Al Janoub Arena Opens in New Configuration in Front of Capacity Crowd of 8,200

DOHA: The Local Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 officially opened Al Janoub Arena in its new configuration on Thursday evening in front of a capacity crowd of 8,200 fans, following its transformation from a football stadium into a basketball arena. The venue will be one of four arenas hosting games at the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.The opening coincided with celebrations marking exactly one year to go until the start of the tournament, with Al Janoub Arena hosting the game between Qatar and China in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. The first official game at the newly transformed arena was played in front of a packed house, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the stands.The game was attended by H.E. Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs; H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee; H.E. Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, President of FIBA; H.E. Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of FIBA and Dr. Ahmad Abdulla Al Buenain, Director General of the Local Organising Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027Qatar suffered a (57 - 83) defeat to China in a game that marked the start of their Second Round campaign. Qatar are competing in the Qualifiers as part of their preparations for the World Cup, despite having already secured their place in the tournament as the host nation.The arena officially opened on August 27, 2026, exactly one year before the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 tips off. The tournament will take place from August 27 to September 12, 2027, bringing together 32 national teams for 92 games across four venues: Lusail Arena, Al Janoub Arena, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Al Duhail Arena.The evening also featured a range of entertainment and interactive activities for fans, adding to the atmosphere surrounding the opening of Al Janoub Arena and the Qatar-China game and encouraging greater engagement throughout the venue. The activities complemented the on-court action and provided fans with a broader event experience, offering an early glimpse of the atmosphere the Local Organizing Committee aims to deliver during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.The FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 will be staged across Lusail Arena, Al Janoub Arena, Al Attiyah Arena and Al Duhail Arena, in a compact hosting model that will bring all 32 participating teams together in one city and minimize the need for long-distance travel between venues.The close proximity of the venues will provide a more convenient experience for teams and fans alike, giving players more time for recovery and game preparation while offering fans greater flexibility to attend more games and enjoy the tournament atmosphere throughout the event.Qatar will draw on its extensive experience in hosting major sporting events, as well as established and proven sports infrastructure that has previously staged numerous world championships. The transformation of Al Janoub Stadium into a basketball arena stands as one of the most prominent examples of repurposing existing venues and building on their legacy to host new global sporting events.The one-year-to-go celebrations also coincided with the launch of the first ticket passes for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, now available to fans through the tournament’s official website, marking another important step on the road to next year’s global event.The options include the Lusail Series Pass, covering all 32 games to be played at Lusail Arena; the Final Phase Pass, covering all 12 games from the Quarter-Finals through to the Final; and the Follow My Team Qatar Pass, which includes Qatar’s five Group Phase games – three in the first round and two in the second round.The Follow My Team Qatar Pass gives fans the opportunity to secure their seats early and support the national team throughout their World Cup campaign on home soil.

Draw Held for Third West Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship

Doha: The West Asia Volleyball Association conducted the draw for the third edition of the West Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship on Friday. The tournament will be held in Amman, Jordan, from September 3 to 7, with the participation of Qatar, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon.Lebanon will face Iraq in the opening match on September 3, before Team Qatar takes on hosts Jordan later the same day.The competition will continue on September 5, when Qatar faces Iraq and Jordan takes on Lebanon. The tournament will conclude on September 7, with Qatar meeting Lebanon and Jordan facing Iraq.The third edition of the tournament carries added significance as the champions will secure direct qualification for the 2027 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, raising the stakes for all four participating teams.Meanwhile, Qatar’s men’s volleyball team has concluded its training camp in Slovenia as part of its preparations for the 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place in Fukuoka, Japan, from September 4 to 13.During the overseas camp, Qatar played three friendly matches against Egypt, in addition to a number of matches against Slovenian professional league clubs. Head coach Camilo Soto of Argentina used the competitive fixtures to maximise the team’s preparations, improve physical and technical readiness, and strengthen cohesion among the players ahead of the continental championship.The training camp featured nine new players as part of a rebuilding process within the national team aimed at developing a new group capable of competing strongly and maintaining Qatar’s presence in upcoming competitions.Qatar’s 14-player squad comprises Mehdi Samoud, Andrea Cross, Abdulrahman Bakri, Mubarak Mousa, Abdullah Naseem, Pape Maguette, Mohammed Abdulwahab, Ibrahim Saeed, Rahimi Didi, Renan Ribeiro, Yousef Al Yafei, Mohammed Al Waleed, Mohammed Al Sharshani and Naji Mahmoud.The national team will continue training in Doha over the coming days before departing for Japan on August 30 to complete its preparations and acclimatise ahead of the continental competition.Qatar was drawn in Group C alongside the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and Thailand. Group A features Japan, Australia, Bahrain and Oman, while Group B consists of Iran, China, India and New Zealand.Qatar will open its campaign against Thailand on September 5 before facing Chinese Taipei the following day. The team will conclude the group stage against the Republic of Korea on September 8.The top two teams from each group, along with the best third-placed team, will advance to the quarterfinals.The championship carries particular importance as it represents a key step on the road to qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The continental champions will secure Asia’s direct Olympic qualification berth, while the top three teams will qualify for the 2027 FIVB Men’s World Championship in Poland.

