Rybakina sets up final with Swiatek

Doha: Defending champion and world number one Iga Swiatek was on Friday handed a walkover into the Qatar TotalEnergies Open final where Elena Rybakina will stand in her way of a third successive title at the event. Four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek had been scheduled to face Karolina Pliskova in her semi-final. However, the Czech, who won the Cluj tournament in Romania last weekend, withdrew suffering from a lower back injury. Pliskova had won her last nine matches, but her first three matches in Qatar all went to a third set and she needed two tie breaks to beat Naomi Osaka 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) in two sets in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina was stronger at the key moments as she beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-4 to reach today’s final. Rybakina, the third seed, converted four of six break points while her unseeded opponent could only exploit one of the nine she had. “I am happy that in the end I managed to finish the match, playing a little better in these important moments,” Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, said in her on-court interview. Rybakina broke Pavlyuchenkova in the fifth game of the opening set and broke again in the eighth. Pavlyuchenkova saved three set points in the next game but also squandered a break point of her own before succumbing. “The first set it was very close, we were both fighting,” said Rybakina. Rybakina broke easily in the second-set opener before holding serve to take a sixth straight game. Pavlyuchenkova held to end that streak and then had six break points in the next game, but could take none of them. She finally converted her eighth break point as she came back from 30-0 down in the eighth game. She then held serve as Rybakina wobbled on her forehand. With Rybakina serving for the match, Pavlyuchenkova had another break point but hit long. She saved one match point but Rybakina then produced an ace to seal victory. The 32-year-old Pavlyuchenkova is finding her form again after a long struggle with a knee injury. “Great to see her back,” said Rybakina. She played really well. It was a really tough match.” On facing Swiatek in the final, she added: “I think we both know each other pretty well, and of course we trying to study and analyse. For now it was going my way, but as I said, she’s playing really good. I think she’s a little bit fresher than me, that’s for sure, but for me it was already a very positive two weeks, so I try to push myself tomorrow and see how it’s gonna go. For me the most important is try to recover physically, because with Iga, it’s a lot about the physics, of course. She’s making you work for every point, and of course I need to stay aggressive and play my game, but we see what can I do tomorrow.” Rybakina is aiming for a third title this year, after winning in Adelaide and last week in Abu Dhabi. Swiatek will enter today’s final on an 11-match winning streak in Doha, having won her last 21 sets at the tournament. Overall, her career win-loss record at the event is 12-1, with her only defeat coming in the 2020 second round to Svetlana Kuznetsova. The World No.1 is looking to become the first woman to win three straight titles at a single Hologic WTA Tour event since Serena Williams completed a hat trick at the Miami Open from 2013-15.  

Qatar defeat Central African Republic in Friendly Basketball Tournament

Doha: Qatar basketball team secured a well-deserved 74-71 victory over Central Africa in their second match at the Qatar International Friendly Basketball Tournament yesterday. The four-day tournament is being held at Lusail Arena with the participation of six teams including Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Central African Republic and Jordan.

QOC participates in Career Fair of Texas A&M University

DOHA -  The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) participated in the Career Fair of Texas A&M University 2024, which was held  at University Headquarters on Thursday . The event brought together several institutions representing government and non-government sectors. The QOC participation in this Career Fair comes in light of its commitment to attract qualified graduates who will occupy the jobs available at the  QOC Departments. This Career Fair will help students and graduates to identify the needs of Qatar labour market ,  to decide their vocational paths in the future as well as to meet employers. The fair  provides opportunities  for students and graduates to be part of  training courses will organized in cooperation with other educational organizations.

Qatar surge to 37th rank following Asian Cup triumph

Doha: Qatar moved up 21 spots in the latest FIFA world ranking and are placed 37th following their successful defence of their AFC Asian Cup title. Qatar remained undefeated in the Asian Cup at home, winning six and drawing once to take their unbeaten run in the continental showpiece to 14 matches stretching back to 2019. In the points stakes, Qatar chalked up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown. Jordan, who emerged runners-up in the continental showpiece, improved 17 spots. Jordan, meanwhile, upstaged the likes of higher ranked sides Iraq and South Korea to reach the Asian Cup final for the first time. Japan, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals in Qatar, remain Asia’s highest ranked side but down one spot at 18. Iran are second at 20th while South Korea, also eliminated at the last four stage, are third at 22nd. Rounding up Asia’s top 10 sides are Australia (23), Saudi Arabia (53), Iraq (59), Uzbekistan (66) and United Arab Emirates (69). Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings. Senegal (17th, up 3), who suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, break new ground, while Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100. Ivory Coast are 39th, up 10 placed as they reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign. Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.  

Sheikh Joaan Meets Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees

Doha- His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, met today with Mr. Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees and President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, on the sidelines of the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 currently taking place in Doha. The meeting discussed aspects of sports cooperation, in addition to a number of topics and the latest developments in the Olympic movement.

HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival begins

Doha: Santiago Lambre and Emanuele Gaudiano won the five star classes during the day one of the HH The Amir Sword International Equestrian Festival at Al Shaqab on Thursday. In the CSI5* against the clock 150cm class, Brazilian Lambre emerged triumphant with stallion Zeusz 67.91 seconds. The second place went to Thailand’s Janakabhorn Karunayadhaj, who came home in 68.01 seconds with 12-year-old mare Maxwin Kinmar Agalux, while Saudi Arabia’s Khaled al-Mombty finished third in 70.48 seconds with Jaguar King WD. Earlier, Lambre had finished second to Gaudiano in the CSI5* Two Phases 145cm class. Italy’s Gaudiano finished on top with his stallion Vasco 118 in a time of 24.22 seconds. Lambre this time had to settled for runner-up spot with veteran gelding Cetano Van Aspergem Z in 24.81 seconds, while Austrian Gerfried Puck was third with Equitron Ornaat V in 26.63 seconds. In the CSI5* 140cm class, Saudi’s Saad al-Ajmi came in first place in 41.74 seconds. Frenchwoman Cyrine Cherif was second, followed by her compatriot Louise Sidran. More than 150 riders from 28 countries are participating in the showjumping and dressage competitions, which carries a total prize pool of more than 650,000 euros. On Thursday, the championship began with three-star category at a height of 120cm, which witnessed intense competition. Qatar’s Hamad Nasser al-Qadi came in first place with a time of 23.48 seconds, while Saudi’s Abdullah al-Sheikh finished in 23.55 seconds, followed by home rider Salman Mohamed al-Emadi in 23.97 seconds. In the 130cm class, Kuwait’s Ali al-Kharafi came first with a time of 26.93 seconds, ahead of the Qatar’s Bassem Mohamed, who came second with a time of 26.98 seconds, and Qatar’s Hamad Towaim al-Marri, who came in third place with a time of 27.15 seconds. In the three-star 145cm against the clock, Sweden’s Evelina Tovek finished first, followed by home favourites Mohamed Saeed Haidan and Salman Mohamed al-Emadi. In the competitions for the young riders category at a height of 130cm, which was held in the Longines indoor arena in Al Shaqab, Qatari rider Khalifa Abdullah al-Khalidi was crowned first place, followed by his compatriot Fares al-Qahtani in second place, while Saudi’s Othman Bakerman came in third place. As for the junior category at a height of 120cm, the Qatari riders displayed their brilliance. Sultan Salem al-Nuaimi came first, Mohamed bin Jassim al-Thani was second while Abdullah Khaled al-Jalandani was third.