Qatar beat Kyrgyzstan 1-0 at AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024 Qualifiers

Qatar’s U-23 team capped their fine performance at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in Changwon, South Korea, on Tuesday. Ilyes Brimil’s 52nd minute goal handed the Al Annabi young guns their third straight victory after they stunned South Korea 2-0 and thrashed Myanmar 6-0 in their first two Group B matches. Being the hosts, Qatar are automatically qualified for the Finals and the Ilidio Vale-coached side took part in the event for exposure. Qatar started their final group tie with a spring in their step at the Changwon Football Center. For Kyrgyz Republic, the match was a chance to end their campaign with a win after a 1-1 draw with Myanmar and 1-0 defeat to South Korea had dashed their qualification hopes.But Brimil’s effort settled the proceedings and Qatar can look forward to next year’s Finals with confidence. Meanwhile, South Korea booked their place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Finals after a 3-0 win over Myanmar in their Qualifiers Group B tie. South Korea, the 2020 champions, topped the group with six points, having earlier defeated Kyrgyzstan 1-0. Qatar will host the AFC U23 Asian Cup from April 15 to May 3, 2024.  

Top seed Farag and Qatar’s al-Tamimi reach Round 3

Top seed Ali Farag of Egypt yesterday sailed into round three of the QTerminals Qatar Classic with a straight-game win over compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar but the day belonged to Welsh World No. 10 Joel Makin who stunned World No. 5 Paul Coll of New Zealand. Qatar’s Mohamed Abdullah al-Tamimi yesterday also advanced with a slick performance against Omar Mosaad of Egypt on the Glass Court. Al-Tamimi, ranked 23, won 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 in just 32 minutes. In the first round, al-Tamimi crushed Lucas Serme of France on Sunday. Farag yesterday barely broke a sweat as he carved out a 11-1, 11-5, 13-11 win over Abouelghar in just 36 minutes on the Glass Court at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. In the next round, Farag will play Fares Dessouky, who won an all-Egyptian affair against Karim El Hammamy. Dessouky won 7-11, 11-1, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4 in 64 minutes. In round three, al-Tamimi – Qatar’s top squash player – will meet eighth seed Tarek Momen of Egypt who beat England’s Adrian Waller 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9 in 39 minutes. Al-Tamimi said yesterday: “I am very happy with this victory, since I knew that the match would not be easy at all because the opponent is one of the best squash players in the world. He was previously ranked two in the world, but I appeared in a good level and achieved the victory in three sets.” He added that the next confrontation will be difficult because it will be against Tariq Momen ‘who is one of the best players in the world.’ “I will try to play the next match with intense focus and follow a different technique from today’s match,” al-Tamimi added. The highlight win yesterday, however, belonged to Makin. The Welshman needed every bit of reserve in his body to go past Coll in a pulsating 93-minute battle to reach the third round of the QTerminals Classic on day three of the hugely popular tournament. “I’m still trying to be attacking. I clipped the top of the tin twice with what I felt was the right shot. I’ve done hours and hours and hours of hitting and you’ve got to commit to it and believe you’re going to hit winners from those positions,” Makin said after the pulsating performance. “If it’s on my racket then I’ve got to take it on at this point in my career,” he added. Earlier on the Glass Court, defending champion and third seed Mohamed ElShorbagy came from behind to beat England teammate Charlie Lee. ElShorbagy needed 50 minutes for his 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 win. “The first match is always very tricky, especially on this court. Last year I had a tricky first match as well and it always gets better the more you play on this court,” ElShorbagy said yesterday “He’s one of my teammates now and went to Europeans together and had some really good moments together. “We get along very well but on court it’s a war,” he said. Joining Makin and ElShorbagy in the third round will be last year’s finalist Victor Crouin, who came from behind to beat Patrick Rooney 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (61m) while Mohamed ElSherbini beat Rory Stewart 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m). Round three of the women’s event yesterday began with an all-England encounter as England No.1 Georgina Kennedy beat Sarah-Jane Perry in straight games. In a one-sided affair, Kennedy never looked like letting the lead slip with Perry, who appeared to be struggling with injury, unable to counter Kennedy’s relentless pace as the 26-year-old booked her spot in the quarter-final in 21 minutes. In the second women’s round three match, Egyptian No.3 seed Hania El Hammamy yesterday was given a testing time by Malaysia’s World No.43 Sivasangari Subramaniam. Subramaniam, who on Sunday shocked World No.14 Olivia Clyne 3-0, was second best early on as El Hammamy quickly built a 6-1 lead. The Malaysian, however, fought back well and, after saving a game ball, earned a game ball opportunity of her own at 11-10. The Egyptian, though, clung on, clinching the game 13-11 before completing the victory with a pair of 11-6 wins. El Hammamy will take on Kennedy in the quarter-final tomorrow.  

