Young Pan sets 100m freestyle world record

Doha: Chinese teenager Pan Zhanle broke the men’s 100m freestyle world record with a time of 46.80sec at the world championships in Doha yesterday. Pan achieved the new mark leading off his team during the 4x100m freestyle relay to set up teammates Ji Xinjie, Zhang Zhanshuo and Wang Haoyu to seal gold for China in 3minutes 11:08seconds. The 19-year-old shaved 0.06sec off the previous record of 46.86 achieved by Romanian David Popovici at the European championships in Rome in August 2022. “Yeah, it was an incredible time. I trusted my friends and we did our best,” Pan said. “I said to myself ‘swim hard’. I was shocked when I saw the time, I didn’t expect to break the world record now, I wanted to keep it for the Paris Olympics.” Italy took silver in 3:12.08 and the United States bronze in 3:12.29. Before these worlds Pan had only one world medal, silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay last year in Fukuoka, Japan. He also has three Asian Games titles, including the 100m. His previous personal best was 46.97, which made him the fifth fastest man in the world before arriving in Qatar. Earlier South Korea’s Kim Woo-min won gold in the men’s 400m freestyle on the first day of the swimming competition. Kim clocked 3 minutes 42.71 seconds to edge out Australia’s Elijah Winnington, the 2022 world champion. Germany’s Lukas Martens took third place. The 22-year-old Kim was on course to break Paul Biedermann’s world record going into the final 100m but couldn’t maintain the pace and finished over two seconds off the German’s mark, set in 2009. Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia was a surprise casualty in the heats, coming a lowly 17th overall and missing out on a place in the final. New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather cruised to victory in the women’s 400m freestyle, touching the wall over two seconds clear of China’s Li Bingjie. Isabel Gose of Germany claimed the bronze. Beijing to host 2029 world swimming championshipsBeijing will host the 2029 World Aquatics Championships, becoming the second Chinese city to do so after Shanghai in 2011, World Aquatics announced yesterday. An aquatics hotspot, Beijing has hosted 15 editions of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, along with multiple World Cup events in swimming, diving, artistic swimming and water polo. China also hosted both the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Hangzhou in 2018 and the World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai in 2011. Yesterday’s announcement comes in the middle of the present world championships in Doha where China dominated the first week taking 16 golds out of 29 events to top the medal table. “World Aquatics today confirmed that the Chinese capital will host the World Aquatics Championships – Beijing 2029,” read a statement by World Aquatics. “The flagship World Aquatics event will welcome more than 2,500 world-class athletes from over 200 countries and regions to compete in the six aquatic sports of swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving.” China Swimming Association President Zhou Jihong said the awarding of the hosting rights fitted in with the Chinese love of aquatic sports. “We have a very proud history of welcoming the best aquatics athletes to our country,” she said yesterday. “We are therefore very honoured with Beijing being awarded the opportunity to host the world’s largest aquatics event, the World Aquatics Championships, in 2029.” Singapore and Budapest will host the 2025 and 2027 editions respectively.

Sheikh Joaan Meets with the President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations

Doha- His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024, met today with the President of Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, Mr. Ricci Bitti on the sidelines of the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024, currently taking place in Doha. The meeting reviewed the latest developments related to the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Peaty marks major return with bronze medal win at Aspire; US claim 2 golds

Doha: World-record holder Adam Peaty marked his return to major competition with a bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 at the Aspire Dome on Monday after an extended break to deal with mental health issues. American swimmer Nic Fink won gold in 58.57 seconds, Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy claimed silver in 58.84 and Peaty touched in 59.10 - far off his world record of 56.88 set in 2019. Peaty didn’t shave his red mustache and wore hoop earrings for the final. The British standout had a slow start and never quite recovered but his main goal this season is still to come at the Paris Olympics. “I’m a bit disappointed with the execution,” Peaty said. “But that’s what I’ve got to focus on for the next five months now.” Peaty, who took a break last year as he struggled with depression and alcohol abuse after an unprecedented run of success, won the 100 breast at the last two Olympics and claimed gold at worlds in 2015, 2017 and 2019. “It’s bittersweet, because we did get a medal, which we didn’t aim for,” Peaty said. “The only thing I’m disappointed about is obviously the lack of skills but also going slower from the semi to the final. I don’t want to be that person who does that. I never have been. “I’ve got to keep things in perspective that (since his return) this is my first triple - heats, semis, final - so still getting used to that, still enjoying this sport and being back in the arena,” Peaty added. Peaty missed the 2022 worlds due to a foot injury and was taking his break during last year’s worlds - meaning his last major meet was the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. “I do believe everything happens for a reason,” Peaty said. “I’m going to take the success along with the failures. At this time of the season a failure is a good thing and makes me tune and learn a little bit more. We’ll see how it pushes us through trials and the Olympics.” The 30-year-old Fink added to his gold in the 50 breast at the 2022 worlds in Budapest. He celebrated by propping himself up on a lane rope and pointing to his flexed right bicep, then tumbled backward into the water. “It’s definitely crazy getting the first worlds gold in the 100 at the age of 30,” Fink said. “The fact I was able to accomplish so much in my career and I’m still experiencing new things is really fun right now.” Kate Douglass - the only American individual gold medalist from last year’s worlds in Fukuoka, Japan, who came to Doha - comfortably defended her 200 individual medley title in 2:07.05 ahead of Sydney Pickrem of Canada (2:08.56) and Yu Yiting of China (2:09.01). Angelina Kohler became the first German woman to win individual gold in 15 years at worlds when finished first in the 100 butterfly. Britta Steffen swept the 50 and 100 free in 2009. Kohler touched in 56.28 to shave a whopping 0.77 off her fifth-placed finish in Fukuoka less than seven months ago. Claire Curzan of the U.S. took silver in 56.61 and Louise Hansson of Sweden took bronze in 56.94. Diogo Ribeiro won the 50 fly for Portugal’s first-ever gold at worlds, touching in 22.97 ahead of Michael Andrew of the U.S. (23.07) and Cameron McEvoy of Australia (23.08). The 19-year-old Ribeiro claimed silver in the same event at Fukuoka last year for Portugal’s first ever medal at worlds. In women’s water polo, the U.S. beat Australia 10-9 to set up a semifinal against Spain, which beat Canada 12-9. Also, Hungary beat the Netherlands in a penalty shootout and will next face either Italy or Greece.The first day of the swimming competition of the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 delivered gold medals for the South Korea, New Zealand, Netherlands, and China, as well as a remarkable World Record swim in the lead leg of the Men’s 4 x100m Freestyle Relay.  

