GCC Golf Championship 2024 gets underway

Doha: Following consecutive victories in the last two editions, Qatar golfer Saleh Al Kaabi will look to keep the momentum going and will aim for his third title on the trot in the 26th GCC Golf Championship 2024 at the Doha Golf Club. Seasoned campaigner Al Kaabi is eager to continue the winning run in the championship, which will be played from Thursday till March 3. However, he feels this time the completion will be tougher. “The level of competition is rising every year and I am expecting a tough competition from my opponents this time,” Al Kaabi said during the championship opening on Wednesday. The 30-year-old golfer won the title in 2023 in Abu Dhabi and in 2022 in Bahrain. “The conditions are challenging here, but we are used to playing in strong winds so I am hopeful of getting good results in this championship,” the Aspire Academy graduate said, while talking about the conditions. The two-time defending champion is also part of the four-member Qatar team which is also looking for the third title in the row. The other members of the team are -- Ali Al Shahrani, Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al Shahrani and Abdulaziz Almuhanedi. “Completing a hat-trick of team and individual titles in this edition would be great and will give me confidence for the future tournaments,” he said. This is the 26th edition of the senior championship and the 15th edition of the 18 and under championship. The senior championship will be played over four rounds with the top three scores from the team contributing per round. The 18 and under competition will be played over three rounds with the top two scores per round, contributing to the teams’ overall results. A simple but impressive ceremony marked the opening of the regional tournament with the Qatar Golf Association (QGA) President Hassan Nasser Al Naimi welcoming the participatingdelegations during his speech. The QGA is hosting the championship for the third time. QGA hosted the inaugural edition in 1992 and last staged the championship in 2016. Apart from Qatar, the other participating nations are – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE

Skeet competitions at HH the Amir Grand Prix Championship begin

Doha: The skeet competitions at HH the Amir Grand Prix Championship began at the Lusail International Shooting Complex on Wednesday.  To be concluded on Friday, the event brings together 271 shooters from 36 countries.  Rashid Saleh Al Athba led the standings of Qatar athletes ahead of Saeed bu Shareb in the second place while Hamad Al Mekhnis finished first day in the third place among Qatari athletes. 

Diving competitions at World Aquatics Masters Championships conclude

Doha: The diving competitions at the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 concluded Tuesday. The American duo Martin John and Alex Lepidus won the gold medals of the 3m synchronized springboard men contest in final day of the event, with the Hungarian Fieldler Mariana and Sarkozy Szilvia winning the gold medals in the same 3m synchronized springboard women contest. The Qatari diving champion Mohammed Showaiter won three gold medals in diving, the first one was in the 3m springboard and the second was in the 1m fixed springboard, the third one was in the fixed springboard. 

Qatar’s Shewaiter claims third gold at World Aquatics Masters

Doha: Qatar’s Mohamed Ahmed Shewaiter won his third gold of the World Aquatics Masters Championships – Doha 2024 yesterday. Shewaiter topped the Platform diving event in the 30-34 age group category at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.  He tallied 289.80 points to finish ahead of Britain’s Stephen Raine, who won the silver with 185.70 points. The bronze medal went to Finland’s Aatu Keranen with 179.10 points. Shewaiter had earlier won gold in the 1m and 3m springboard diving. The World Aquatics Masters Championships are the largest aquatic championships dedicated to masters-level athletes. Masters athletes are those aged 25 & over or 30 & over in water polo. The Championships include five of the six disciplines contested at the World Aquatics Championships (there is no high diving competition at the masters championships). The Championships run over ten days across the same venues used for the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024.  

