Team Qatar defeat Syria in King’s Cup opener

Amman: Team Qatar launched their campaign in the 12th King Abdullah II International Basketball Cup with a commanding victory, defeating Syria 75-66 in their opening match on Saturday evening at Prince Hamzah Hall in Amman, Jordan. From the tip-off, Qatar established control, securing a strong lead in the first quarter with a 25-14 scoreline. While the Syrian team fought valiantly to narrow the gap, the Qatari squad maintained their advantage throughout the game. The four quarters ended 25-14, 21-21, 15-16, and 14-15, reflecting a consistent performance by the Qatari players.  Saadoun Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Head of the National Team Mission, hailed the victory as a promising start. "This win is a great morale booster as we begin our tournament journey," he said. "The team displayed exceptional performance, and we see this tournament as a vital step in preparing for the Asian qualifiers for the 2025 Asian Cup. We are confident in our players’ potential to excel in the upcoming games." This year, the tournament features four participating teams: Qatar, Palestine, Syria, and hosts, Jordan.  

Team Qatar secure five medals in Arab Shotgun Championship

Kuwait: Team Qatar’s shooters delivered an impressive performance at the Arab Shotgun Championship in Kuwait, claiming a total of five medals: one gold, one silver, and three bronze. The championship, which concluded yesterday, saw the participation of athletes from 15 GCC and Arab nations. Team Qatar duo of Mohamed Ahmed Al-Kuwari and Reem Al-Sharshani clinched the gold medal of the Skeet Mixed Team event while Reem Al-Sharshani, Hajar Ghulam Mohamed, and Sarah Ghulam Mohamed claimed the silver medal of the Skeet Women’s Team event  In the Trap Men’s Team event, the trio of Mohamed Al-Rumaihi, Rashid Al-Athba, and Ali Al-Athba secured the bronze medal while Mitha Al-Binali, Kholoud Al-Khalaf, and Amna Al-Abdullah earned the  bronze of women's event.  Moreover, Mohamed Al-Rumaihi and Kholoud Al-Khalaf also claimed the bronze of the Trap Mixed Team event.  

Qatar Basketball Team set to face Syria in King's Cup opener

Amman: Qatar's national basketball team will begin their campaign in The King's Cup with a highly anticipated opening match against Syria this Saturday. The tournament will bring together four teams—Qatar, Palestine, Syria, and host nation Jordan—in a competitive series, allowing Team Qatar to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, set to take place in Doha later this month. This tournament marks the debut of seasoned Turkish coach Hakan Demir as the new head of Qatar's basketball team.  

QOA concludes successful course on Integrating People with Disabilities into Physical Education Classes

Doha:The Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) proudly announces the successful completion of a five-day course focused on the integration of people with disabilities into physical education classes.  Held in partnership with the West Asian Paralympic Committee, the event gathered 40 male and female Arab students dedicated to advancing inclusive sports practices in the region. The Qatar Paralympic Committee has provided invaluable logistical support, offering its state-of-the-art facilities to enhance the learning experience for all participants. "We are delighted with the success of this course, which reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting inclusivity in sports education," said QOA Executive Director Khaleel Al Jabir. "We are currently in the process of obtaining accreditation for a specialized diploma program in this field, which will further equip educators to make a positive impact." Mr. Al Jabir also revealed plans for additional courses targeting various disability categories, with a primary focus on individuals with autism. "Our goal is to empower educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to support athletes of all abilities," he added.

Mishaal Al-Nasr re-elected President of the Qatar Shooting & Archery Association

DOHA -  The General Assembly of Qatar Shooting & Archery Association (QSAA) has re-elected Mr. Mishaal Ebrahim Al-Nasr as President of the Association for the 2024-2028 term , during a meeting held at the Association Headquarters on Thursday. The General Assembly also elected Mr. Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti as the Secretary General, and Ahmed Yahya Al Nuaimi , Abdullah Ali Al Hammadi and Hameed Naser Al Nuaimi as members of the Board of Directors. The Assembly agenda included the approval of the previous meeting's minutes and the calendar of the QSAA events  

Qatar defeat Uzbekistan inWorld Cup qualifiers

Doha: Lucas Mendes scored deep into injury time as Qatar secured a last-gasp 3-2 win over Uzbekistan at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday to revitalize their challenge in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 for a place at the FIFA World Cup Finals. Mendes struck with 12 added minutes on the clock after Abbosbek Fayzullaev looked to have earned the visitors a point with a pair of headers that had cancelled out Almoez Ali’s first half brace for Lopez Marquez’s side. The result moves Qatar up to seven points from five matches and to within three of Uzbekistan, who remain in second place in the group but are now three behind the Iran following their 3-2 win over North Korea earlier in the day. It was AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif who set Ali up in the 25th minute to open the scoring, rolling the ball into the striker’s path at the end of a break and, while Utkir Yusupov made contact with the shot, there was enough pace on the ball to take it over the line. Fayzullaev was denied an equaliser 10 minutes later when Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham denied the winger with a smart stop and before long the visitors were ruing that miss. Because, with four minutes left in the half, the Afif-Ali combination paid off again to allow the hosts to double their advantage. Afif curled a low ball invitingly towards the edge of the six yard box from a free kick 25 yards from goal and Ali emerged from between two Uzbekistan defenders to leave Yusupov helpless once more. Azizbek Turgunboev thought he had pulled one back for Uzbekistan a minute before the interval when he unleashed a strike that was destined for the top corner, only for Barsham to spectacularly tip the ball over the bar. Otabek Shukurov dragged his improvised effort with his heel wide from the edge of the area as Uzbekistan sought a way back into the game in the opening exchanges of the second half and Bibur Abdiholiqov went even closer as he hit the post from distance. Afif should have killed off the game in the 71st minute but his weak effort was easily dealt with by Yusupov and, with 15 minutes remaining, the unmarked Fayzullaev threw himself at Khojiakbar Alijonov’s inviting cross from the right to halve the deficit. Five minutes later Fayzullaev struck again, this time nodding home Jaloliddin Masharipov’s cross to spark scenes of jubilation on the Uzbekistan bench. But there was more drama to come with Mendes smashing his late shot in via the post to win the points for Qatar. Up next for Qatar are the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday while Uzbekistan will face North Korea.