Draw held for World Padel Championships

Doha: The draw ceremony of the FIP World Padel Championships Qatar 2024 was held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Sunday in the presence of FIP President Luigi Carraro and Secretary-General of QTSBF Tariq Darwish Zainal, who is also the tournament director. Beginning today (Monday), 16 teams each from the men's and women's categories will enter the initial phase of the tournament, organized into four groups of four teams for both genders. As per the draw, on Day 1, the first team from each group will compete against the third team, while the second team will face the fourth. Matches will be “ties” played best of three, with each match best of three sets. The leading two teams from each group will advance to contend for placements ranging from first to eighth, whereas the teams finishing third and fourth will vie for positions from ninth to sixteenth. Here are the details of the draw: Men's Event Group A: Argentina, Belgium, Italy, USA Group B: Spain, Paraguay, Mexico, UAE Group C: France, Chile, Uruguay, Qatar Group D: Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Sweden Women's Event Group A: Spain, Germany, Brazil, Chile Group B: Argentina, Portugal, USA, Egypt Group C: Italy, Sweden, Uruguay, Japan Group D: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Denmark Speaking at the event, FIP President Luigi Carraro praised the organizers for a spectacular job done and wished all the players the best of luck at the tournament.  "We are in for a fantastic tournament with 32 teams that will keep us thrilled. It’s true that Spain and Argentina are still the favorites, but it’s also true that over the last two years, the other national teams have grown tremendously, and now they’re all at an amazing level. This will be an incredible edition,” Carraro said. The six-day tournament will be concluded with a spectacular final on November 2.

Qatar Olympic Committee Engages with World Taekwondo President on Strategic Collaboration Initiatives

Doha– Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani, Director of Sports Sector at the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), met with Dr. Chungwon Choue, President of World Taekwondo and Chair of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), on October 26, 2024, in Doha. The meeting focused on exploring collaborative opportunities to leverage sport for social impact, with an emphasis on initiatives that support underserved communities. This dialogue builds on the ongoing engagement between QOC and the Olympic Refuge Foundation, where both QOC President H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani and Dr. Choue serve as members. Discussions were rooted in a shared commitment to expanding opportunities for refugees through sport, reflecting the QOC’s broader mission to use athletic programs as a vehicle for empowerment and positive change. "We were honored to welcome Dr. Choue to Doha and to deepen our discussions around initiatives that align with Qatar’s vision of sport as a powerful tool for social and cultural development," said Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani. "These conversations reaffirm our commitment to fostering inclusivity and opportunity through sport, both within Qatar and internationally." The QOC’s engagement with World Taekwondo underscores its strategic approach to building meaningful international partnerships that uphold Olympic values and contribute to global community development. Through such collaborations, the QOC aims to champion initiatives that offer hope and tangible opportunities for those in need, reinforcing Qatar’s role as a key contributor to the Olympic Movement’s humanitarian mission .

Team Qatar riders shine at FEI Group 7 qualifier final in Cairo

Cairo: Team Qatar delivered an impressive performance at the FEI Group 7 qualifier final held in Cairo, Egypt securing top honors across multiple categories. Saad Ahmad Al-Saad claimed the gold medal of the CSI3*-W Young riders' class while Sultan Salem Al-Naemi took the silver in juniors’ class. Additionally, Ibrahim Youssef Al-Mahmoud finished first and Saad Al-Qahtani third in the CSI3*-W class.

Stage set for FIP World Padel Championships 2024

Doha: The draw of the FIP World Padel Championships Qatar 2024 will be held in Doha on Sunday. The tournament will be staged at the iconic Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex from 28 October to 2 November 2024. The flagship FIP bi-annual event will see 16 national teams across both the men’s and women’s categories have the opportunity to participate in the pinnacle national team padel tournament in Doha later this year. The FIP World Padel Championships returns to Doha three years after the extraordinary success of the 2021 edition. In 2021, a total of 16 female teams and 16 male teams from 19 countries competed, with Spain triumphing in both the men’s and women’s team competitions and Argentina taking home a silver medal in both categories.

Curtain Falls on Successful 85th FIG Congress in Doha

Doha, Qatar: The 85th Congress of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) concluded successfully in Doha after three productive days, bringing together over 500 officials from 157 Member Federations to advance the future of gymnastics. The event, hosted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), welcomed FIG President Morinari Watanabe, First Vice President Ali Al-Hitmi, and senior FIG and Member Federation representatives. Delegates approved a comprehensive four-year financial plan (2025–2028) aimed at supporting FIG’s strategic objectives. Central to this plan are initiatives to host World Championships across all gymnastics disciplines, expand the “Gymnastics for All” movement, streamline global competition management, and enhance educational and developmental opportunities for athletes, coaches, and officials. Among the Congress highlights were detailed reports from the Independent Ethics Foundation for Gymnastics and the FIG Solidarity Foundation, reinforcing commitments to athlete protection and governance standards. Updates were also presented from the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), with discussions encompassing proposed amendments to FIG statutes. Notably, Congress participants endorsed the official recognition of “paragymnastics,” marking a milestone with new regulations paving the way for dedicated competitions and a rebranding initiative which will see the launch of a new FIG logo. At the FIG Awards Ceremony, Honorary FIG Vice Presidents and distinguished members were recognized, with several receiving silver and bronze distinctions for their service. QGF executives Abeer Al-Buainain, Mohamed Al-Maraghi, and Essa Al-Hitmi were also acknowledged for their contributions to organizing the Congress, setting a high standard for future gatherings and solidifying Qatar's position as a hub for international sports events. First Vice President Al-Hitmi praised the Congress’s outcomes, emphasizing its role in strengthening the global impact of gymnastics. "The Congress achieved significant progress on regulatory matters, budget approvals, and initiatives that advance gymnastics on the world stage," he said. Reflecting on his re-election, Al-Hitmi hailed it as a win for Qatar and the Arab region, expressing gratitude to the QOC and its President, H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, for their unwavering support. Noha Abu Shabana, Chair of FIG’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee, also celebrated Qatar’s successful organization of the Congress. She noted that the event saw the largest attendance in FIG history, addressed essential technical and strategic priorities, and held pivotal elections for the coming term. Thailand was selected to host the next FIG Congress in 2026, and Jakarta, Indonesia, as the venue for the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. The Congress concluded with a renewed commitment to FIG’s mission, setting a progressive course for gymnastics’ global growth. The Qatar Olympic Committee reaffirms its dedication to supporting FIG’s mission and advancing gymnastics in Qatar and worldwide.  

Qatar to take on Japan in AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers

Doha: Japan and Qatar are set for a final day showdown on Sunday after both won their AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers Group F ties on Friday. Qatar eased to a 5-0 win against Nepal while Japan were equally impressive in a 7-0 victory against Mongolia with both on maximum points after two matchdays. After the hard-fought 2-0 against Mongolia on Wednesday, Qatar looked a more confident side against Nepal with captain Zaid Faisal netting for the second straight game. Yazan Mohamed opened the scoring for Qatar after 21 minutes of play but it was Faisal who stole the show again with a hat-trick in the 45th, 56th and 82nd minute. In between, Omar Al Marzouqi also found the back of the net to help Qatar to move onto six points.