Team Qatar wins 6 Medals at Conclusion of Arab Athletics Championship for Juniors

Riyadh (QNA) - The Qatari team concluded its participation in the 10th Arab Athletics Championship for Juniors and Junior Women in sixth place, securing a total of six medals: two gold, two silver, and two bronze, in the event held in the Saudi city of Taif. Zakaria Ibrahim claimed the gold medal in the pole vault competition, while Mohammed Mohammed took gold in the discus event. In the same pole vault category, Hamad Al-Sultan earned a silver medal, and Osama Mohammed secured silver in the 400-meter race. The two bronze medals were won by Mubarak Saeed in the 800-meter race, and the national team in the medley relay race. Teams from Saudi Arabia (host), Jordan, the UAE, Egypt, Yemen, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, Libya, and Bahrain participated in the tournament. The Moroccan team topped the overall standings with 31 medals (10 gold, 13 silver, and 8 bronze), while the Algerian team came in second with 18 medals (7 gold, 2 silver, and 9 bronze). Saudi Arabia secured third place with 21 medals (6 gold, 7 silver, and 8 bronze).

Team Qatar in Pool B at 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship

MANILA - Qatar was drawn in the Pool B alongside Poland, Netherlands, and Romania at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship which will take place in the Philippines from September 12 to 28, 2025. The pools for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship were drawn in Manila on Saturday. The 32 qualified teams were distributed into eight single round-robin pools of four. Pool A is Philippines, Iran, Egypt and Tunisia, while Pool C is made up of France, Argentina, Finland and Korea. Pool D includes USA, Cuba, Portugal and Colombia, and Pool E has Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria and Chile. Pool F consists of Italy, Ukraine, Belgium and Algeria, and Pool G includes Japan, Canada, Türkiye and Libya, while Pool H is Brazil, Serbia, Czechia and China.

Qatar to face Jordan in Asian Youth Handball Championship

Amman: The Qatari national youth handball team will meet Jordan on Friday, in the placement rounds of the 10th Asian Men's Youth Handball Championship currently being held in Jordan. The Qatari team look forward to achieving a moral victory at the end of their participation in the championship after losing chance to advance to the semi-finals and obtain one of the qualifying spots for the World Championship. The Qatari team finished 4th in Group 2 in the main round after losing all three of their matches, losing the first match to Japan 20/39, the second match to Kuwait 28/32, and the third match to Bahrain 27/33. The top five teams in the Asian Championship advance to the World Championship in Slovenia 2025. The Qatari youth handball team won the Asian Championship title twice in 2010 in Abu Dhabi and 2012 in Manama, and came in second place three times in 2006 in Tehran, 2008 in Oman, and 2014 in Oman as well.  

Qatar boxer Fares Ali Al Thani honoured after bronze at Asian meet in UAE

DOHA - The Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation honoured boxer Fares Ali Al Thani on his arrival back home after winning the bronze medal at the Asian Junior and Promising Championships hosted by UAE.  The competitions were held over two weeks with the participation of 470 male and female boxers representing 26 countries. Al Thani claimed the bronze in the over 80kg category presenting high technical levels during his three matches where he achieved victory in the first and second rounds, but lost in the semi-final against an Iranian competitor.  Khalid Al Mas, member of the Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation and head of the boxing department, expressed his happiness with the success achieved by the promising boxer in his first participation in the Asian Championship, noting that he deserves this honour give his good performance at the continental championship.   

Qatar held to draw as 10-man North Korea stage comeback

Vientiane (Laos) - Asian champions Qatar on Tuesday settled for a fighting 2-2 draw against North Korea in torrential rain that left puddles of water on the New Laos Football Stadium in the second half. Strikers Akram Afif (31th minute, penalty) and Almoez Ali (44) scored the two goals for Qatar in what was the second 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match for coach Marquez Lopez’s side inside five days. Last Thursday, Qatar were beaten 3-1 by a resolute UAE side at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Tuesday’s 2-2 draw saw the two Group A teams look sluggish in the second half when the heavens opened up in Vientiane. Following a cagey start, North Korea’s Ri Il-song opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range shot that beat Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham in the 19th minute. With Qatar leading at half time, North Korea drew level when Kang Kuk-chol scored in the 51st minute with a similar breathtaking shot. Qatar coach Lopez said his side dominated proceedings in the Group A clash at New Laos Football Stadium where an uneven, bumpy pitch greeted the teams. “We started the match with the goal of winning and that showed in our attacking formation. Our performance throughout the match showed we wanted to win with an attacking game,” Lopez said after the match on Tuesday. “We controlled the match and dominated its course. We were close to collecting the three points, but the circumstances changed after the first half due to the heavy rains. The draw comes with the taste of a loss,” he added. After conceding an early goal, Qatar got the equaliser through a well-taken spot kick by Afif who was brought down in the Qatar box by Kuk-chol following a short pass by Almoez a few yards away. Afif chose to target the right of goalkeeper Kang Ju-hyok for Qatar’s opening goal in the 31st minute. Close to the first half whistle, Almoez found the net for the Asian champions.  Almoez fired a spectacular shot with a right-footed drive from outside the box to hit the back of the net. Six minutes into the second half, North Korea produced the equaliser with a Kuk-chol free-kick in pouring rain. Afif and Lucas Mendes nearly put Qatar ahead late in the second half but on each occasion the North Korean goalkeeper was alert. “The match was difficult but we were better for most of the match. After the expulsion of the North Korean player, we made attacking changes in order to score and advance, which is what actually happened and we dominated in the first half,” Lopez said. “But the match changed in the second half, and the Korean team equalised from a set piece. I have to say the pitch, with the heavy rain pouring down, did not allow us to move quickly and pass the ball comfortably, especially with the defensive formation of the North Korean team, so we were unable to score. “We have one point from two matches, but we still have eight matches ahead of us, in which we will do our best to get the wins and collect points,” he added. Qatar and North Korea play the return Group A match in Doha next March.  

Team Qatar is ready for North Korean Challenge in AFC Asian Qualifiers

Vientiane, Laos - After a shock home defeat to the United Arab Emirates last Thursday, Qatar is determined to bounce back as they face North Korea in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group A match. The game will take place at the Lao National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos, at 3 pm Doha time on Tuesday. Despite the setback against UAE, Qatar's head coach, Marquez Lopez, remains optimistic. "We still have chances in the group, with nine matches left in the qualifiers. Everything can change in terms of calculations and our chances to qualify," Lopez said. "We aim to recover from this result and get back on track, starting with the next match against North Korea. I’m confident we can bounce back," he added after the UAE match. During Monday's session in Vientiane, Lopez acknowledged the mistakes made against UAE, citing missed opportunities despite dominating possession and control. "Mistakes are part of football, but we’re focused on correcting them and performing well against a formidable North Korean team," he stated. Lopez emphasized that the team has learned from the loss and is now focused on facing North Korea. "I watched their last match against Uzbekistan, and despite the loss, they performed well. We need to be vigilant," he warned. North Korea has won four of their previous 12 encounters with Qatar, but they suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat in their most recent meeting during the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. In other Group A matches on Tuesday, UAE will take on Iran in Al Ain, while Kyrgyzstan will face Uzbekistan in Bishkek. UAE currently tops the group with 3 points from one match, ahead of Iran and Uzbekistan on goal difference, while Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea are yet to earn points