Qatar U-19 Handball Team Face Jordan in Asian Championship Quarterfinals

Amman: Qatar’s U-19 handball team will take on hosts Jordan on Friday in the quarterfinals of the 11th Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship, currently being held in Amman through August 31.The championship also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, which will take place in North Macedonia, adding further significance to Friday’s knockout encounter.Qatar reached the quarterfinals after producing an impressive group-stage campaign, finishing top of Group B with a perfect eight points from four consecutive victories.The Qatari side began its campaign with a 30-22 win over Saudi Arabia before defeating Kuwait 30-19. It then overcame Iran 24-22 in a closely contested encounter and wrapped up the group stage with a commanding 42-29 victory over Syria.Jordan, meanwhile, advanced to the knockout stage after finishing fourth in Group A with two points. The hosts recorded their only victory of the group stage against India, edging them 25-24.Qatar will head into the quarterfinal with confidence as it looks to extend its unbeaten run and secure a place in the semifinals. Victory would also keep the team firmly in contention for qualification to the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship and the Asian title.Following four strong performances in the group stage, Qatar will be aiming to carry its momentum into the knockout rounds and continue its bid for continental success.

Abderrahman Samba to Compete at Zurich Diamond League Meeting

Zurich: The organizing committee of the Zurich Diamond League meeting, the 14th of 15 stops on this year's Diamond League athletics circuit, announced today that Team Qatar's Abderrahman Samba will compete in the men's 400m hurdles.In an official statement, the organizers confirmed that Samba, renowned for his strength in the 400m hurdles, will line up alongside some of the world's leading athletes, including Olympic and world medalists who have featured prominently on the Diamond League circuit this season.Samba will compete against a strong field that includes Brazil's Alison dos Santos, who won the event at last Friday's Silesia Diamond League meeting in 46.43 seconds, as well as Norway's Karsten Warholm, the world record holder with a time of 45.94 seconds. Slovenia's Jan Matejtek, who has a best of 48.03 seconds, and Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel, with a best of 47.37 seconds, are also set to compete.Samba heads into the Zurich meeting in strong physical condition following his appearance at the previous Diamond League stop in Silesia, Poland, where he clocked a season-best 47.93 seconds, dipping below the 48-second barrier. His personal best stands at 46.98 seconds.The Qatari hurdler began his season at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting in China, the second stop of this year's series, as he sought to regain his physical and competitive form in the 400m hurdles.Samba will now be aiming for victory in Zurich and a place in the final Diamond League meeting in Brussels, before heading to Japan to defend the Asian Games gold medal he won at the 2022 edition. 

Al Hitmi: Benefits of Anadia Training Camp Clearly Evident as Team Makes Significant Technical and Physical Gains

