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19 Sep - 2026

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19 Sep - 2026

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Sheikh Joaan crowns Al Rayyan winners of HH the Amir Volleyball Cup

World Judo Championships Doha 2023 commence today

Doha: The stage is set for the opening day’s action today at the World Judo Championships Doha 2023 where the experienced judokas will be looking to pick up points in their build-up to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Around 670 athletes from nearly 100 countries will be aiming for glory knowing the championships in Doha will also count towards qualification for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris with each judoka in a position to earn up to 2,000 points - the highest possible - for the Olympic ranking. With 15 world titles up for grabs, including 7 individual categories for men and women, and a team event on the final day, the championships promises to be a thrilling spectacle until the last day on May 14. According to Vlad Marinescu, the Director General of the International Judo Federation (IJF), the judokas are ready for what would be a ‘thrilling world championships’. “This is a very interesting event. We have the world number oness, twos and threes and so on. We have the Olympic champions trying to take the world titles back. We have young athletes trying to win their first world titles There are people trying to make a name for themselves because the Olympic Games are coming next year. Everyone is properly focused at these world championships,” Marinescu said at a pre-event press conference. “The development of growth within the judo family relies on a bigger funnel; this is imperative. All the work that we have undertaken has been to grow our base,” he said. “We are in this beautiful city Doha to organise these world championships. It’s a pleasure to see such a large number of media folks here. Your voice is our voice. We are here to support you so that you can report on the championships with accuracy and ease. It has been an honour to work with Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani and his team,” he said. “We are grateful to QOC president HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani for all the support given to us in our preparations for this championships. I am positive that with great synergy between IJF, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the fans, we will break all records. There are 50 million judo fans around the world, I am positive we will have a great time here,” he added. Sheikh Hamad, Chairman of Media and Broadcasting Committee, said: “Qatar is no stranger to hosting world-class sports events. Hopefully we will have the best ever judo championships here in Doha. The LOC has made tremendous efforts to set up everything to cater to world and local media. We will provide the best environment for all those associated with the championships. I want to thank IJF for their help. They have been very supportive right throughout our preparations phase.” Stars to watch in each weight class Men -60kg Takato Naohisa (Japan), Yang Yung Wei (Chinese Taipei) -66kg Abe Hifumi (Japan), Maruyama Joshiro (Japan) -73kg Hashimoto Soichi (Japan), Lasha Shavdatuashvili (Georgia) -81kg Matthias Casse (Belgium), Tato Grigalashvili (Georgia) -90 kg Lasha Bekauri (Georgia), Davlat Bobonov (Uzbekistan) -100 kg Ilia Sulamanidze (Georgia), Michael Korrel (Netherlands) +100kg Teddy Riner (France), Saro Tatsuru (Japan) Women -48kg Tsunoda Natsumi (Japan), Shirine Boukli (France) -52 kg Abe Uta (Japan), Amandine Buchard (France), Distria Krasniqi (Kosovo) -57kg Rafaela Silva (Brazil), Nora Gjakova (Kosovo) -63kg Clarisse Agbegnenou (France), Horikawa Megumi (Japan) -70kg Barbara Matic (Croatia), Niizoe Saki (Japan) -78kg Alice Bellandi (Italy), Audrey Tcheumeo (France) +78kg Romane Dicko (France), Akira Sone (Japan) Schedule. Final Blocks start at 6:00pmSunday 7 May: women’s -48kg; men’s -60kg Monday 8 May: women’s -52kg; men’s -66kg Tuesday 9 May: women’s -57kg; men’s -73kg Wednesday 10 May: women’s -63kg; men’s -81kg Thursday 11 May: women’s -70kg; men’s -90kg Friday 12 May: women’s -78kg, men’s -100kg Saturday 13 May: women’s +78kg, men’s +100kg Sunday 14 May: mixed teams event

