Fourth Edition of Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour Kicks Off

Doha: The main draw matches of the fourth edition of the Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour begin today, Wednesday. The tournament, organized by the Qatar Tennis Federation under the umbrella of the International Tennis Federation, will take place over a week on the hard courts of the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The competition features 32 players in the singles category and 16 pairs in the doubles category, with a total prize pool of $15,000.  Russian Marat Sharipov, ranked 343rd globally, leads the roster of players, with Frenchman Arthur Gea, ranked 443rd, also among the notable participants. Adding local flavor to the event, Qatari player Ghanem Al-Sulaiti received a wildcard entry, while the Qatar Tennis Federation also extended invitations to several Arab players to foster regional participation and talent development. This tournament serves as a pivotal platform for emerging players aiming to boost their professional careers, offering opportunities to enhance global rankings and qualify for larger international events. Saad Al-Mohannadi, Executive Director of the Qatar Tennis Federation and Tournament Director, expressed pride in the tournament’s ability to attract talented players from across the globe. He reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to nurturing Qatari athletes by providing them with exposure to high-level competition. In last year’s edition, French player Arthur Gea clinched the singles title, underscoring the tournament’s reputation for delivering thrilling matches and spotlighting rising tennis stars.

Qatar Olympic Committee Marks Qatar National Day with Inspiring School Visits

Doha: As part of its Qatar National Day celebrations, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) organized a series of school visits, featuring a group of Team Qatar athletes. The initiative aimed to promote national values and encourage young people to embrace sports. The visits included Tariq Bin Ziad School and Doha English Speaking School, where Team Qatar stars met with students to deliver talks and engage in interactive sessions about their athletic journeys and the role of sports in strengthening national identity. At Tariq Bin Ziad School, students met Ashraf El-Seify, an athletics champion, Ali Turki Al-Wajhan, Team Qatar fencing star and Noor Nizar, a taekwondo player, who shared valuable insights on the importance of sports in shaping well-rounded individuals. Meanwhile, Doha English Speaking School welcomed another group of Team Qatar athletes, including Cherif Younousse, Tokyo Olympics Beach Volleyball bronze medalist, Reem Al-Sharshani, a shooting champion and Abdulrahman Saeed, an athletics player. They shared their sporting experiences and highlighted how sports are deeply connected to national values, emphasizing that celebrating Qatar National Day serves as a motivation to achieve further success. Team Qatar star Cherif Younousse , reflected on the occasion, saying: "National Day is not just an occasion; it is an opportunity to renew our commitment to our beloved country. My role today is to encourage students to adopt sports as a means of self-development and achieving a balance between mind and body." Ali Turki Al-Wajhan, Team Qatar fencing star, expressed his pride in participating in the event, saying: "National Day is a cherished occasion for all of us. I am proud to be here with the students to share my experience and inspire them to pursue their dreams in sports or any other field." He added: "I hope to be a source of motivation for young people and contribute to building a generation distinguished by perseverance and determination to achieve success." Reem Al-Sharshani, shooting champion, shared her excitement about the initiative, saying: "Our experience with the students today was wonderful. National Day reminds us all of the value of hard work, and I’m happy to share my story with the next generation." Al-Sharshani also emphasized the values she learned through sports: "Shooting has taught me focus and patience, which are essential qualities for any young person striving to achieve their ambitions." Abdulrahman Saeed, athletics player, said: "Participating in this event means a lot to me. I firmly believe that future generations are capable of achieving more success if they embrace the right values and remain ambitious." Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al-Thani, Head of the QOC Community Engagement Section stated: "At the Qatar Olympic Committee, we are committed to organizing initiatives that strengthen the role of sports in society and help build a generation that values sports awareness and is capable of achieving success."  He added: "Today’s school visits are part of the QOC celebrations of National Day and its ongoing efforts to enhance interaction between athletes and students while highlighting the importance of sports as an integral part of their daily lives and future journeys." This initiative reflects the Qatar Olympic Committee’s ongoing efforts to promote both national and athletic spirit among young people and to instill the values of sports in future generations as part of Qatar National Day celebrations.