Anadia, Portugal – Mr. Ali Al Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation and First Vice President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), has confirmed that the training camp held in Anadia, Portugal, for Qatar’s men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics teams has achieved its technical and physical objectives, noting that the benefits of the work carried out during the camp have become increasingly evident as it draws to a close.Qatar’s men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics teams are concluding their training camp in Anadia, which began on August 16 and runs until August 30, as part of the national teams’ preparations for the new sports season and upcoming regional and international competitions.Al Hitmi said: “We are pleased with the level the gymnasts have reached towards the end of the camp. The results of the work carried out here are now clearly reflected in their technical performances, confirming that the training programme has achieved its objectives and that the camp has delivered significant benefits from both a technical and physical perspective.”He added: “From the beginning of the camp, our focus was on correcting technical errors and improving performances across the different apparatus. Through continuous training and daily monitoring by the coaching staff, we were able to address many of the issues identified at the start of the camp. This has been clearly reflected in the improved performances and greater consistency shown by the gymnasts during the latest training sessions.”The Qatar Gymnastics Federation President stressed that the progress was not limited to technical aspects alone.“The camp has been comprehensive in every respect. Physically, the gymnasts have benefited from strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination training, while technically, the focus has been on performance elements, precision, execution and consistency across the various apparatus. This has had a positive impact on the overall level of both the men’s and women’s teams,” he said.Al Hitmi explained that the training environment in Anadia had helped the teams maximise the benefits of the camp, with the facilities and overall conditions providing an ideal setting for preparation. He added that training in such an environment provides valuable experience for the gymnasts and enhances their readiness for upcoming competitions.“The final stage of the camp has been particularly important because it has allowed us to assess the progress made since the first day,” he said. “We have begun to see a clear difference in the level of performance, whether in terms of precision, consistency or skill execution. This gives us positive indications as we move into the next phase of our preparation programme.”Al Hitmi confirmed that the Qatar Gymnastics Federation continues to implement a structured preparation plan for the national teams, designed to gradually bring the gymnasts to peak readiness ahead of official competitions, stressing that overseas training camps form an important part of this strategy.“Our objective is not simply to organise training camps, but to ensure that we gain the maximum possible benefit from them,” he said. “That is why the gymnasts are continuously monitored, with their strengths identified and further developed, while weaknesses and technical errors are addressed so that they can reach the required level before entering competitions.”Al Hitmi also praised the considerable efforts of the technical and administrative staff throughout the camp, as well as the commitment and discipline demonstrated by the gymnasts, stressing that the success of any training camp depends on cooperation among all members of the team and their determination to benefit from every training session.“I would like to thank the technical and administrative staff, as well as all the male and female gymnasts, for the tremendous effort they have made throughout the camp and for the high level of commitment and discipline they have shown,” he said. “What we have achieved so far represents an important step, but we know that the work does not end when the camp concludes. We will move into a new phase of preparation and development ahead of the upcoming competitions.”The Qatar Gymnastics Federation President stressed that ambitions remain high for the next stage, with the objective of continuing to develop Qatari gymnastics and strengthening its presence at regional, continental and international competitions.Concluding his remarks, Al Hitmi said: “We are satisfied with what we have gained from the Anadia camp, particularly the clear progress made in both the technical and physical aspects. There is still a great deal of work ahead of us, but we have great confidence in our gymnasts. We hope that these preparations will be reflected in their performances and results in the upcoming competitions in a manner worthy of Qatari gymnastics.”The Anadia training camp forms part of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation’s strategy to provide the national teams with the best possible preparation programmes, enhance their technical and physical readiness, and utilise overseas training camps to further develop the gymnasts’ performances, supporting the continued progress of Qatari gymnastics and its pursuit of strong results on the international stage. 

Al Janoub Arena Opening with Qatar-China game Launches Countdown to FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027

DOHA – Combining sporting legacy with sustainability, Al Janoub Arena will officially open its doors on Thursday, August 27, 2026, by hosting the highly anticipated clash between the Qatar national team and China in Window 4 of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.The game carries special significance as part of the (One Year to Go) celebrations, marking the start of the final-year countdown to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. It will also represent a landmark sporting occasion, giving the arena its first real test in a World Cup-style competitive environment and allowing fans to experience the atmosphere of the global event one full year before tip-off.Team Qatar continues its competitive journey alongside the country’s ongoing preparations to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027. Qatar finished second in Group D of the first phase of the Asian Qualifiers with 10 points, behind Lebanon, securing its place in the second phase despite already qualifying automatically for the World Cup as the host nation.The national team will begin its second-phase campaign against China in Doha on August 27, 2026, before facing Japan and South Korea in home-and-away games during the upcoming windows.The event is attracting significant attention as it combines the opening of Al Janoub Basketball Arena with the Qatar-China clash, showcasing Qatar’s commitment to building a sustainable sporting legacy while highlighting its advanced organizational capabilities and full readiness to host major continental and international sporting events.Al Janoub Arena in Al Wakrah has transformed from a football legacy into the future of basketball, continuing an extraordinary story that began when it hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It now returns in a new form following its redevelopment to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, in a first-of-its-kind transformation. The arena features an iconic architectural design and offers seating for 8,200 spectators during basketball competitions.The arena also provides a comprehensive range of facilities and services designed to enhance the fan experience, including Sky Boxes, hospitality seating and Courtside Seats located close to the playing court, as well as changing rooms and recovery facilities for teams during games. For spectators, food and beverage outlets are widely distributed throughout the arena, providing a high level of comfort and convenience and making the tournament experience more enjoyable and seamless.