Team Qatar ready for opening qualifier against Afghanistan

Doha: Qatar’s football national team has completed its preparations for the first match of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup finals against Afghanistan to be played at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday (November 16). Qatar will also take on India in an away game at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar on November 21 in the first two of their Group A games. The group also includes Kuwait, who will meet India Nov 16), and Afghanistan (Nov 21). Qatar Squad: Goalkeepers: Fahad Younes (Al Rayyan), Meshaal Barsham (Al Sadd), Salah Zakaria (Al Duhail), Yousef Hassan (Al Gharafa) Defenders: Bassam al-Rawi (Al Rayyan), Boualem Khoukhi, Tariq Salman, Pedro Miguel (Al Sadd), Homam al-Amin (Al Gharafa), Yousef Ayman (Al Duhail), Hazem Ahmed, Lucas Mendez (Al Wakrah) Midfielders: Abdullah al-Marafi, Ahmed Fathi, Jassem Jaber (Al Arabi), Karim Boudiaf (Al Duhail), Hassan al-Haydos, Mustafa Meshaal, Mohamed Waad (Al Sadd) Forwards: Akram Afif, Yousef Abdulrazaq (Al Sadd), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al Gharafa), Almoez Ali, Mohamed Muntari (Al Duhail), Ahmed al-Rawi, Tamim Mansour (Al Rayyan)  

ISSF World Cup Final to begin on Saturday

Doha: The Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) announced that it has completed its preparations to host the ISSF World Cup Final (Rifle-Pistole-Shotgun) in Doha from November 18-26, 2023.  In the press conference held on Monday, the QSAA Assistant Secretary General Jassim Al Sulaiti thanked the Qatar Olympic Committee President H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for his support to the event.  Al Sulaiti also stressed that the event will bring together 192 shooters from 42 countries.  Team Qatar Squad:  Nasser Al Attiyah, Rashid Saleh Al Athba (Men’s Skeet), Reem Al Sharshani, Sarah Mohamed (Women’s Skeet), Rashed Hamad Al Athba, Mohamed Al Rumaihi (Men’s Trap), Kholoud Al Khalaf (Women’s Trap), Ali Al Mohannadi (Men’s 10m Rifle), Shahd Al Darwish (Women’s 10m Rifle), Usama Abdulnaser Al Sheiba (Men’s 10m Pistol), Nasrah Mohamed (Women’s 10m rifle and Men’s 25m Rapid Pistol) and Saleh Al Obaidli (Men’s 25m Rapid Pistol).   

Team Qatar to participate in Saudi Arabia U23 International Friendly Tournament

Doha: The Qatari Olympic football team will take part in Saudi Arabia U23 International Friendly Tournament to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from November 18 – 21.  The comes in light of the preparations for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024, to be held from April 15 until May 3. The event will serve as a qualification tournament for Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The Qatar Football Association announced on social media yesterday the event match schedule, in which team Qatar will face team Australia on Saturday, whilst team Saudi Arabia will play Jordan. The second match, to be held on November 21, will see team Qatar face Jordan, whilst team Saudi Arabia take on Australia. Matches will be held at the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sport City Stadium in Al Khobar.   

Monterrey, Vytautas Magnus emerge champions of 2023 FISU University World Cup 3x3 Basketball

