Vice President of the Organizing Committee Attends the kickoff of the World Aquatics Championships

Doha- His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024, attended part of the competitions on the first day of the tournament. The competitions were also attended by Capitan Hussain Al Musallam, President of World Aquatics, Dr. Julio Maglione, former President of World Aquatics, and a number of officials and guests of the tournament. The World Aquatics Championships are being held for the first time in the Middle East with the participation of more than 2,600 players representing 201 countries, competing in 6 sports: swimming, diving, water polo, Artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving.

Britain clinch mixed team gold, Koloi bags 1m springboard title

Doha- The World Aquatics Championships – Doha began on Friday at the Hamad Aquatics Centre with diving competitions as Britain won the mixed team event. Led by the returning Tom Daley, Britain splashed to gold with Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, Daniel Goodfellow and Scarlett Mew Jensen combining across six dives to score 421.65 points overall. The silver medal went to the Mexican foursome of Gabriela Agundez Garcia, Randal Willars Valdez, Jahir Ocampo Marroquin and Aranza Vazquez Montano at 412.80. Australia claimed the bronze at 385.35 with a team that included Cassiel Rousseau, Li Shixin, Maddison Keeney and Nikita Hains. Daley, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the men’s synchronised 10m platform event, was competing internationally for the first time in over two years. “I was so terrified,” said Daley. “But it feels good to be back out there and competing again. To do it alongside this team has just been amazing. I didn’t quite expect that it was going to be the gold medal, but it’s a great way to start the competition.” Each team were required to perform one individual dive each, plus a 3m synchro and 10m synchro dive. The World Aquatics Championships is being held for the first time in the Middle East with the participation of more than 2,600 players representing 201 countries, competing in 6 sports: swimming, diving, water polo, Artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. Meanwhile, Australia’s Alysha Koloi won the women’s 1-metrer springboard. The 22-year-old Koloi, competing at worlds for the first time, grabbed the lead on the fourth of five dives and held on in the final round to finish with 260.50 points. The silver went to Britain’s Grace Reid (257.25), while Egypt’s Maha Amer captured her country’s first diving medal ever at worlds. China was the reigning world champion in both events, but the world’s diving superpower did not have entries in Doha as it focuses on disciplines that will be on the Olympic program at Paris this summer. At last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, China won 12 of 13 events and captured 19 medals in all.

Qatar to take on Uzbekistan in quarterfinals

Doha: Coach Marquez Lopez on Friday said defending champions Qatar will be looking to play an attacking game against Central Asian giants Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Saturday. Under Marquez, Qatar are on a four-match unbeaten streak that has taken the 2019 champions into the quarter-finals against a side that beat Thailand 2-1 in the Round of 16 clash three days ago. Qatar’s chief striker Akram Afif has scored four goals in as many matches while his captain Hasan al-Haydos has netted two to inspire confidence in coach Lopez going into Saturday’s clash at Al Bayt Stadium. Al Annabi have scored wins against Lebanon, China, Tajikistan and Palestine. “We have talented players and we have fast players, possibly the fastest players in the competition,” Lopez warned at a pre-match news conference on Friday. “The quality of the players and the performance of the team mean we have made it to the quarter-final,” Lopez, who is less than two months into his Qatar job, added. The 59-year-old Spaniard quickly said he expects a physical clash between the two sides. “This is going to be a very physical game,” Lopez said. “I know the players of the Uzbekistan team very well as I previously faced some of their players in the AFC Champions League matches when I was coach of Al Wakrah,” he added. “I am well aware of the quality of these players and their skills. The most important thing is that we will focus on our strengths and try to win the match,” he added. “The Uzbek players have skill, quality and speed, and like I said it will be a physical match. But my players are physically prepared, especially since I rotated them during the group stage in order to give everyone the opportunity to play and compete in the tournament,” he said. “We have reached what we are looking for, we’re in the quarter-finals and if anyone thinks we can’t make it to the final that is up to them,” the Spaniard said. “There’s no negative pressure on the players, they are well motivated. They want to win. There’s going to be positive pressure for us to achieve in this very difficult game,” he said. Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec also sounded confident going into the last-eight clash. The Central Asians are looking to progress to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2011 edition also held in Qatar. Thirteen years ago, Uzbekistan beat Qatar in the opening game of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup before being knocked out by Australia in the semi-finals. “My job is to prepare the team as best I can. We are together for two-and-a-half years and if they don’t know how to play now it will be wrong, but I’m confident they know. They know we have to be organised,” Katanec, who is from Slovenia, said on Friday. “All coaches are smarter when we win, but we depend on the players, on their qualities and the game tomorrow is starting from 6:30 for two hours and they have to be in good shape. “We have reached a nice position, we didn’t lose, we have conceded less goals so they have to worry, like we have to be worried. “When we started this Asian Cup I said I know the situation, that we go game by game,” Katanec said. “Tomorrow is another game. We did well, but it was what it was, so we will try to do our best. “ We are good. I have a nice group of players. They have to be confident, we reached (the quarter-finals) and tomorrow, it’s the game. So go ahead. We have nothing to lose, give everything and I’ll be satisfied with the team,” the 60-year-old added.

