Doha International Showjumping Championship gets underway

Doha: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured their places at the 2024 Paris Olympics Showjumping competition after finishing 1-2 at the at Nations Cup Olympic Qualifier (1.60 m), which was part of the Doha International Showjumping Championship being held at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab on Monday. They become the eighth and ninth teams to be sure of an Olympic spot, alongside hosts France, Sweden, Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany and Belgium. Saudi Arabia finished first in the qualifier, with their team of Abdulrahman Alrajhi (Babalou HD), Khaled Almobty (Equine America Spacecake), Ramzy al-Duhami (Untouchable) and Abdullah Alsharbatly (Alamo) accumulating time totals of 235.31 in round 1 with nine penalties and 237.81 in round 2 with six penalties. Saudi had an exciting team that has been strengthened by the addition of promising, high-profile horses in recent months. Saudi have a strong history in equestrian jumping having won team bronze at London 2012. “We were not lucky in the first round but we changed the course in the next. I am happy to have this opportunity again with an excellent and talented team, as we have riders at the highest level,” said al-Duhami, the 2012 Olympic medallist. The UAE came second with a total of 241.07 (eight penalties) and 236.38 (17 penalties). Their team featured Abdullah Mohamed Al Marri, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Mohamed Ghanem Al Hajri. “It’s a great feeling to be in Olympics. We are very happy with this achievement and now will target a good performance in Paris,” UAE’s Al Hajri said. Qatar had a disappointing outing after being eliminated in the second round. The hosts, which had Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (Sirocco), Saeed Nasser Al Qadi (Incredible W), Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri (Concordess Nrw) and Bassem Mohamed (Caletto Cabana) in their line up, had a total of 242.71 (10 faults) in the first round. African teams Egypt and Morocco – who both appeared at Tokyo 2020 –finished third and fourth respectively. Earlier in the morning, the Doha International Showjumping Championship began with 1.45m class with Abdulrahman Alrajhi astride Bravour winning the event in a time of 58.58 seconds. UAE’s Moufi Owaida al-Karbi, on Baloucenta, was second with a time of 58.60 sec while Morocco’s Sami Cherkaoui, riding Chacsara, clocked 59.36 sec to claim third position. Meanwhile, President of the Seventh Regional Group in the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Sami al-Dahami praised facilities at Al Shaqab. “Al Shaqab is one of the best venues in the world and this makes me proud that we have such equestrian facilities in our region,” he said.  

Draw held for 2023 Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel

Doha- The world’s top team from Spain Alejandro Galan and Juan Lebron will lead a star cast at this week’s Ooredoo Qatar Major 2023, the first leg of the eight-stop series that is winning over huge audiences around the globe. According to Tariq Zainal, secretary-general of Qatar Tennis, Squash, Badminton and Padel Federation (QTSBPF), the Doha leg has welcomed the world’s best players for the season opener. The tournament will be the inaugural event of the 2023 season as padel continues to go global with Premier Padel’s premium, professional and unmatchable events across South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, gracing venues including the world-famous Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex, Stade Roland Garros and Foro Italico amongst many others. “We are ready to host the tournament. We have been waiting for the start of the padel season,” Zainal said yesterday. “This six-day event comes straight after we hosted two premier tennis tournaments – the Qatar TotalEnergies Open (Feb 13 to 18) and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (Feb 20 to 25),” Zainal added. The Ooredoo Qatar Major 2023 will also be held at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex, the home venue of ATP and WTA Tour events since 1993 when the first edition of the ATP Qatar Open was held. “All the teams are here and we are ready to host this tournament. This is a big challenge since we were busy with two big tennis tournaments over the last two weeks. You know this is the first time that we are hosting a pedal tournament after Qatar TotalEnergies Open and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open events. We have built the courts outside the centre court and action is on right now. We will have the centre court also ready before the opening day’s action on Tuesday,” Zainal said confidently. “It is a challenge for us, but we will have everything done on time,” he added. “We have given wildcards to four Qatari teams as we feel it is necessary to give our players the exposure they need at this level. This should be an exciting week for them,” he said. Pablo Lima, a giant of the sport from Brazil, said yesterday: “I am looking forward to playing in Doha week. I hope to go step-by-step as there is a tough field here. I enjoyed my visit last year also. Doha is a fabulous place to visit.” The Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel will be broadcast live around the world in more than 180 territories. Premier Padel is the official global padel tour, governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and backed by the Professional Padel Association (PPA) and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). The world class professional facilities, prize money and player care at tournament will be in line with other ‘Major’ events. Premier Padel is the only tour to offer official ranking points to players and ‘Major’ tournaments will earn the winners 2,000 points. Nasser al-Khelaifi, Chairman of Premier Padel, said: “We are delighted to announce our tournaments for 2023, returning to the cities and places which welcomed Premier Padel so warmly last year. As a tour fully focused on the athletes, players will always remain at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to another spectacular Premier Padel season.”  