QOC signs MoU with Ministry of Public Health

DOHA – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has signed on Thursday a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health , with purpose of bettering society’s physical activity and turning people’s lifestyle to be more healthier. H.E the QOC Secretary General, Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain signed this MoU on behalf of the QOC , H.E Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri , Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs inked on behalf of the Ministry. This MoU states that both organizations will join effort together to enhance Health and sport , improve physical activity exercise and taking public health to better levels. In a post- signing statement, H.E the QOC Secretary General, Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said Human development is one of most significant pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 , this is why the QOC spares no effort to keep increasing the society physical activity rate for all. “ To make this part of our national vision true, the QOC organizes several community programs that targeting all age groups with different abilities” confirmed HE Secretary General. “ We are truly grateful to sign this MoU with Ministry of Public Health to ensure that promoting physical activity is a key for a better public health, which is also an integral part of the QOC 2023-2030 strategy”. Said H.E Secretary General. “ The QOC is always looking forward to invest and develop human element , that with effort of achieving all-out development and making cognitive legacy sustainable”. Added H.E Secretary General. Going on the same concept , H.E Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri , Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs said this MoU will increase cooperation between the two organizations in some projects that could support community and create a better lifestyle for all . “ Ministry of Public Health is putting all effort to enhance partnership with all sectors nationwide , based on its strategy ( Health in all policies)” said H.E Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri. H.E Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri has pointed out to several partnerships the Ministry has signed in this respect, among them ( Sports For Health partnership ) , between Ministry of Public Health, WHO, FIFA and Supreme Committee For Delivery & Legacy. This distinctive partnership with the QOC is an outcome of successful effort on row to improve the public health, to create a sustainable legacy and make society individuals more healthier in the future.” Added H.E Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri.

