created several chances but were unlucky not to at least equalise. I believe that the players did what they had to do and they cannot be held responsible for the loss,” Garcia said. He emphasised the need to correct mistakes and prepare for their crucial final group-stage match against Kuwait. Midfielder Asim Madibo echoed the coach’s sentiments, describing the match as challenging but expressing optimism about Qatar’s chances to qualify for the semis. “Our chances of qualifying remain, and we’ll give our all against Kuwait. Mistakes are part of football, and we must learn from them,” he said. On the other hand, Oman’s coach, Rashid Jaber, praised his players’ resilience and effectiveness. “This was an important and hard-fought win against a strong side. Our players executed their roles brilliantly, both offensively and defensively, to secure these vital three points,” Jaber stated. He added that the victory would boost Oman’s confidence as they prepare for their next match against the UAE, aiming to qualify for the semi-finals.

Team Qatar to take on Oman in Gulf Cup

Kuwait: Team Qatar are gearing up to face Oman in the second round of Group 1 matches in the Arabian Gulf Football Cup 2024. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Stadium, as the Qatari side looks to secure their first win of the tournament and boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals. The squad wrapped up their final training session today at Kazma SC Stadium under the guidance of Spanish coach Luis Garcia. The session focused on final preparations and tactical adjustments aimed at achieving a strong result in the upcoming match. In their opening game, Team Qatar drew 1-1 against the UAE, delivering a commendable performance that showcased their potential for the rest of the competition.  Team Qatar player Hammam Al Amin expressed confidence in the team's readiness for the challenge against Oman. Acknowledging the strength and experience of the Omani side, Al Amin emphasized the importance of stepping up their performance, especially following the draw against the UAE. He noted that with all Group 1 matches in the first round ending in draws, the competition remains wide open. “Our goal is to advance as far as possible in the tournament,” said Al Amin. “We are taking it one match at a time and giving our best effort. The new additions to the squad showed great promise in the UAE match, and they are integrating well with the rest of the team.” His teammate Ahmed Al Rawi echoed these sentiments, highlighting the team’s high spirits ahead of the Oman match. “This game will demand our utmost effort. We need to maintain the strong performance from the previous match and capitalize on our chances better,” he said. Al Rawi also noted that the balanced nature of the group means that the final round of matches will likely determine the semi-finalists. Al Rawi thanked the Qatari fans who supported the team in the UAE match and urged them to continue their backing in the crucial encounter against Oman. Meanwhile, Qatar national team media officer Saad Safar Al Kuwari confirmed that Akram Afif remains part of the squad despite dealing with personal matters. Al Kuwari said Afif’s participation in the Oman match remains uncertain but expressed full support for the player, lauding his professionalism and significant contribution in the UAE match. Team Qatar heads into Tuesday’s clash determined to secure a positive result, with both players and staff focused on delivering a performance worthy of their ambitions in the Gulf Cup.  

Stage set for Doha Equestrian Tour 2025

Doha: The Organising Committee for the Doha International Tour Equestrian Championships - Qatar 2025 announced the completion of all the arrangements at Al Shaqab, at the Longines Arena, which will be launched with the first round to be held from January 9-11. The tour will see the participation of more than 150 riders, representing more than 25 countries, competing for a total prize pool of more than 400 thousand Euros. Fans can purchase tickets from the official platform Qtickets. Ticket prices for the general attendance categories range from QR50 for 1 day for adults, QR25 for children aged 7-12 and QR12 for children under 7. Other options include free entry for children below 7 years, and hospitality packages and VIP tickets. The Doha International Tour consists of six international championships, including a variety of categories and competitions. Mohammed Jaber al-Khayareen, the event director, said the aim of the championship was to provide an exceptional experience for fans of showjumping through a series of competitions that bring together the world’s elite riders. He pointed out that the new version of the Qatar 2025 Doha International Tour will include a group of international championships under its umbrella, making it a unique destination for all riders in the world, especially the top-ranked ones. The international equestrian event also adds to Qatar’s position of being a global sports destination and also helps promote tourism and opens up horizons between people and cultures more broadly.