Qatar Winter Sports Committee holds General Assembly Meeting

DOHA -  The  General Assembly Meeting of the Qatar’s  Winter Sports Committee (QWSC) for the sport season 2022-2023 was held at the Qatar Olympic Committee Headquarters. The meeting was chaired  by Mr. Rashid Magid Al Suleiti,  the QWSC president and attended by Mr. Hassan Hissam Al-Hebabi (Secretary General), QWSC board members ,  General Assembly members and the QOC’s Director of Sport Affairs Department, Mr. Essa Mohammed Fadala. The last year’s meeting agenda for sport season 2021-2022 ,  2022 edited-financial records and 2022 sport activities reports have been approved during the meeting . In addition, the QWSC objectives of 2023,  its future projects and 2023 budget have been discussed.  

Qatar Olympic Committee unveils details of its third Beach Games

DOHA – The  Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) held a press conference Monday to unveil  all organizational and technical measures that been taken ahead of its third edition of 2023 Beach Games, which will be held from 10th  to 17th of  March at Cultural Village Katara. The 2023 Beach Games Director, Mr. Rashid Adiba gave a welcoming speech, reviewing the objectives of the Games, participating teams , organizational and administrative measures  that being taken ahead of these games. On Monday’s press conference which is  attended by  members of the organizing committee and media representatives , Mr. Rahid said: " By hosting this community event, the QOC aims at taking the sport community to new grounds and building up standards of physical and social health for local society individuals. “ The Organizing Committee is hopefully that almost 1000 athletes from men and women will be participating in this community’s most loving beach games , including beach football, beach volleyball, 3x3 beach basketball, boxing , karate, swimming go and duathlon” confirmed Rashid. “ Based on the rising turnout and distinctive response from public , lovers and amateurs to the games over the last two years, 2021 and 2022, we have increased the number of the games and participants , with purpose of promoting  the games culture and encouraging everyone to preserve environment. Organizing Committee has allocated a total QR 500.000 in prize money for top winners. The committee is inviting Games lovers to register right now thru the link posted on the QOC’s social medial accounts.” added Rashid. On the same context, 2023 Beach Games Deputy Director, Mr. Abdulaziz Ghanim said the  tournament is  one of  the community events and activities  organized by  the QOC  annually  to  take all individuals  of  the society to greater  standards of  health and to improve their physical fitness. Also Mr. Abdulaziz has confirmed that applying sustainability system into the beach games will enhance all event management operations in sequence, starting from concept, planning, implementation and auditing stages and post- events activities. It also reduces environment impact, boosts economic growth, and build up real sustainable communities. Most notably, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has been awarded  with Event Sustainable Management Certification (ISO20121:2012 ESMS) in June 2022, that as an outcome of its constant effort of keeping annual sport events and related- activities more sustainable.  

Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel to begin today

Doha: Another week of exciting padel action lies ahead at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex as most of the world's best players, led by Spain's world No. 1 duo of Alejandro Galan and Juan Lebron, begin competition at the Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel, the 2023 Premier Padel Majors season-opening event, which begins today. Ahead of the week-long tournament, the venue underwent a remarkable makeover, with new courts built outside the center court in addition to the main center court getting a major facelift. The €525,000 prize money tournament features 56 pairs of players, including the world's top 20. Aside from Galan and Lebron, all of the top-eight seeds have been given first round byes, and the list includes Franco Stupaczuk (ARG)/Martin Di Nenno (ARG), Francisco Navarro (ESP)/Juan Tello (ARG), Fernando Belasteguin (ARG)/Carlos Daniel Gutierrez (ARG), Arturo Coello (ESP)/Agustin Tapia (ARG), Javier Garrido (ESP)/Federico Chingotto (ARG), Jeronimo Gonzalez (ESP)/Alejandro Ruiz Granados (ESP), and Pablo Lima (BRA)/Jorge Nieto Ruiz (ESP). Ali Al Saygh and Rayyan Al Jufairi will represent Qatar, as will Mohammed Abdulla and Khalid Saadon Al Kuwari, Jabor Al Mutawa and Mohammed Al Khanji, and Abdulla Alhijji and Mohammed Saadon Al Kuwari, who were given wildcards.  

Doha International Show Jumping Tournament to Begin Monday

Doha- (QNA) - The Doha International Show Jumping Championship tournament, qualifier for the Olympics - Paris 2024, will begin Monday. Organized by Qatar Equestrian Federation & Modern Pentathlon, the two-day event will be held in Longines Outdoor Arena at Al Shaqab (member of Qatar Foundation). Qatar's participating team is composed of equestrians Rashid Towaim Al Marri, Basim Hassan Mohammed, Hamad Al Atiyyah, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi and Saeed Nasser Al Qadi. The team prepared for the Tournament during an exercise camp in Europe in addition to their participation in HH the Amir's Sword Festival and the Commercial Bank International Equestrian Championship. The horse inspection and the starting order draw were conducted on Sunday. The tournament is classified "CSIO-4" and besides the Qatari team, it will see participants from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, UAE, Egypt and Syria.