Team Qatar lose to Kazakhstan in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers

Doha: Qatar hoopsters went down to a gritty Kazakhstan who rallied after training on the opening half to overcome the hosts 68-73 in their Group E match of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers playedat the Al Gharafa Club hall on Monday. The hosts had earlier lost to Iran 74-76 in a thrilling opener on Friday. Kazakhstan needed some help from in the dying seconds to beat Qatar to end the window with a 2-0 record. Rustam Murzagaliyev knocked down a cold-blooded triple, before free throws by Roman Marchuk and Anton Bykov helped the visiting side come out with the win after the opposition roared back from as many as 12 and got to within a point, 65-64, with 1:58 left to play. Bykov finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Vadim Chsherbak provided 18 points and 5 rebounds while Murzagaliyev made 15 points, which he all earned from deep. Mohamed Saad had a game-high 20 points to lead the Qataris, which suffered another heartbreaking defeat after the overtime loss to Iran last Friday in Tehran. The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers is being played across three windows: February 2024, November 2024, and February 2025. A total of 24 teams will be aiming to qualify for the region’s flagship men’s national team competition. The draw for the qualifiers placed Qatar in Group E alongside Iran, Kazakhstan, and India.  

Longines Global Champions Tour gallops into Qatar for opening leg of 2024 edition at Al Shaqab

DOHA - THE 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour and the Global Champions Tour season was launched at Al Shaqab on Tuesday. Hosted at the esteemed glorious Longines Arena of Al Shaqab, the prestigious opening event promises unparalleled equestrian excellence and thrills from February 29 to March 2, 2024. At the launch press conference, Protocol & Public Relations Manager Dr. Fahad Al Hajri welcomed the officials and guests. Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin, Event Director, expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “We are proud to host the best horses, riders and equestrian enthusiasts from all over the world to participate in this global competition, which also complies with the Qatar National Vision 2030 to modernize whilst preserving heritage, traditions and values, and urging our society to engage in equestrian sports.” Longines Global Champions Tour, Jan Tops, Founder and President, emphasised the significance of the occasion, saying, “As we embark on another season of elite show jumping, every year the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL grow. I am very proud of the immense growth over the last 16 years of the sport in Qatar. “Last year we saw the Championships being decided by the very last fence so it shows how strong the competition is with so many top riders here like World number one Henrik von Eckermann, the legends in our sport John Whitaker and Marcus Ehning and all the top French and Belgium riders here for the overall season title.  To win this globalcircuit it makes you the world champion in our sport. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our sponsors, particularly Longines, whose commitment enables us to elevate  the sport to new heights” Marco Danese, Sports Director of the Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL, highlighted the continued innovation within the sport, stating, “Every year the venue here in Doha gets better and better. The facilities here in Al Shaqab are considered one of the best in the world not only for the horses, owners, and grooms but spectators and stakeholders as well. Now it is a tradition to start here in Doha and we have hugequality of riders and horses so we start the season with high expectations.  The riders and teams know they need points from the first leg of the season so they are coming here to win!” Reflecting on her past successes and anticipation for the upcoming event,  dwina TopsAlexander, two-time Longines Global Champions Tour Champion and previous LGCT Grand Prix of Doha winner, remarked, “Competing in Doha is always a highlight of the season.  The level of competition and the electrifying atmosphere make it a truly  unforgettable experience. The competition on the tour is getting stronger and stronger, the riders are really fighting to be strong from the first show and put pressure on the rest of the riders and teams. “Winning the tour is like the world championships of our sport and what is so special about it is how each venue is unique, different circumstances - the small arenas, big arenas, grass or sand and that is what makes the rider a champion. To be consistent throughout the year competing against the best riders is what makes it very exciting and challenging.” The esteemed Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) comes right after the highly successful end of the 11th Edition of the CHI AL SHAQAB Presented by Longines; a momentous stride in Qatar’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence in sports and entertainment, aligning seamlessly with its rich heritage of horsemanship. The event promises a convergence of elite riders, majestic horses, and entertained spectators from across the globe who are set to enthrall visitors with the best of showjumping feats and displays. This year’s competition is supported by the Presenting Partner, Longines, and Main Sponsor, ExxonMobil Qatar. The event’s additional supporters are Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha (Hospitality Partner) SOCAST (Exclusive Social Media  artner), Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana. Co (Transportation Partners), Equine Veterinary Medical Center (Official Veterinary Partner), and Aspetar (Official Medical Partner). For the full 3-day schedule of events, visit www.alshaqab. com.