Richardson, Kerley power to victories at Seashore Group Doha Meeting

Doha: Two of the most eagerly-anticipated events on the programme – the women’s 100m and men’s 3000m - set the track alight at the Seashore Group Doha Meeting on Friday 5 May, the opening meeting of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League series. The traditional curtain raiser to the outdoor season, the Doha Meeting continues to grow its reputation on the global athletics circuit and lived up to high expectations with seven world leading performances, three meeting records, four national records and a vocal sell-out crowd. The event was attended by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, the World Athletics Vice President Prince Nawaf bin Mohamed Al Saud, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa President Mustapha Berraf, the Asian Athletics Federation President H.E. Dahlan Jamaan Al Hamad, the QOC Second Vice President H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, the QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain and the Qatar Athletics Federation President Mohamed Essa Al Fadala. The women’s 100m started with an emotional moment of reflection following the death of former world champion Tori Bowie earlier this week. It ended with three women going sub-11 seconds, a fitting tribute to the sprints star who was in everyone’s thoughts. Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) - who had shown early-season promise with a wind-aided 10.57 in April - was the emphatic winner in a meeting record and world leading 10.76 (+0.9), only just outside her lifetime best of 10.72. “I'm so blessed and thankful, I feel at peace,” said the former NCAA champion who accelerated over the final 30m to take the win. “All I do is the best I can do and I'm excited to do it.” Reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson (JAM) was second in 10.85, with former world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) in third (10.98). Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, the Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase silver medallist, clocked 7:26.18 for a meeting record and world leading time in the men’s 3000m. The world indoor 3000m record holder had sat towards the back of the field early on alongside Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), the Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase champion. At that point, only Berihu Aregawi (ETH) had gone with the pace. As El Bakkali started to move slowly through the field, Aregawi, alongside Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega (ETH), had created a slight gap at the front. Aregawi continued to push the pace, but with three laps to go, Girma was on his shoulder. Girma eventually took the lead at the bell and pulled away for the win. Barega finished second in a lifetime best of 7:27.16, with Aregawi in third (7.27.61). Andreas Almgren (SWE) and Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui (TUN) ran national records of 7:37.05 and 7:37.56 for seventh and eighth respectively. There were also world leading performances in the women’s pole vault, men’s triple jump, women’s 3000m steeplechase, men’s javelin and women’s 1500m, while the men’s discus produced a meeting record. Olympic and world pole vault champion Katie Moon (USA) continued her rich run of form with victory in Doha, clearing a best height of 4.81m. Behind her, Slovenian national record holder Tina Šutej – the world indoor and European outdoor bronze medallist – equalled her lifetime best and national record with 4.76m, while world silver medallist Sandi Morris (USA), the US (outdoor) record holder, cleared 4.71m for third. “I feel great, I'm so happy with how it went,” said Moon. “It's a classic first Diamond League meeting and I'm figuring it out and working my way through poles...but I'm really happy that I came in first place. The crowd here is always unbelievable.” A changeable breeze led to a complex mix of wind-aided and legal performances in the men’s triple jump. Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo, the Olympic and world triple jump champion, took the win with a best effort of 17.91m (+2.1), but the world lead went to Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) who saved his best until last with 17.81m (+1.5) in the final round, the furthest legal jump of the night and his second-best ever. “I'm pretty happy and I'm excited for the upcoming World Championships,” he said. “The triple jump is very exciting right now and I'm glad to be performing well, the top three jumpers today were really crazy, so now I need to be on top of my game.” Andy Díaz Hernández (CUB) was third with 17.80m (+2.6). In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Winfred Mutile Yavi (BRN) took the win with a world leading 9:04.38. She moved away at the bell alongside Sembo Almayew (ETH), the pair matching each other stride for stride. Yavi confidently held the kerb and drove out of the last water jump to move clear. Almayew was second in a personal best time of 9:05.83, with Faith Cherotich (KEN) in third (9:06.43). Maruša Mišmaš Zrimšek (SLO) ran a national record of 9:13.61 for fifth. While the men’s javelin didn’t quite live up to the incredible competition of 12 months ago, the crowd were delighted to see the return of Olympic javelin champion and world silver medallist Neeraj Chopra (IND) whose opening throw of 88.67m was good enough to take victory in a new world lead. Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlecjh (CZE) was second with 88.63m, with last year’s winner Anderson Peters (GRN), the reigning world champion, in third (85.88m). “It was a very hard win, but I’m happy, it's a really good start for me,” said Indian national record holder Chopra. “Today was challenging for all athletes, but I'm still satisfied with my result. It was a good start and it's a great atmosphere. Lot of people came to support me and they are really happy...sometimes it's really hard because we have a big country and people hope for me...I’m lucky people have faith in me. This Doha meeting is great, the first one every year.” The women’s 1500m was the final event of the evening and predictably resulted in a world lead for two-time Olympic and world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon (KEN), who controlled the race off a relatively slow pace in the early stages. “I am very pleased with my start of the season, it was an exciting race, but a little bit windy, so I decided to not push too much and just focus on winning the race,” said Kipyegon. “I have been training well and I really like racing in Doha, the crowd and fans are really amazing...I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. My big goal is to win the World Championships and to break the world record this summer.” At the bell, Australia’s Jessica Hull and Deribi Welteji (ETH) moved up to Kipyegon’s shoulder, and although Welteji briefly threatened, Kipyegon held on confidently to take the win in 3:58.57 - clocking a 58.77 last lap en route - ahead of Welteji (3:59.34) and third-place Freweyni Hailu (4:00.29). In the men’s discus – which produced a new meeting record - world discus champion Kristjan Čeh (SLO) delivered an impressive 70.89m in round one for the victory. Olympic discus champion Daniel Ståhl (SWE) was second with 67.14m, and Sam Mattis (USA) third (64.69m). Elsewhere, Marileidy Paulino (DOM) won the women’s 400m (50.51); JuVaughan Harrison (USA) was the unexpected winner of the men’s high jump with 2.32m; Rai Benjamin (USA) won the men’s 400mH in 47.78 from a fast-finishing CJ Allen (USA) in a 47.93 PB; Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) won the women’s 100mH in 12.48 (+1.1); the men’s 800m was won in a tactically perfect performance by Algeria’s Slimane Moula (1:46.06); and Fred Kerley (USA) powered through in the last 50m to win the men’s 200m in 19.92 (+0.3) from countryman Kenny Bednarek (20.11).

