Qatar’s Rashid Al-Athba wins Bronze in Skeet Men at ISSF World Cup 2024

Lunato, Italy -  Qatar’s Rashid Saleh Al-Athba clinched the Bronze Medal in the Skeet Men final event at the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Lunato, Italy.  His impressive performances throughout the competition earned him a coveted spot on the podium. Team Qatar delegation to the global shooting event  consisted of  Masoud Saleh, Abdulaziz Al-Attiyia,  Rashid Saleh Al-Athba, Saeed Hamad Abo Shareb, Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Rashid Hamad Al-Athba.  

Team Qatar suffer defeat at Beach Handball World Championships

PINGTAN - Qatar beach handball team lost to Portugal 1-2 on Friday  in the closing of main round of the 11th Beach Handball World Championship, which is being held on the Chinese island of Pingtan and continues until June 23. Most notably , team Qatar suffered two defeats in the main round, they lost a 2-0 against Croatia and 2-1 against  Argentina. 16 teams are taking part in the tournament, divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, Oman, Denmark and Hungary, whereas Group B has Tunisia, Spain, China and Brazil. Group C consists of Puerto Rico, Portugal, Argentina and Croatia, while Group D is made up of Qatar, Germany, Uruguay and the United States of America  

Team Qatar ready to participate in GCC U18 Basketball Tournament

DOHA , (QNA) - The Qatar Basketball Federation has announced the participation of the under-18 youth team in the GCC Youth Basketball Championship, which is hosted by the State of Kuwait from July 29 to August 3, which qualifies for the Asian Cup finals. The draw for the Gulf Championship resulted in the Qatari team being in the first group alongside Kuwait and the UAE, while the second group includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman teams. Two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, the two matches of which will be held on August 2, with the final match to be held the following day, preceded by the third-place match. The Qatari team will begin their tournament campaign against the UAE on July 29, and the team's second match will be against Kuwaiti team on July 31. Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatari and Gulf Basketball Federations, confirmed that the teams were distributed according to the results of the previous edition of the tournament, which was held in the UAE in 2022, adding that the champion and runner-up of the tournament will participate in the Asian Youth Cup, which will be held in Jordan from September 2 to 9. Al Kuwari praised the Qatari team's preparations for the tournament through intensive training sessions developed within a preparation plan aimed at achieving distinguished results in the Gulf tournament that qualifies for the Asian Cup.   

Qatar Olympic Committee and ASICS sign Sport Partnership Agreement

Doha – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Japanese sportswear brand, ASICS signed a sports partnership today, marking the beginning of an exciting journey. As part of the agreement, ASICS will provide Team Qatar athletes and staff with apparel for use during competitions and training sessions, commencing from the Paris Olympic Games 2024 and extending through 2027. The official delegation kit will showcase the iconic maroon colours of the Qatari flag. The agreement was signed by Shiekha Asmaa Thani Al-thani, Director of Marketing and International Cooperation Sector,  representing the QOC and Mr. Seiji Hori, General Manager ASICS Arabia, on behalf of ASICS.  Team Qatar will be seen in ASICS apparel that focused on conditioning and sustainability. The Podium Jacket features the ASICS ACTIBREEZE™ technology, which is designed to keep the inside of the garment comfortable by arranging mesh materials in key areas, thereby achieving effective ventilation. The apparel collection is also made using recycled materials, such as the ACTIBREEZE™ SS TOP with materials made from recycled yarn blend of 69%. ASICS will also continue to develop local events in Qatar to inspire future generations to lead active lifestyles for overall wellbeing and feel the positive uplift through sports and movement. The Director of Marketing and International Cooperation Sector Sheikha Asma Al Thani expressed her happiness upon signing the partnership agreement, stating: "Our primary goal in signing this agreement is to highlight Qatar's contributions to the Olympic Games and reaffirm our role as a leading nation in organizing international sporting events." She added that this agreement opens up new horizons of excellence and inspires future generations. “At ASICS, we believe in the power of sports to inspire people while nurturing both the body and mind. We are proud to partner with Team Qatar on their Olympic journey,” commented Mr. Seiji Hori, General Manager, ASICS Middle East. With Team Qatar representing the nation’s unwavering spirit at the Paris Olympics 2024, along with ASICS’ innovative approach to movement and empowerment, the event will serve as a perfect platform to showcase the transformative power of sport.    