Arthur Gea claims title of Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour

Doha: France's Arthur Gea claimed tittle of singles event at the third edition of the Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour, hosted by the Qatar Tennis Federation at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex over the course of a week.   Gea, the second seed, defeated Italy’s top-seeded Giovanni Fonio in an impressive straight-sets victory, 7-5, 6-3, to secure the title.  In the doubles final, Denmark’s Filip Hjorth and Christian Sigsgaard claimed the crown after a hard-fought win over the German-Finnish duo of Adrian Oetzbach and Eero Vasa. The Danish pair rallied to victory with scores of 5-7, 7-5, 10-4.  Saad Al Mohannadi, Executive Director of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation, commended the winners during the closing ceremony. He praised the exceptional level of competition displayed throughout the tournament and highlighted its success in attracting elite young talent from around the world. Al Mohannadi also emphasized the tournament's role in enhancing Qatar’s reputation as a leading destination for world-class tennis events.  

Qatar Weightlifting Federation honors Fares Ibrahim for winning two silver medals at the world championships

Doha: The Qatar Weightlifting Federation honored team Qatar star Fares Ibrahim, who secured two silver medals at the World Weightlifting Championships 2024 in Mamana, Bahrain. The celebration took place during the reception of Fares Ibrahim and the national team delegation at Hamad International Airport last night, amidst a festive atmosphere, following his latest remarkable achievement in his distinguished sporting career.  Fares, who previously won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, clinched two silver medals in the 102kg category.  Khalid Abdullah Al-Hammadi, Board Member of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation, commended Fares Ibrahim's significant accomplishment, emphasizing that it reaffirms his status as one of Qatar's most prominent athletes in recent years, given his achievements at the Olympic, global, and Asian levels.  For his part, Fares Ibrahim expressed his happiness at winning two silver medals at the World Championships, dedicating the achievement to Qatar and to everyone who has supported him throughout his sporting journey, particularly the Qatar Weightlifting Federation.    

Team Qatar claim bronze medal of Gulf Padel Cup

Kuwait: The Qatari Padel team clinched the bronze medal at the 2024 Gulf Cup, held in Kuwait over five days with the participation of six teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman.  Team Qatar defeated Bahrain 2-0 in the third-place match to secure their spot on the podium.   The Qatari squad featured standout players, including Mohammed Saadoun Al Kuwari, Jabr Noah, Abdullah Haji, Hassan Wali, Mohammed Al Khanji, Rayan Al Jafari, Meshari Nawaf, Omar Hassan, and Mohammed Abdullah.  Khalid Al Khelaifi, Board Member of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation and Head of the National Teams Committee, praised the team’s strong performance. “Our players demonstrated excellent skills and high sportsmanship throughout the tournament,” Al Khelaifi said.  “This achievement marks an important milestone in the development of padel in Qatar. We are committed to supporting our players with all the resources they need to achieve greater success in the future.” He added.    The UAE team claimed the championship title, while Kuwait secured second place.  

Qatar leads the way with the First Curling Training Camp for West Asia

DOHA  – Marking a milestone for winter sports in the region, the Qatar Winter Sports Committee (QWSC ), in collaboration with World Curling successfully organized the first-ever curling training camp for West Asian nations.  This three-day educational and competitive event was held from December 12 to 14 at the state-of-the-art Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Doha. The camp brought together teams from Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the host country, Qatar, fostering regional collaboration and skill development. A total of eight teams participated in the camp, engaging in intensive training sessions, spirited competitions, and educational workshops. These sessions provided valuable insights into the sport's rules and regulations, catering to the growing popularity of curling across Asia and beyond. Qatar, as a trailblazer in this endeavor, demonstrated its leadership in promoting curling within the region. The initiative aimed to nurture young talents, elevate the technical and performance levels of local players, and lay the groundwork for increased regional participation in continental and global tournaments. The World Curling lauded the exceptional organizational efforts of the QWSC, emphasizing the camp's alignment with international standards and its contribution to the sport's expansion among younger demographics. The success of this inaugural event underscored Qatar’s dedication to fostering athletic excellence and innovation in winter sports. Speaking at the camp's conclusion, the QWSC Secretary General Hassan Hissam Al-Hebabi, highlighted the impressive technical and competitive achievements displayed by the participating teams. He reiterated Qatar's unwavering commitment to advancing the sport within the region and enhancing its standards of excellence. Looking ahead, Mr. Al-Hebabi expressed the Committee's ambitious vision of hosting an international curling championship in 2025. This endeavor reflects Qatar's ongoing efforts to develop the sport, sharpen the skills of its athletes, and position the nation as a key player in the global curling community. The first curling training camp for West Asia is a testament to Qatar's pioneering spirit and its dedication to elevating winter sports on both regional and international stages.