Team Qatar to participate in Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024

DOHA -  Team Qatar winter sports delegation  has left  Doha on Wednesday to South Korea to participate in the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024,   which run from  January 19 to the first of February, 2024 in South Korean’s  city of  Gangwon. Team Qatar delegation to this winter Olympic event , consists of players, Mohammed Hassan Al Naimi and  Al-Dana Ahmed Al Fahad who will compete in  curling (Mixed Doubles) ,  as they are  accompanied by Mr.  Rashid Magid Al Suleiti, President of the Qatar Winter Sports Committee (QWSC) and Hassan Hissam Al -Hebabi, the QWSC Secretary General. Most notably, team Qatar stars booked their spots  in the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024, after signing off perfect results in World Junior-B Curling Championships 2022 , which held in city of  Lohja, Finland and sealed a top place for West Asia zone.  

Tovek, Gaudiano shine as second round begins

Doha,: The second round of the Doha International Tour 2024 for showjumping organized by Qatar Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab opened with some exciting results at the Longines Outdoor Arena of Al Shaqab yesterday. Swede Evelina Tovek astride bay gelding Moeboetoe V/D Roshoeve sizzled in the late evening €30,000 CSI4* 1.50m (Faults & Time) event with a flawless and top class show in 59.36secs, ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly riding Fiumicino van de Kalevallei (60.24secs). Accomplished rider Simon Delestre of France finished a close third in company of Olga van de Kruishoeve (61.81secs). The CSI4* Two Phases 1.45m event was won by Italian Emanuele Gaudiano riding bay gelding Conthargo-Blue with top times of 48.90 and 23.47secs. He beat compatriot Roberto Previtali on Esteban de Hus (48.90 & 25.02secs). Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Alrajhi on Ventago was third (49.09 & 25.02secs). Earlier in the day’s two-star category, Qatar’s Saeed Hamad SH Juma excelled in CSI2* Special Two Phases 1.20m event riding bay mare Ambre de Beaufour with best flawless times of 42.23 & 31.40secs. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Alsheik on Gernona was the runners-up (40.74 & 31.89secs) while Qatar’s Mohammed Nasser SA Al Qadi, riding chestnut gelding Galwaybay Merbreaker was third (38.71 & 32.29secs). Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Aleid on Kayenne Of de Rocky Mounten claimed top podium place in the CSI2* Special Two Phases 1.30m clocking 38.94 & 28.69secs being ahead of Qatar’s Mohammed Saeed A M Haidan riding dark bay gelding D Saucedo (38.75 & 29.57secs). The third place was claimed by Qatar’s Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi astride bay mare Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi (39.14 & 30.30secs). The first day of the three-day Doha Tour was attended by a large and distinguished audience. The second day on Friday will see the first event begin at 8.45am.  