Qatar's Maram Fatnassi wins Arab Taekwondo Cup gold medal in Fujairah

Fujairah: Qatar's taekwondo star Maram Fatnassi won the gold medal at the start of the 2024 Arab Taekwondo Cup, which is organized by the Fujairah Martial Arts Club in the city of Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates. The tournament is held under the supervision of the Arab and International Taekwondo Federations, with the participation of 1,067 male and female players representing 19 countries, and it concludes Friday. The Qatari delegation participating in the tournament includes players Wadah Al Ahmadi in the weight category above 87 kg, Maram Fatnassi in the weight category of 67 kg, and Nour Muhammad in the weight category of under 73 kg, in addition to the technical expert, Mahdi Al Jadidi. (QNA)

World Aquatics Championships to begin on Friday

Doha: Doha 2024 will break the record for the highest number of athletes competing and number of countries represented at the World Aquatics Championships as Qatar host the flagship competition for the first time between 2 and 18 February 2024. The records were announced during a joint press conference held by World Aquatics and the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 Local Organising Committee on the eve of the event. More than 2,600 athletes representing 201 countries and one refugee team will compete across six aquatic sports, with qualification spots for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on offer to add to the excitement. Four of the sports will see a record number of participating countries, including swimming, and three will see a record number of competing athletes. Among the athletes are USA’s Artistic Swimming World Champion, Bill May; defending high diving world champion, Constantin Popovici from Romania; captain of the reigning water polo world champions, Sabrina van der Sloot of the Netherlands; Canada’s PanAm Games gold medallist in diving, Pamela Ware; and USA two-time world junior swimming champion, Katie Grimes. The five athletes attended the opening press conference where they expressed their excitement for the World Championships and praised the quality of the venues in Doha. The six aquatic sports will take place at three venues across Doha, including the state-of-the-art Aspire Dome – the biggest aquatic sports complex in the world. The Hamad Aquatic Centre and Old Doha Port will also host competitions providing a spectacular backdrop for the world’s best athletes. Speaking ahead of the World Aquatics Championships, World Aquatics President Husain al-Musallam said: “We are delighted to be in Doha for the World Aquatics Championships. Qatar has proven itself as an excellent host of major sports events and we have every confidence that athletes will be provided with the very best conditions to compete. Already we have received positive feedback from athletes who are excited for competitions to get underway. As the first time this region has hosted the World Championships, we are also excited by the role the event can play in extending our reach and ensuring everyone can participate, compete in and benefit from aquatic sports” Doha 2024 Director General Khaleel al-Jaber said: “The World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 will be a unique celebration of aquatics sports and Qatar’s rich heritage. It is fitting that these Championships are set to break records for participation reinforcing the importance of this event. We are humbled that more athletes, and more countries, than ever before have opted to compete in these Championships. We have no doubt that they will entertain the thousands of spectators in attendance and inspire the next generation of aquatics athletes in Qatar and the wider Mena region.” More than 1,000 volunteers will ensure that fans enjoy an unforgettable experience, while the Fan Zone, located between the Aspire Dome and Hamad Aquatic Centre, will enhance their enjoyment of the competition further. The International Broadcasting Centre and Main Media Centre are also located on site, to ensure a seamless experience for the hundreds of media in attendance. The competition at Doha 2024 is set to inspire the next generation of aquatics athletes to ‘Dive Into Your Thrill’ in a country and region that has a rich marine heritage. Doha 2024 ambassadors will visit local schools and clubs to encourage participation alongside mascots ‘Nahim’, a playful Qatari whale shark, and ‘Mayfara’ a walking, talking, smiling coral, who are intimately tied to Qatar’s heritage and represent the inclusivity of the Championships. The action in Doha will begin on 2 February with artistic swimming and diving, ahead of the Opening Ceremony on 4 February at the Aspire Dome. The open water swimming will also take place in the first week of competition with high diving and swimming competitions taking place in the second week, while the water polo will be ongoing throughout. To attend this historic event in Qatar and to watch world’s best aquatics athletes in action further details including ticket news can be found at https: //www.worldaquatics-doha2024.com/en/ticketing  

7 medals for Qatar in West Asian Para Games

Sharjah: Team Qatar athletes continued to make waves in the 4th West Asian Para Games, currently being held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.  The event brings together 513 athletes representing 12 countries competing in seven sports including: athletics, table tennis, badminton, goalball, wheelchair basketball, boccia, and powerlifting. Qatar's athletics team claimed two silver medals and one bronze medals, at the end of their competitions, bringing their total tally to seven medals including, four silver and three bronze medals. The three medals in the athletics competitions were won by Ali Radi Arshad, who won the silver medal in the 800-meter wheelchair race, and Sarah Masoud won the silver medal in the discus throw competition and won a bronze medal in the javelin throw competition, and player Mohammed Al Kubaisi came in fourth place in the 200-meter wheelchair race. The Qatari delegation will also participate in the Sharjah International Open Para Athletics Meeting from Feb. 3-6.