President Vizer and Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani Join in Friendship, Unity and Peace

Stage set for Doha Diamond League

Doha: Reigning world 100m champion Fred Kerley is ready to light up the track at the Doha’s Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, which will see a stellar field of Olympic and world champions competing in Diamond League season opener today. The gifted sprinter, who is aiming for a double at next year’s Paris Olympics, has already posted two impressive wins in two different beats at the Maurie Plant Meet (200m) and Sydney Track Classic (400m) Down Under, will shift his gears to the shorter distance in his fourth visit to Doha. Kerley will be up against his familiar rival - Olympic 200m champion Andre de Grasse of Canada as well as compatriots Olympic and world 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek and the world 400m champion Michael Norman, under lights at the iconic venue, looking to get the Diamond League season off to flying start - just two days before his 28th birthday. “Everything is good. The most important thing for me is just staying healthy and me staying healthy means there is no telling what I can do,” Kerley, who is making his first major 100m appearance of the season, said during a pre-event press conference, yesterday. “(The one who can pose) the greatest competition for me is myself. I’m the only one who can stop of do better than myself,” Kerley, who came second behind to eventual world champion Noah Lyles, with six-time Olympic medallist De Grasse finishing fourth in the 200m at last year’s Doha Diamond League meeting, said. Kerley, one of the few athletes to have won a Diamond League title in two events, those being the 400m in 2018 and the 100m in 2021, has a personal best time in the 100m of 9.76 seconds which makes him the sixth fastest man in history. “My work ethic, I’m dedicated in my craft. Like you, I got to get up every day, compete competitively in training, get pushed every day by my coach. So I’ve got to keep on going and the sky’s the limit,” Kerley, who has eight Diamond League victories under his name across three different disciplines – 100m, 200m and 400m, said yesterday. Meanwhile, in the women’s 100m, Britain’s former world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith will compete against the reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, the first athlete in history to win a full set of World Championships medals across three sprint disciplines (100m, 200m, and 400m). Former NCAA champion Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) who ran a wind-assisted 10.57 in Florida in early April, is expected to be their biggest challenge. “It’s a joy to be back here in Doha. I love racing in Doha. Obviously, it’s where I’m where I won my world title, so I’m really happy to be here and I’m really excited for the race,” Asher-Smith, who set up the British 100m record with a 10.83 mark at the World Athletics Championships in Doha 2019, said. “I’m very much a competitor, so I love challenging races. Almost every Diamond League for the past, like 3 or 4 seasons, has been super fast with loads of depth and depth in each race. So I’m very much used to it. It’s to be expected and especially to be expected in Doha. They always bring an amazing field,” Asher-Smith said. Asher-Smith, who won world bronze in the 200m in Eugene last year, also holds the British 200m record (21.88). She also won the Wanda Diamond League 100m crown in 2019. “I came off a really strong indoor season. Training’s been going well. I’m excited to open up over 100m tomorrow and yeah, I’m sure it’s going to be great,” the 27-year-old said. Kenya’s two-time Olympic and world champion Faith Kipyegon headlines the women’s 1500m. Moroccan Olympic and world champion Soufiane El Bakkali will lead an incredible field in the men’s 3000m which will also include Ethiopia’s Olympic and world 3000m SC silver medallist Lamecha Girma, Olympic 10,000m champion and world indoor 3000m champion Selemon Barega (ETH), former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) as well as Qatar’s Adam Ali Musab. Qatari middle distance runners Musaeb Abdul-rahman Balla and Abdulrahman Saeed (800m) are also among 180 athletes who will be seen in action today.

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