Team Qatar power past Tajikistan to reach last 16

DOHA - Defending champions Qatar defeated Tajikistan 1-0 to become the first side to reach the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup in front of cheerful home fans at Al Bayt Stadium yesterday.         Akram Afif fired the winner in 17th minute with a fine finish to score his third goal in the tournament after scoring a brace in Qatar’s opening 3-0 victory over Lebanon on Friday. The home fans finally celebrated at Al Bayt Stadium where Qatar lost back-to-back matches against Ecuador and the Netherlands at the World Cup 2022.    The victory also assured Qatar a top place in Group A after China were held to their second consecutive goalless draw by Lebanon at Al Thumama Stadium earlier yesterday.  “I’m very pleased to qualify after two matches,” said Qatar coach Marquez Lopez, who made five changes in the playing team with regular captain Hassan Al Haydos also starting on the bench.    “It was a difficult game but we always knew it would be. We played against a tough, strong team, but we didn’t give them the chance to score. The opposition started with high pressure but we were able to handle that. We had a problem with possession at the start but we controlled the match and achieved what we wanted to achieve,” he added.  The star Qatar duo of Afif and striker Almoez Ali once again made a difference creating pressure on Tajikistan through the match and it was the latter, who set up the in-form forward for the decisive goal to send most of the 57,460 spectators at the venue into raptures.   “Almoez is one of my best friends and we understand each other very well. We have been playing together for a long time so we understand what each other is going to do just with a look. We hope the best is still yet to come,” said Afif.  Petar Segrt’s Tajikistan enjoyed strong spells in the match but they lacked execution with a red card – the first of the tournament – to Amadoni Kamolov in 81st minute denting their hopes of making a fightback.     Tajikistan got off to a strong start and put pressure on Qatar's defence in the first 15 minutes of the hotly-contested first half.      The Central Asians had almost took the lead in the 13th minute but Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham made a good save from forward Rustam Soirov’s angular hit on the bottom right corner after a ball from Kamolov.   Qatar reversed the situation soon afterward and were rewarded shortly as Afif raced to pick a through ball from Almoez, chipping it past goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov to continue his goal-scoring spree in the tournament.       The 2019 champions hoped for their second goal after the half-hour mark but a thorough VAR check cleared Manuchekhr Safarov, who appeared to hit Almoez inside the box.  A minute before half-time, Zoir Dzhuraboev rescued Tajikistan from a further deficit blocking a touch by Almoez on a rebound from a close range after the goalkeeper stopped an angular hit from Afif.  Kamolov in one the best chances for Tajikistan in the first half skied the ball from the edge of the box while Afif also had an opportunity to score his second during eight minutes of injury-time but his shot sailed over the bar.    The Segrt’s side got off to a positive start again after the break making several attempts for an equalizer. Striker Alisher Dzhalilov had an opportunity when he prodded the ball past the onrushing Barsham, but he could not catch up to score the goal.  Qatar took charge of the match again mostly because of Afif’s brilliance as he led a move from left of the box but second-half substitute Ahmed Al Ganehi was off target with his left-footed hit.  Shortly, the Tajikistan goalkeeper saved an attempt by Almoez from the centre of the box before Al Haydos came off the bench. Afif and Almoez combined for another attempt at goal but the former’s pass inside the box with only the goalkeeper in front was too fast.   Tajikistan suffered a blow in their bid for a comeback as Kamolov was sent off for kicking out at Al Ganehi’s face with VAR confirming the red-card offense.  Afif could have wrapped up the victory with a goal but his header was saved by the goalkeeper during 11 minutes of injury-time.     Qatar will now look to maintain their perfect record when they meet China in their last group match at Khalifa International Stadium on Monday, while Tajikistan face Lebanon the same day at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium with both sides having a point each hoping to advance to the last 16.  

Qatar Men's ITF World Tennis Tour gets underway

Doha: The main draw of the 2nd Qatar Men's ITF World Tennis Tour 2024 organized by the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) in cooperation with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) began at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Wednesday.  Stefan Palosi of Romania edged past Mathys Erhard of France 1-6 7-5 6-4 while Antoine Ghibaudo of France defeated Marat Sharipov of Russia 4-6 6-3 6-4.  Moreover, Elliot Benchetritof Morocco overpowered Aleksandre Metreveli 6-2 6-2.  The ITF Men's World Tennis Tour serves as the entry level for professional tennis as the results of ITF tournaments are incorporated into the ATP Ranking, which enables professionals to progress to the ATP Challenger Tour and, ultimately, the ATP Tour.  

Team Qatar to take on UAE in Asian Men’s Handball Championship

MANAMA -  Team Qatar will shake hands  with United Arab Emirates on  Thursday in the main round  game of the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship 2023 , which is running until January 25 in Bahrain’s capital city of Manama. Team Qatar booked their place in the main round, following three consecutive wins, they got better of  China Taipe 33-26,   edged out Oman 28-18 and defeated  Kuwait  24-20  to  keep  their  perfect  record  at  the  Asian  Men’s    Handball    Championship  2023. Team Qatar  are  looking  to  extend  their  remarkable  legacy, having clinched the Asian title in the last five editions  (2014,  2016,  2018,  2020,  and  2022). Additionally, they aim to secure their  spot  in  the  World  Championship for the 10th time  in  history,  following  successful appearances in Portugal   2003,   Tunisia   2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013,  Qatar  2015,  France  2017,     Germany     and     Denmark 2019, Egypt 2021, and  Poland  and  Sweden  2022.  

Sheikh Joaan meets with former team Qatar handball coach

DOHA - His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), met on Tuesday with Mr. Valero Rivera Lopez, the former team Qatar handball coach. H.E QOC President, thanked the Spanish coach for his astounding contributions, and achievements during his period as the national handball team coach, most notebly, securing the second place in the Men’s Handball World Championship Qatar 2015 and winning the Asian Handball Championship 5 times consecutively. For his part, Mr. Valero expressed his sincere gratitude to H.E QOC President for his support and said he was truly proud to work with the national handball team to secure these amazing achievements. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al-buenain, the Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee.