Qatar's Jiu-Jitsu national team wins three medals in AJP Tour Championship

Cairo: The Qatari Jiu-Jitsu team won three medals (one gold and two silver) in the AJP Tour Egypt National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023, which was held in Cairo over four days with the participation of about 60 countries. Ahmed Aljehani claimed the gold medal in the under-95 kg category, and the silver medal in the under-85 kg category, while Abdelaziz Al Mohannadi managed to win the silver medal in the under-77 kg category. After winning, Aljehani advanced to third place in the world, second in Asia and first in Qatar. The Qatari players' participation in the tournament comes within the preparatory programme for the Asian Games, which will be held in China this year.

QOC celebrates International Women's Day

DOHA - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) celebrated the International Women’s Day at the Longines Arena (Al Shaqab) on Tuesday, 7th of March , in recognition of Qatari women’s leading role in all aspects of society, specially sport.   A discussion panel kicked off the women’s day event with the participation of leading Qatari sporting personalities, including Al Adaam fencing star Lina Al-Buainain, Al Adaam 400m hurdler Mariam Fareed, and Haya Burshaid the founder of Wyld Gym. The panel session targeted several key topics such as success storytelling, breaking boundaries, unlocking human potential, and urging the next generation of girls to pursue their goals. The International Women’s Day event also featured a run over two distances, 2.5 km and 5 km, with a wide participation of girls from different age groups.  This celebration of sport aims to enhance the concept of Sport For All, and inspires women generations to come that sport is a main pillar for growth and human development.  

Rossetti fulfils dream with ISSF World Cup Shotgun gold; Rhode thrilled at winning women’s skeet final

DOHA - Shooting star Gabriele Rossetti was an emotional self as he stood on the podium having won the men’s individual skeet gold at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun – Doha 2023 on Tuesday evening. The 28-year-old Italian, who has probably won almost everything including Olympic gold, was teary-eyed as his country’s national anthem was played. It also happened to be his birthday on Tuesday!Later speaking of his triumph and emotions, he said it was a special victory for him. “I’m so happy. I’m so happy. It’s my first World Cup win,” he revealed. “I have won all, I am Olympic champion, world champion, but never the World Cup. And now I win it all. And I’m very happy,” he added. He then went on to explain why it is so special emotionally as well for him in Doha. “I remember. This day is very important for me because in 2018 I had come here a week after my my dad passed away.”Gabriele’s father Bruno had claimed bronze in the skeet event at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.“So, for me, Qatar is like a second home and now I win my first World Cup here. So thank you,” said the man who has over 16 gold medals in his career so far. The victory at Lusail Shooting Range saw Rossetti surpass his familiar rival, the reigning Olympic champion Vincent Hancock of USA with 39 hits out of 40 in the medal round.Hancock missed two targets and finished with 38 to win the silver medal while Italy’s Luigi Lodde completed the podium after finishing the round with 27 successful target hits. Egypt’s 2022 World Champion Azmy Mehelba finished a close fourth. Earlier, in the women’s skeet final, American Kimberly Rhode overcame compatriot Samantha Simonton in a thrilling shoot-off after both of them shot 38 in the medal round. “Very excited and just kind of overwhelmed by it all. It’s been an amazing competition,” said Rhode. Admiring the competition, she said, “This championship almost definitely is top class. I mean you have the best of the best in the world here and the facilities has been incredible. Every detail has been thought out not just for the athletes, but also for the referees, the coaches. I mean, it’s just amazing. “So at the end of the day, you have a lot of really fantastic scores and, you know, a lot of medals being awarded. And it’s just I think we can safely say that. We’ll be back!” The 43-year-old London 2012 Olympics Gold winner Rhode’s experience probably made the difference as she beat Simonton 6-5 in the shootout.Italian Simona Scocchetti took the bronze with a score of 27. India’s Sekhon equals women’s skeet qualification national record Earlier, Ganemat Sekhon, equalled the women’s skeet qualification national record on Tuesday. The 22-year-old finished ninth after a five-way shoot-off.Ganemat shot 120 out of 125 after two days of qualification and found herself in a shoot-off for the final four qualifying spots with four others. She missed her first shoot-off shot to finish just outside the top eight. Among the other Indians in women’s skeet, Darshna Rathore shot 117 to finish 25th while Maheshwari Chauhan shot 116 to finish in 28th spot. Sanajan Sood, playing for ranking points only shot 114. The best Indian on show in the star-studded field, however, was Sheeraz Sheikh who shot 121 in the men’s but was playing for ranking points only. The final qualification spot went at a very high 124.  

