Qatar's Mutaz Barshim wins Asia's Best Male Athlete for Second Time

BANGKOK,  Thailand , (QNA) - Qatars Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim won the '2023 Best Asian Male Athlete' at the 50th anniversary of the Asian Athletics Association held in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday. During the ceremony, the Asian Athletics Federation announced the awards for the best athletes in the continent for the past season in all categories, as the awards were distributed among athletes in India, Thailand, China, and Japan. The three-time Qatari Olympic high jump medalist and the first athlete to achieve that title in the history of athletics won the title of the Best Asian Male Athlete for the second time in a row. Essa Barshim received the award on behalf of Mutaz, who contented himself with a recorded video message, in which he apologized for not attending due to his association with a training camp program, thanking the Asian Athletics Federation for its wonderful gesture of celebrating its 50th anniversary. For his part, HE President of the Asian Athletics Association Dahlan Al Hamad stressed that the success of the Asian continent is due to the keenness to apply the best standards of development and success, adhere to them, and work sincerely for the supremacy of the continent, and to present new champions to it. In his speech before the celebration, Al Hamad said that Asia is on the verge of a new phase of success after the construction pillars were completed in the past years, thanking Thailand for hosting the celebration, and before that, its great cooperation with the federation through Thomasat University, which includes a special rehabilitation and training center, and the federation has benefited greatly from it in recent years. Al Hamad stressed that the success is also due to the great cooperation of all the Asian federations, and their keenness to achieve the highest standards of development. For his part, Secretary-General of Qatar Athletics Federation Mohammed Issa Al Fadala congratulated HE the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani on the Qatari Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barshim winning the Best Asian Male Athlete for the last season. Al Fadala said that Mutaz winning the Best Asian Male Athlete represents an additional motivation for the Qatar Athletics Federation to work hard to present champions who honor athletics shortly, stressing at the same time that they are keen to ensure that the Qatari athletics have a continuous presence on the podiums, considering Muatazs victory as an additional incentive for him to continue the successes, and represents motivation for the Qatari athletes to work hard to reach the best levels.

QVA all set to host FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup

Doha, (QNA) - Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) is preparing to host  FIVB volleyball Challenger Cup which are scheduled to be held in Doha during July 26-30, at Aspire Zone. Within the preparations to organize the tournament, a delegation from FIVB toured Aspire Zones sports facilities, including press conference halls, and listened to a detailed explanation from QVA officials about all facilitations and services QVA would provide to participating delegations. FIVB expressed its full satisfaction of the available facilitations that range from facilities to hotels devoted to the tournament in compliance with all conditions and regulations pursued in hosting global tournaments, expressing its full confidence in Doha's capability to organize one of the best and successful global tournaments with an elite of qualified human cadres which gave Doha an expertise in organizing major sporting events.

Qatar's Al Athba wins Fencing gold medal at Arab Games

Algiers, (QNA) - Team Qatar participating in the Arab Games 2023 in Algeria added Sunday one gold and three bronzes to raise their medals tally to 13. Team Qatar's Ali Al Athba won the gold medal in the fluorescent competition, while Abdullah Khalifa won the bronze medal in the same competition. Rakan Al Harith won the bronze medal in the pommel horse competitions and Salma Hamed won the bronze medal in the parallel event in gymnastics competition too. Other Team Qatar athletes who had won medals in the ongoing event in Algeria include Bassem Hemeida who won the gold medal in the 400m hurdles after clocking a time of 49.14 seconds, and his teammate Ahmed Al Seifi who claimed the silver medal of the hammer throw with a 69.61 meters throw. Also Team Qatar's Ashraf Hussein won the gold medal in the 400-meter race; Saif Abdel Salam won the gold medal in the pole vault competition; and Omar Dawood won the bronze medal in the 110-meter hurdles race. Team Qatar's Dana Ali also won bronze medal in the weight of 63 kg in the boxing competitions. Around 3,500 athletes from 22 countries are participating in the Pan Arab Games, competing in 20 sports disciplines.

National Badminton teams begin training Camp in Malaysia

KUALA  LUMPUR  (QNA) - The national badminton teams have started a preparatory external camp in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The camp age-group categories are Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 for both boys and girls, and will last until July 23. The boys' Under 15 team includes Ahmed Al Maliki, Saad Al Maliki and Hamad Al Maliki. Khalifa Al Maliki participates in the boys' Under 17 team. The girls' Under 15 team includes Noura Al Hajri and Noor Abel, while Asma Abel participates in the girls' Under 11 team, and Sondos Abel participates in the Under 13 team. The badminton teams are accompanied by coaches Mohammed Shawwal and Ahmed Saeed Lutfi, in addition to the administrator Amna Abdelrahman. Head of the national teams committee of the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation Khalid Al Khulaifi said in a statement that the external camps are within the federation's agenda and seek to maintain the technical and physical level of male and female players as well as prepare well for the new sports season. Al Khulaifi noted that the Malaysia camp is within the framework of preparing for the Arab Badminton Championship for U 17 and U 15 teams in August, by improving the level of performance and readiness of the players, stressing that the federation spares no effort in supporting male and female players as a priority in the strategy to develop Qatari teams in various sports.

Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari re-elected as OCA Vice President for West Asia

Bangkok - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Second Vice President, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, has been re-elected as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Vice President for West Asia during the 42nd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.  HE Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari will now serve the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Asia for a further four-year term.  The meeting has seen Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah elected as the OCA President, Mr. Timothy Fok as the OCA Vice President for East Asia, Mr. Dato Seri Chaiyapak Siriwat, as the OCA Vice President for South East Asia, Mr Timur Kulibayev as the  OCA Vice President for Central Asia and Lt. Genl. Syed Arif Hasan as the OCA Vice President for South Asia. Following his re-election, HE Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari stated:  “I am deeply humbled to have been re-elected as the OCA Vice President for West Asia. It is truly an honour to have the opportunity to continue serving the OCA President, the OCA and the Asian NOCs for another four years in this esteemed position.  I would like to personally thank H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for his trust and backing during my campaign. The QOC has always played an active role within the OCA and is fully invested in developing its mission to serve the Asian Olympic Family to the highest standards. “I have full confidence that Asia, as a united and strong continent, is poised to remain at the forefront of the Olympic Movement for years to come. Together, we exemplify the values of peace and solidarity, setting a remarkable example for the world. I am excited to contribute towards our shared vision of advancing sport and the Olympic Movement across all of Asia.”   

Bassem Hemeida wins 400m hurdles gold medal at Arab Games

Algiers: Team Qatar participating in the Pan Arab Sports Games 2023 in Algeria raised their medals tally to eight medals including four golds, two silvers and two bronzes.Team Qatar's Bassem Hemeida, won the gold medal in the 400m hurdles after clocking a time of 49.14 seconds, and his teammate Ahmed Al Seifi, claimed the silver medal of the hammer throw with a 69.61 meters throw.Around 3,500 athletes from 22 countries are participating in the Pan Arab Games, competing in 20 sports disciplines.