Qatar beat Saudi Arabia to reach Gulf Basketball Championship Final

MANAMA - The Qatari national team qualified for the final match of the 17th Gulf Men's Basketball Championship, slated for Saturday in Manama, after defeating Saudi Arabia 76-63 in the semi-final on Friday. The match score was close during the first three quarters, but Qatar excelled in the fourth quarter, to win the match by a difference of 13 points. The Qatari team are set to take on Bahrain  on  Saturday, in the final match. Bahrain qualified for the final after beating Kuwait counterpart 76-67 in the semi-final. Team Qatar hold the record of 6 titles in the championship, and are looking to widen the space from their closest competition, the Saudi team, who have four titles. The Gulf Basketball Championship was launched in 1981, and Kuwait won the first title. The latest edition was held in 2019, when Saudi Arabia won their fourth title. Qatar hold the record for consecutive title wins with 4 titles, in 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2016.   

Closing of the Course on the Principles of the Olympic Movement in the Olympic System

DOHA - In collaboration with the Olympic Solidarity of the International Olympic Committee, the academy concluded the course on the Principles of the Olympic Movement in the Sports System "Management 1," which the academy holds as part of a series of sports management programs accredited by the International Olympic Committee on a regular basis throughout the year.  This course is considered the first preparatory stage for the Diploma Program in Sports and Olympic Management, which the academy holds every year. It sees a significant turnout from students interested in administrative work in the sports field, both from within Qatar and abroad. Many sports leaders in the region, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council, have graduated from this program.  This course lasted for five days from September 1st to 5th, with the participation of nearly thirty students from both inside and outside Qatar, who belong to various sports, administrative, technical, and specialized fields.  The course was presented by Professor Hisham Al-Adwani, Vice President of the Omani School Sports Federation, Director of the Sports Management Diploma Program at the International Olympic Committee, and an international lecturer in sports management accredited by the International Olympic Committee, who has held numerous administrative positions in the field of Omani sports.  At the beginning of the program, the aggressive speaker discussed the concepts of sports management, which is defined as the art of coordinating the elements of work and the sports product within sports organizations and presenting it in an organized manner to achieve the goals of these organizations. It is also necessary to define the goals in sports management; however, there are other important elements that represent the pillars of any successful sports administrative work.  He then spoke about the founding of the Olympic movement and the modern Olympic Games (Olympic history), noting that the ancient Olympic Games were organized in Olympia, Greece, from the eighth century BC until the fifth century AD. The organization of the modern Summer Olympics, in their current form, began in 1896, initiated by the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin, the president of the International Olympic Committee and the founder of the modern Olympic movement. In that edition, 241 athletes from 14 countries participated, competing in nine sports and 43 events.  The games experienced a halt during World War I and also during World War II, only to witness development in the 20th century, which manifested in the establishment of the Winter Olympic Games for ice and snow sports, the Paralympic Games, and the Youth Olympic Games.  Social, economic, and global technological changes have influenced the trajectory of the Olympic Games, which were originally exclusive to amateur athletes, transforming them into an event open to professionals. This shift has resulted in increased media interest and expanded marketing through the growing sponsorship of major corporations.  Then he moved on to discuss the Olympic symbols, the Olympic Charter, and Olympic values, noting that the Olympic Charter serves as the constitution for the Olympic movement and the organization of the Olympic Games. It encompasses the rules and regulations established by the International Olympic Committee, and in the event of a dispute or disagreement regarding the interpretation or application of these decisions, it is resolved by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee.  In some cases, disputes are resolved through arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which was established in 1993. The court is composed of twenty judges and is considered an independent authority separate from the International Olympic Committee.  On the fourth day, the focus of the lecture was on management skills and the steps to develop administrative and sports personnel, which positively reflect on the achievements made by sports federations, whether in professional sports or in community sports and promoting sports within society.  On the last day, the lecture discussed planning and resource management in sports institutions, and a test was conducted for the students on what they had studied during the five days of the course.  It is worth mentioning that this course is considered the first qualifying part of the Sports Management Diploma program. The academy will also offer the second qualifying course titled "Modern Management for Olympic Sports Institutions" in mid-October.  This course will cover several relevant topics, primarily focusing on management skills in the sports field, such as the benefits of good communication and effective interaction, as well as managing the work environment, time management in sports institutions, and the importance of time management. Other key topics will include technical management, event and activity management, as well as human resources management.

Team Qatar star eyes new achievement at Paralympic Games

PARIS, France -  Team Qatar’s star , Sarah Masoud is set  to compete  in the women's shot put competitions for the (F33) category at Stade de France on Thursday. Qatari para - athlete aspires  to add another   achievement to her already impressive record of  of success in various championships. She is one of the most prominent female-  para athletes in Qatar and the region. Sara’s successes extend beyond the Paralympics. She followed her Rio silver with another at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London. At the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, she claimed gold in both shot put and discus, and later won a silver medal in shot put at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. Her global achievements continued with silver medals in discus and javelin, along with a bronze in shot put, at the 2022 West Asian Para Games in Bahrain. In the 2024 edition held in Sharjah, Sara secured silver medals in discus and shot put, and a bronze in javelin. Ahead of her competition, Sara said she was determined to win another medal. She acknowledged that the competition will be tougher this time, with more athletes performing at a high level.  However, Sara emphasised her readiness, having undergone an intensive training programme to prepare for this global event. Meanwhile, her coach Walid Maghmoul stated that the training programme Sara underwent was successful by all measures and that she greatly benefited from participating in several championships held in recent months. He added that his athlete is fully prepared to compete in the Paralympic Games and strongly contend for a medal. Regarding his expectations for the competition, Maghmoul pointed out that it will be extremely challenging due to the participation of many talented athletes in this edition of the Games. Nevertheless, Maghmoul expressed his confidence in Sara’s readiness to compete for another medal to add to her illustrious record. He explained that Sara has shown significant improvement in her techniques and performance during recent training sessions, which boosts her presence and chances of achieving positive results. He emphasised that the accompanying technical and medical staff are working hard to provide all the necessary conditions and environment to enable our athletes to deliver their best possible performances during the Games. Dr Hassan al-Ansari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Paralympic Committee and head of the Qatari delegation at Paris Paralympics, expressed his confidence in Sara’s ability to win a medal, especially given the great experience the athlete has in major championships.  