ISSF World Cup Shotgun gets underway

Doha: Three Italian shooters and one each from Egypt, USA and Denmark registered a perfect score at the end of three rounds of the Skeet competition at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun at the Losail Shooting Range on Monday. USA’s Vincent Hancock, Jesper Hansen of Denmark, Azmy Mehelba of Egypt along with Italians Luigi Lodde, Gabriele Rossetti and Elia Sdruccioli did not miss a single clay pigeon out of the 75 targets that came their way in the first three round of the event. Eleven shooters have a score of 74 targets against their name while 14 missed two targets each in the first three rounds. Two of Qatar’s ace shooters Rashid Saleh Al-Athba (70 targets) Masoud Saleh Al-Athba (72 targets) had a mixed bag. The younger of the two brothers, Rashid, a two-time Olympian started with a perfect score but then missed five targets in the next two rounds.  Masoud, an Asian Games gold medalist, carded 72 targets having missed one clay pigeon in the first three rounds each.  114 shooters are taking part in the skeet event for men. After two more rounds of 25 each, the qualification of the final round will be decided. The next two rounds of the qualification and the final rounds will be held on Tuesday. The Doha meet is the second ISSF Shotgun World Cup this year after the one in Rabat in January. More than 450 shooters from 63 countries are vying for medals in Doha across individual and team events. The ISSF World Cup Doha will conclude on March 12. The high-profile tournament has attracted 30 World and Olympic champions, as well as several shooters from Qatar.  

QOC and Hamad Bin Khalifa University sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Doha - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) signed a Memorandum of Understating with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) to boost cooperation between the two organizations in scientific research and strategic studies fields and to launch joint programs for exchanging expertise.   H.E. QOC Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain and President of HBKU Dr. Ahmad Hasnah signed the MoU.  In attendance also were Director of QOC Support Services Sector Mr. Hamad Lahdan Al Mohannadi and HBKU Vice President of Operations Engineer Soud Al-Tamimi.   The MoU covers the exchange of experience and cooperation in the fields of education, organizing the training courses for the QOC’s executive and administrative leaders, conferences, symposiums, and workshops. It also aims to develop mutual research between the two organizations in Olympic sports.  On this occasion, H.E. QOC Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, said "It's our pleasure to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Hamad bin Khalifa University as Education and sports are two pillars of healthy community. The establishment of joint programs with such a well-known education institution will contribute to the development of our social, academic, sports and training programs"  "The Qatar Olympic Committee is always looking forward to invest in human development as a step forward towards comprehensive development through our cooperation with Hamad bin Khalifa University." He added.  For his part, President of HBKU Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, said " Building abilities and preparing future leaders in the field of sports management is one of the necessities to ensure the success and positive impact of future sporting events. Hamad Bin Khalifa University, in light of the country's strategy to make Doha a global sports destination, is keen to design specialized programs to train and develop sports leaders not only in Qatar, but also at the regional and global levels. Today, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Olympic Committee, which is the major sports organization in Qatar, in order to achieve the objectives of the country's strategy in this vital sector."  "This strategy approaches sport in its comprehensiveness, not only through competition, but as a field for cultural and social exchange. It also contributes to strengthening international cooperation and addressing many global challenges through sports competition." He added.    

Stupaczuk & Di Nenno emerge Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2023 champions

DOHA - Martin Di Nenno and Franco Stupaczuk came out guns blazing at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Sunday evening as they overpowered fourth seeds Carlos Daniel Gutierrez and Fernando Belasteguin in straight sets to win the season-opening Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel title in style. The all-Argentina final saw Martin Di Nenno and Franco Stupaczuk –ranked No. 5 and 7 in the world respectively – needing just under two hours to win 6-2, 7-6. The duo received trophies from Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) President Nasser Ghanim Al Khelaifi and President of FIP Luigi Carraro in the presence of QTSBF Secretary-General Tariq Zainal. Ooredoo CEO Sheikh Ali bin Jabor Al Thani presented the winner’s cheque to the pair, worth €94,500. Di Nenno, who won last year’s Ooredoo Qatar Major with partner Paquito Navarro of Spain, was happy to lift the title once again. “I feel so happy because this is my second time winning the title here in Doha. I feel like the conditions in Doha suits me well,” the jubilant 25-year-old Di Nenno said. For his partner Stupaczuk, the 2023 Ooredoo Qatar Major title is his third Premier Padel title. “I’m really happy to win the Ooredoo Qatar Major here in Doha. I would like to specially thank the wonderful crowd here at the stadium. “We felt the support of the fans. Thank you very much for being here to support us,” ‘Stupa’ said just before the presentation ceremony. Despite failing to lift the title, World No. 3 Belasteguin was happy to have made the final in Doha. “So happy with our performances in the final because we were able to fight until the last moment,” Belasteguin said soon after the final. “I’m also grateful to be here despite the loss. It’s not easy to defeat Di Nenno and Stupackzuk. They are two amazing players. I’m really happy to have played in the final here in Doha in front of a wonderful crowd at Qatar Major,” Gutierrez said. While Di Nenno and Stupaczuk claimed the opening set with relative ease, they were tested in the second set by their opponents, who rallied to take it full distance. Di Nenno and Stupaczuk adjusted to the rivals’ plan of slowing down the pace and also overcame their lobs and all-round court craft to delight the Sunday crowd especially from Argentina and Spain besides the many Qataris at the stadium.