Doha: The curtains came down on the 2023 FISU University World Cup 3x3 Basketball, the 7th edition of the tournament, at Qatar University on Sunday, with Mexico’s Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Monterrey Campus) and Vytautas Magnus University from Lithuania emerging champions in the women's and men’s categories, respectively.   While Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education defeated American University Cairo, Egypt, 14-7, in the final to emerge as the women’s champions, Vytautas Magnus University, on the other hand, beat the University of Sydney, Australia, 21-12, to emerge victorious.   Vasyl Stefanyk Preparpathian National University, Ukraine, clinched the bronze medal after defeating National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucuresti-Pitesti University Center, Romania, 17-10, in the women’s category, while Sumy State University, Ukraine, defeated two-time defending champions Paulista University, Brazil, 20-18, in overtime to clinch the men’s bronze medal.   The three-day event, which featured 12 women’s teams and 12 men’s teams, was hosted and organized by the Qatar Collegiate Sports Federation (QCSF).   In attendance at the closing ceremony were QCSF President Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Naimi, who awarded the winners of the men’s category; Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) President Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb; International University Sports Federation (FISU) Sports Director Juan Carlos Holgado; President of the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) and QCSF Board member Dr. Salem bin Nasser Al Naemi, who presented the awards for the women’s champions; and other dignitaries.   One of the major highlights of the closing ceremony was the official handover of the tournament flag by Tournament Director Rashid Saeed Adiba to Xing Zunming, the representative of Huaqiao University, China, who are the next hosts in 2024.   Adiba also presented a commemorative shield on behalf of the LOC to FISU Sports Director Holgado at the event.   In a historic landmark for Qatar, Qatar University reached the quarterfinals of the global tournament for the first time in history before losing to Paulista University from Brazil.   Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Al Naimi stated that the championship has elevated Qatar’s collegiate sports to a whole new level of excellence.   “It has also improved our organizational, technical, and administrative experience and will aid us in achieving our goal of hosting FISU's events in the future. Our vision at QCSF is to create better sports activities for higher education students in Qatar, including those attending universities, colleges, and institutes. We are committed to discovering the most talented students and taking our university sports to new heights of excellence, both locally and internationally,” he added.   For his part, QCSF Secretary-General and Tournament Director Rashid Saeed Adiba appreciated the efforts of the LOC members, partners, sponsors, and volunteers in making the tournament successful and memorable.   Rashid Al Tamimi, the Head of the Sports Committee of the LOC, said, "The QCSF views this tournament as a significant progression for our teams to gain valuable experience in international competitions."   He commended the exceptional technical proficiency displayed by all teams throughout the various stages, including the group stage, knockout stage, and finals. Additionally, he extended his gratitude to the referee committee for their exceptional work.  

Stage set for Al Shaqab International Arabian Horse Show

Doha:  The Al Shaqab International Arabian Horse Show is set to take place under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, embodying a significant milestone for the Arabian Show Horse industry in Qatar and the wider region. Scheduled to take place from 17th to 18th November, this prestigious event promises an unforgettable experience of elegance & beauty at the iconic Al Shaqab indoor and outdoor arena. With a vision to elevate the Arabian Show Horse sector locally and globally, this pioneering event aims to contribute to the development and promotion of purebred Arabian horses, emphasizing the rich cultural heritage of owning these majestic creatures within the Qatari community. It is anticipated that the show will attract around 250 horses from both within and outside Qatar, promoting the uniqueness of purebred Arabian horses on both local and international levels, further endorsing Qatar’s rich Arabian heritage. Moreover, the organizers envision that the 1st edition of the Al Shaqab International Arabian Horse Show will mark the beginning of the international competition season in Qatar. This strategic timing will enable horse owners from around the world to prepare their horses for the world championship, a historic event set to take place outside Paris for the first time. Al Shaqab remains committed to fostering the growth of the Arabian Show Horse industry in Qatar and beyond, with this event poised to leave a lasting impact on the equestrian community.  

Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation announces forming Qatar Mixed Martial Arts Committee

The Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation (QBWF) announced Sunday it had formed Qatar Mixed Martial Arts Committee. In a press conference held on Sunday at the QOC Headquarters, the QBWF announced the formation of the new committee under the leadership of H.E. President of QBWF Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al-Thani. It also includes Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Sultan Hassan Al Jemali, Hamad Salim Al Hajri and Adel Ghanim Al Marzoughi. During the conference, HE Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al-Thani said Mixed Martial Arts join QBWF, stressed that mixed martial arts have  been popular among the Qatari young men as they were adopted by 6 Qatari local clubs. He pointed out that QBWF is working to prepare a team that can represent Qatar in the forthcoming Asian games amid the significant support offered to Qatari sports by QOC and added that the list of prominent mixed martial arts players includes Saud Al-Saqqatri, Ahmed Al-Jahni, Ahmed Al-Bakir, Ali Al-Mulla, Hamad Al-Atti, Mohammed Al-Dosari, Mohammed Al-Eseeri, Nasser Al-Jabr, Mashal Al-Kuwari, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Jasim Al-Shafi, Ali Al-Buenain, Walid Al-Badi, Aziz Sultan, Ahmed Al-Darwish, and Saqr Al-Hitmi. The Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation adopts an ambitious strategy which aims at promoting and developing mixed martial arts in the State of Qatar.  The strategy also aims at organizing international tournaments in this sport and conduct training courses for coaches and referees.