Team Qatar set for UAE clash, aim to keep up momentum

DOHA - Hosts Qatar will be keen to continue their purple patch when they face United Arab Emirates in their opening AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group A tie at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday. Capacity crowd is expected at the 45,000 seater World Cup stadium for the highly anticipated contest which kicks off at 7pm. Team Qatar  have followed up their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 triumph by qualifying for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers with two matches to spare and head into their crucial Group A opener against UAE on the back of an 11-match unbeaten run. To secure a direct spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Qatar need to finish in the top two of their group, which also includes Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. The two-time AFC Asian Cup champions will see the return of key players Akram Afif and Almoez Ali to action, after head coach Marquez Lopez chose to rest several stars during the final two second-round fixtures against Afghanistan and India. Qatar, looking to qualify for the global showpiece on merit after having made their debut as hosts of the 2022 edition, will not be short of confidence with Ali – who topped the scoring charts with seven goals alongside South Korea Son Heung-min in the second round and Afif - who won the AFC Asian Cup Golden Boot - key figures to their campaign. Addressing the media on eve of the clash, coach Lopez chose caution while being confident of his team. “Our group is tough and all teams have an equal chance to qualify but we have confidence in our players and their abilities,” said the Spaniard. About the opposition, he said, “We have studied our opponent well, and we have experience with these teams in the Asian Cup. All of us are ready for this encounter and we have players capable of making a difference.” Lopez also anticipated big home support while thanking fans. “We thank the fans for their continuous support, and we hope they show up in large numbers to support the team in achieving our goal,” he said. One of Qatar’s star players, Almoez stressed that while the team has the experience they are chasing a bigger dream now. “All the players are ready for the qualifiers. We have won the Asian Cup twice in a row, but our bigger goal now is to qualify for the World Cup,” he said. “The players are excited, and the atmosphere in training is positive. We have the drive to achieve victories,” said Almoez on the team’s readiness for the UAE clash. He also called on the fans to provide the extra motivation. “The fans are the primary and most important motivation for the players, and their presence in the stands with the team pushes us to give our best,” he said. The UAE are seeking a second appearance at the global showpiece, having come agonisingly close to qualifying for the Qatar 2022 edition with Australia ending their campaign in the Asian playoff. The 2022 heartbreak has fueled Paulo Bento’s side, who cruised into the AFC Asian Qualifiers with two matches to spare. The Emiratis, however, have not beaten Qatar since their 4-1 triumph in the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 but Bento will believe his side have the quality to end their long wait. The Portuguese coach Bento hoped for a focused performance from his team. “Playing away from home requires us to rely on the principle of caution and focus on discipline in order to obtain a satisfactory result at the beginning of the journey,” he said while addressing the media on Wednesday. “We have a very difficult task ahead of us against the Qatari team, which has great organizational quality and is led by a coach with great experience,” he added. UAE’s centre-back Khalifa Al Hammadi said the team aspires to keep their dream alive.  

Team Qatar gets better of Kazakhstan at FIBA U18 Asian Championship

AMMAN – Team Qatar  beat its Kazakh counterpart (71-64) in their match that took place Wednesday in the third and final round of Group C in the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, currently held in Jordan, which also serves as the qualifiers for the 2025 World Cup finals. The Qatari team edged out Kazakhstan (19-12, 13-13, 12-25, and 27-14) , while in the same group, China got better of  Japan  (68-66).  This tournament is bringing together 16 teams drawn  in four groups, group A,  Australia, Chinese Taipe, Lebanon, Magnolia, group B, Qatar, Japan, China and Kazakhstan, group C, South Korea, India, Kuwait, while group D , includes, Philippines , New Zealand, Jordan and Indonesia.  

Qatar beat Kuwait in Gulf Basketball Championship

MANAMA,  - The Qatari basketball team beat its Kuwaiti counterpart 76-72 in the third and final round of the first round of the 17th Gulf Men's Basketball Championship, hosted by Bahrain until Sep. 7. The Qatari team advanced in the first period of the match (20-19), while the Kuwaiti team had the advantage in the second and third periods (43-38), (53-52), but the Qatari team came back in the fourth and final period to make up for its delay in the score and win the match in its favor (76-72). The tournament is being held with the participation of only four teams: Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The Qatari team wasted a win that was within reach against its Saudi counterpart last Tuesday, as it lost by two points (79-81) in their match that took place in the second round. The Qatari team holds the record for the number of times it has won the championship title, with 6 titles, including 4 consecutive titles, in 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2016. The GCC Basketball Championship was launched in its first edition in 1981, and the Kuwaiti team won the title.