Victoria Azarenka qualifies to second round

Doha: Belarusian Victoria Azarenka advanced to the second round of the WTA 1000 Qatar TotalEnergies Open after defeating Pole qualifier Magdalena Frech 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Monday afternoon. On the other hand, Former World No.1 Naomi Osaka returned to her winning ways on Monday, as she defeated No.15 seed Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-4 in their first-round clash. Osaka claimed a measure of revenge with the 1-hour and 28-minute win in Doha. She avenged her first-round loss to Garcia earlier this year at the Australian Open, which was Osaka’s first Grand Slam appearance since her maternity leave began at the end of 2022. “Honestly I feel like I’m a much better player now,” Osaka said, comparing her two 2024 showdowns with Garcia. “I think in Australia my returns weren’t as good, and I don’t feel like I was as focused as I am now. “I think that definitely made a difference, especially against such a good server like she is.” In the second round, Osaka will take on Petra Martic of Croatia. Former Top 15 player Martic needed to go the distance on Monday before squeaking past Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(5) in just under three hours of play. Osaka won her only previous encounter with Martic, which came 10 years ago in the final qualifying round at 2014 Stanford. By defeating Martic in that match, a 16-year-old Osaka earned a spot in her first-ever WTA main draw (and then promptly upset Samantha Stosur in the first round). Garcia won her first 11 service points to kick off the rematch. However, Osaka finally got a look in on Garcia’s serve in 2024, grasping two break points when Garcia was serving for the set at 5-4. The Japanese star’s imposing returns earned her a break at last to reach 5-5. Suddenly it was Osaka in the ascendancy as she fended off two break points to reach 6-5. Osaka then powered her way to a commanding love break, winning her fourth straight game to eke out the one-set lead from 5-3 down. Osaka earned one more break -- in the last game of the match, to close out the win. Garcia had eight more winners than Osaka in the match, but Osaka countered with eight fewer unforced errors. Osaka was also a perfect 3-for-3 on break points, while Garcia went 1-for-8. Meanwhile, two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek needed just 61 minutes to open her latest campaign with a victory, as the World No.1 defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 in Monday’s second round. Swiatek is one of five women who’ve won the singles title in Doha twice, and is seeking to becoming the first to win three titles at the event, which dates back to 2001. She got off to the races quickly towards that overall goal. Against Cirstea, she won five straight games in the first set, and six in a row to take the second to advance to a third-round meeting with either Erika Andreeva or No.14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.    

QSSA to organize School Olympic Program Race

Doha: The Qatar School Sports Association (QSSA) announced that it will  organize  the 2nd edition of School Olympic Program Race marking the National Sport Day on Tuesday at Lusail Boulevard with the participation of over 3000 students. Addressing a press conference at the premises of the Qatar Olympic Committee, President of QSSA and Chairman of the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) Organizing Committee Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani stated that the number of participants in the second edition is different this time, noting the evident surge in the number of participants compared to the previous edition. His Excellency revealed that the contests of the second edition observe a variety of age groups, highlighting that the competition will be stellar for all contenders. He added that the one km race will be the launching pad with the participation of primary school students followed by a 2 km race for middle school students, as well as a 3 km race for secondary school students, implying that the  programme can absorb the capabilities of all participating students. In conclusion, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani emphasized that the previous edition has achieved good results and multiple gains throughout the stages of all contests with an effective student participation, pointing out that the organizing committee is committed to propagating the culture of sport in the community on the Sports Day through the engagement of schools in these activities to further explore sports talents and hone them as one of the key pillars and objectives of the programme in the future.

Qatar TotalEnergies 2024 begins

Doha: The first round competitions of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2024, which is organized by the Qatar Tennis Federation on the courts of the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, began yesterday with the participation of the world top ranked players.  Czech Kartina Sinakova (22) qualified for the second round after defeating Croatian Donna Vic (28th) 7-5, 6-1.  Ukrainian Marta Kostok (30) also advanced to the second round, after beating US Caroline Dolehide (43) 6-3, 7-5. Belgian Grete Menan (54) achieved an easy victory over the German Maria Tatjana (49) 6-1, 6-1, and Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova (19) defeated Bulgaria's Viktoria Tomova (64) 7-6, 6-3. Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko (37) qualified for the second round after difficult victory over Turkish Zeynep Sonmez (184) 7-5, 6-3.