Qatar wins silver medal in 2023 Beirut Open Taekwondo Tournament

Beirut:  The Qatari national taekwondo team won yesterday the silver medal in the 2023 Beirut Open Taekwondo Tournament, ranked G1, for the junior category, held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, with the tournament running until Wednesday. 19 countries are competing in the tournament through 117 male and female athletes in the cadet category, 136 in the junior category, and 176 senior category. Saad Nasser Sulaiti won Qatar the silver medal for the cadet category under 168 cm. Qatari taekwondo athletes will strive to claim more medals in the tournament's remaining days with the aim of winning glory for Qatar.   

Sheikh Saud and QBF president appointed to FIBA Foundation Board of Directors

Doha: The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced the appointment of His Excellency Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani and Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), to the Board of Directors of the FIBA Foundation for the period 2023-2027. The appointment is a significant achievement for Qatari officals, as the FIBA Foundation is responsible for developing basketball globally, emanating from the International Basketball Federation. The appointment of the Qatari officials is a recognition of their tangible efforts in developing basketball globally, their administrative experience at the game level, and their distinguished contributions to developing the game by supporting clubs and national teams. Additionally, their great role in winning the bid for the 2027 FIBA World Cup for the first time in the region of the Middle East has been acknowledged. The appointment of His Excellency Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani and Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb to one of the highest sports bodies at the level of basketball is an embodiment of the confidence enjoyed by Qatari officials by various international organizations, including the International Basketball Federation. Qatar has provided great successes in hosting many basketball championships, and the game has undergone significant development in Qatar during the recent period, which has led to the Qatar Basketball Federation awarded as the Third Most Improved Federation. It is noteworthy that the International Basketball Association (FIBA Foundation) includes an elite group of officials and experts at all levels of the sport. The FIBA Board of Directors has achieved a significant milestone by appointing three women to the Board of Directors for the first time, including FIBA member Michelle Thiems, as well as World Cup-winning player Predrag Stojakovic.  

QOC participates in Qatar University Career Fair

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is participating in the Qatar University Career Fair which began on Monday. The event brings together 73 potential employers from various sectors such as energy, industry, finance, business, education, and health. The QOC participation in the QU Career Fair which was inaugurated by the QU President Dr. Omar al-Ansari, comes in light of its commitment to attracting qualified graduates to fill the available positions in the QOC Departments. The QU Career Fair provides countless opportunities for students; including summer training, academic sponsorship, information about the labour market, and informs students about the required specialisations and the necessary skills. The event also provides students with the opportunity to develop their networking skills.  

Momen upstages Tamimi in exciting pre-quarters clash

Egyptian Tarek Momen ended home hopes with an exciting 3-1 win over Doha-born Abdulla Al Tamimi, while World No.1s Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini reached the quarter-finals, alongside Nele Gilis of Belgium in the Qterminals Qatar Classic Squash at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Tuesday. In a gripping contest, Momen and Al Tamimi both played quick, attacking squash which led to fast, energetic rallies. Momen found his groove earlier in the match and took the first two games off the Qatari, but Al Tamimi came back strong in the third, using the front of the court and playing faster than the Egyptian to halve the deficit. Momen was unflappable in the face of Al Tamimi’s home crowd, and won points consistently between the heroics the World No.35 was producing to stay in the match, as he completed a 3-1 (11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8) victory. The former World No.3 – who won the 2019 World Championship here – spoke afterwards about his feelings on the match. “It’s good vibes, I’m happy that I was tested in that manner, this was a tough match for me mentally.“ Momen will face the World No.1 and two-time Qatar Classic champion Farag in his quarter final. The No.1 seed beat former World No.7 Fares Dessouky in three games in their round three match, with Farag controlling things throughout despite some strong attacking efforts from his fellow Egyptian. In the women’s round three matches, World No.1 El Sherbini came from behind to beat fellow Egyptian Rowan Elaraby 3-1. The No.2 seed lost the first game in a tie break after Elaraby played on the attack to edge a close battle. However, the 2023 PSA World Champion winner soon found her usual immaculate form and won the next three games in just 24 minutes to progress to the quarter final. Speaking after the match, El Sherbini reflected on her previous times in Doha: “I have amazing memories on this court, I won my second World Junior Championship here. “I’m really, really happy we’re playing a women’s event here in Qatar.” El Sherbini will face World No.6 Nele Gilis in the last eight. The Belgium No.1 earned her place in the quarter final with a 3-0 win against World No.29 Nada Abbas with the 27-year-old recovering well after being caught in the face by a loose shot.