Defending champion Bautista Agut claims hard-fought victory against Fucsovics

Doha- Defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut began his title defense with a hard-fought 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4 win against world No. 78 Marton Fucsovics in just over three hours on center court on Tuesday. Bautista Agut, who also won in 2019, will be up against Christopher O'Connell, who defeated Fernando Verdasco on Monday, in the second round. In the other matches, Emil Ruusuvuori, ranked No. 51, scripted a straight-sets 7-5, 6-4 upset against sixth-seed Daniel Evans, the world No. 29, to set up a pre-quarterfinal clash against Jiri Lehecka, who recorded a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Damir Dzumhur. Meanwhile, world No. 34 and the tournament's eighth-seeded player, Botic van de Zandschulp, got into the second round on the back of a straight-sets 6-2, 7-5 defeat of Ilya Ivashka in the first match of the day. Van de Zandschulp, who reached the quarterfinals of the 2021 US Open, will be up next against Alexandre Muller, who advanced into the second round after defeating Nikoloz Basilashvili (7-6(3), 6-8(7), 6-4. While Van de Zandschulp had an easy match, Tallon Griekspoor had to sweat it out for two hours and 17 minutes before defeating Quentin Halys in a decider, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5). Griekspoor has his work cut out for him as he faces the challenge of the tournament's top seed, world No. 5 Andrey Rublev, in the Round of 16. Also, Soonwoo Kwon knocked out Abedallah Shelbayh of Jordan (6-3, 3-6, 6-4), the only Arab player in the main rounds, to set up a second-round clash against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Team Qatar reach AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup final

Doha: Team Qatar duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan qualified for the final match of the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup (Western Zone) for men and women, which started yesterday at the beach courts at Al Gharafa Sports Club and qualifies for the 2023 AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup. The qualification came after Qatar's team victory over "Palestine A", 2-0 and "Palestine B", with the same result in the two matches that were held today. The Qatari team will play in the final on Thursday against Oman that reached the final after defeating Saudi Arabia in two matches. The women's competition will start today in which Qatar participate with two teams.

Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2023 gets underway

Doha: Three-time Grand Slam winner and twice champion in Doha Andy Murray kicked off his return to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a come-from-behind 2-1 (4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) defeat of world No. 71 Lorenzo Sonego on Center Court on Monday. Murray, the 2008 and 2009 champion, showed some of the qualities that have made him one of the superstars to watch in global tennis as he battled against his resilient opponent in front of appreciative fans in Doha. Murray will next face fourth-seed Alexander Zverev, who got a first round bye, in the next round. In the other matches, Jason Kubler, the 2023 Australian Open doubles winner, advanced into the second round after Aslan Karatsev, ranked 101, retired with Kubler leading 7-6 (4), 1-0, in the first match of the tournament. The world No. 74 Kubler, will next be up against second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. Also joining Kubler in the next round is his compatriot Christopher O'Connell, who accounted for the 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 defeat of former world No. 7 and 2009 Australia Open semifinalist Fernando Verdasco. Meanwhile, Liam Broady claimed a 2-1 (6-0, 4-6, 7-6(2)) win over Oleksii Krutykh in what was the battle of two qualifiers that lasted almost two and a half hours. The match was the first encounter between the pair. Also, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the seventh seed, made quick work of his match against Constant Lestienne, winning in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) in what was the fastest completed match of the day.  

Asian Games Doha 2030, New Event to Dazzle Athletes and Fans

DOHA  - According to Amiri Decision No. (13) of 2023, establishing and organizing Committee for the 21st Asian Games - Doha 2030, Qatar is preparing to organize an exceptional edition in 2030, confirming its full leadership in the world of sports at the level of all games. The State of Qatar seeks to draw a new road map for sports creativity by organizing the second edition in its history, the 21st in the history of Asian Games, after the distinctive edition organized by Qatar in 2006. Qatar achieved a lot of success by presenting distinguished champions in various sports, who won medals and wrote their country's name in the heroes' records. The State of Qatar relies heavily on its great capabilities, and the accumulation of experiences in organizing various sporting events, which exceeded 500 championships and event at all levels, led by the largest and most prominent event in the world, which is the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which was held last November and December. Qatar also has a great legacy left by the various championships that it organized in all sports at the continental, global and regional levels, which includes distinguished gyms and various installations, and training fields conform to international standards and specifications, the residence headquarters and transportation, and the ease of access to sports facilities, which enhances its capabilities to succeed in the Asian Games Doha 2030. Qatar is betting on the integrated and distinguished infrastructure that the country has established in recent years and dazzled the world with an exceptional edition of the World Cup, as FIFA World Cup facilities will host the 2022 football competitions of the Asian Games.  The Asian Games includes 40 sports: Athletics, Basketball, Football, Swimming, Weightlifting, Cycling, Boxing, Shooting, Wrestling, Volleyball, Hockey, Table Tennis, Tennis, Badminton, Windsurfing, Gymnastics, Fencing, Archery, Bowling, Golf, Handball, Rowing, Equestrian, Judo, Taekwondo, Canoe, Kabaddi, Sepak takraw, Softball, Wushu, Baseball, Karate, Soft Tennis, Modern Pentathlon, Billiards, Rugby, Bodybuilding, Chess, Squash and Triathlon. Qatar added chess and triathlon in the 2006 edition. More than ten thousand male and female athletes will compete in the Asian Games, searching for colored medals in all sports specially athletics, swimming, archery, cycling and gymnastics the most medal-intensive sport. Immediately after winning the bid to host the event, Qatar prepared to make a new mark in the world of sports, this time on the continental level of Asia which constitutes the largest continent in terms of human resources. Qatar renewed commitment to fulfilling the promises it made to the Olympic Council of Asia, when it submitted the bid to host Doha 2030, stating that the tournament enjoys great support from the wise leadership to achieve the required success to promote Qatar's global position by supporting sport that bring people together, removing barriers between peoples of the world, where competition and sportsmanship prevail. The Asian Games (Doha 2030) coincides with the 80 years since the first version in India in 1951. The next edition will be held in China, while Japan will host 2026 edition. With Doha hosting the 2030 edition, the West Asian region organizes the tournament three times after Iran in the 1974 edition.   

British Holley wins Trap gold at Qatar Open Shotgun Championship

Doha-  British Matthew Holley has produced a solid performance to claim the gold medal of the men’s Trap final of 2023 Qatar Open Shotgun Championship, which concluded at the Lusail International Shooting Complex on Monday. Holley won the first place after getting better of  the second-placed Lorenzo Ferrari of Italy, while the third place went to another British, Aaron Heading. At the medal ceremony, the QOC First Vice President H.E. Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, Qatar Shooting and Archery Association President Meshaal Ibrahim Al Nasr and QSAA’s  Assistant Secretary and executive director Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti crowned the winners., In the women’s competition,  Jana Spotakova of Slovakia  won the gold medal, ahead of runner-up, Lucy Hall of Britain, as the Italian Alessia lezzi seized the bronze medal. The championship was organized by Qatar Shooting and Archery Association at the Lusail Shooting Range Complex , brought together 156 players representing 52 countries including 30 world and Olympic champions.  

Lorenzo Ferrari leads trap event at Qatar Open Shotgun Championship

Doha: Italy’s Lorenzo Ferrari led the standings of men’s trap event at Qatar Open Shotgun Championship 2023 on Sunday.  His compatriot Moro De Philips took the second place ahead of Huber Olgenic of Slovakia in third place. The trap competitions will be concluded on Monday.    The championship is held at the Lusail Shooting Range Complex with the participation of 156 players representing 52 countries including 30 world and Olympic champions.