Qatar Olympic Committee Holds Journey, Achievement Ceremony, and Annual Strategic Meeting for 2024

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) held its Journey and Achievement Ceremony, along with its Annual Strategic Meeting for 2024, on Tuesday at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. The ceremony and meeting were attended by QOC Secretary General His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain, along with QOC leaders and employees. In his keynote speech, Secretary General Al-Buenain highlighted the QOC's journey as a leading example, achieved thanks to the collective efforts and accomplishments of the team in 2023.  "Today, we gather to celebrate the achievements of 2023," he said. "We also honor distinguished QOC employees, graduates of training programs, and development working teams for their outstanding contributions that have improved our organization's efficiency. We deeply appreciate these exceptional efforts and look forward to achieving even greater success in the coming year." A documentary film showcasing employees preceded the Secretary General's presentation of awards to 90 outstanding male and female employees from various departments. The awards recognized achievements in five categories: Appreciation, Excellence, Training Programs Graduates, Ambition, and Development Working Teams. Mrs. Maryam Mohamed Al-Kuwari, Director of the QOC Human Resources and Administrative Affairs Department, emphasized the importance of employee development in all fields. "Human capital is the key to success for any organization," she stated. "We are committed to providing a supportive and motivating work environment that empowers QOC employees to reach their full potential." The ceremony transitioned into the QOC's Annual Strategic Meeting for 2024. Secretary General Al-Buenain reviewed the key milestones achieved in 2023, including joint work with the technical committee to prepare national teams for the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. Additionally, 2023 saw the launch of a project to enhance player sponsorship regulations. The meeting also highlighted Team Qatar's major participations in 2023, including the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they achieved remarkable success with 14 medals (5 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze). Their participation in the 15th Arab Games in Algeria was another success, resulting in 22 medals (9 gold, 2 silver, and 11 bronze).  The QOC also prepared its five-year budget for 2024-2028 and launched its strategic plan for 2025-2030. The Secretary General further outlined the strategic directions for 2024. These directions prioritize supporting the technical preparation of athletes and teams for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Preparations are also underway to host the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships and the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The QOC will support the local organizing committee for Doha 2030 and contribute to the ongoing dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Doha's bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Developing national teams and women's sports remains a priority, alongside institutional development, capacity building, and maximizing the potential of digital transformation and artificial intelligence applications. The annual strategic meeting also featured presentations by directors of QOC's sectors and departments. These presentations focused on work systems, achievements, and future objectives within their respective areas. The QOC organizes this annual meeting to enhance performance systems across all departments, sections, and units, ultimately increasing efficiency and solidifying the QOC's position as a leading regional and international sports organization.  

Qatar stars Younousse and Tijan secure spot for Paris Olympics

DOHA - Qatar’s beach volleyball duo Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan secured their spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) officially announced on Tuesday. The duo who won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will now be making their third successive appearance at the Olympics after qualifying for the Paris Games via the world rankings. Younousse and Tijan are currently ranked 12th in the International Volleyball Federation’s Olympic qualification ranking with 8560 points. “The team’s qualification has been approved by the International Federation, making Qatar one of the countries that qualified directly through the Olympic world ranking,” QVA said in a statement. QVA emphasised its confidence in the duo’s ability to achieve outstanding results in Paris 2024, looking forward to more accomplishments and successes in their journey. It highlighted that the qualification reflects the hard work and dedication of the players and the technical staff., which is a source of pride for the nation and volleyball enthusiasts in Qatar. Since 2014, Younousse and Tijan have earned numerous wins, and are at the top of Arab and Asian rankings and are among the top 10 teams in world. They have also won gold at the Asian Games twice (Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023). QVA has heavily invested in beach volleyball by organising many international and regional tournaments, along with a series of local championships held throughout the season.  This has resulted in forming a strong Qatari team. Ali Ghanem Al Kuwari, President of the Qatar and West Asia Volleyball Federations, expressed his happiness with the duo’s qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. He attributed the achievement of Younousse and Tijan to the significant support from sports officials in Qatar, who provide unlimited support for athletes in general and volleyball in particular.