QOC all set to participate in Islamic Solidarity Games

DOHA -  Countdown has begun for  the fifth edition of 2022 Islamic Solidarity Games to be hosted  in Turkey’s city of Konya from 9th to 18th of  August and  will see  approximately 6000 athletes  from  58 countries. The Qatar Olympic Committee will have  12 national federations in this year’s edition to compete in  16 sport disciplines, including basketball, volleyball , handball, cycling, athletics, swimming, shooting,  Taekwondo,  Judo, Karate, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing and gymnastics. Most notably, these games’ preparatory meeting was attended by representatives from 58 countries who confirmed their participation in Konya . The Islamic Solidarity Games is the second most popular sport event behind the Olympic Games in terms of participants’ number. This year’s edition is expected to see 6000 athletes will spare no effort to fight nail and tooth for the top  honors  in multiple individual and group games. This fifth Islamic Solidary Games were originally planned to be held in September 2021, but rescheduled to August 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Islamic Solidary Games is a significant sport event that brings together multinational athletes. These  games are regularly organized by the  Islamic Solidary Sports Federation , which  was founded in May 6, 1985 in  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia under the patronage of Organization of Islamic Cooperation Historically, Saudi Arabia hosted these games in 2005, Indonesia’s city of Palembang played  a host city in 2013,  Azerbaijan’s capital  city of Baku organized the fourth edition from 12th to 22nd of May, 2017  and Cameroon was selected  to host the sixth edition in 2025.

Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan make Ostrava quarterfinals

Ostrava: Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan will take on Czechia’s Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner in the quarterfinal match bound to attract the largest crowds to the centre court in Ostrava as the home favourites attempt to keep the tradition they started in previous years and make the last four at the 2022 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite16 event on Saturday. Friday’s key match in Pool B went to three sets, with Cherif and Ahmed winning both the first and the third in the overtime. The Qataris celebrated as quarterfinalists after winning the direct clash with USA’s Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne for the second ticket by 2-1 (23-21, 16-21, 16-14).  The first was booked by Alison and Guto on Thursday. On Friday, the Brazilians just made sure they topped the pool on a spotless record of three straight-setters and shut out Estonia’s Kusti Nolvak and Mart Tiisaar by 2-0 (21-15, 21-14).

Team Qatar win volleyball gold at GCC Games

Kuwait - Qatar’s volleyball team clinched gold with an unbeaten record in the GCC Games in Kuwait on Friday. Qatar defeated UAE 25-14, 25-14, 25-16 in their final round-robin match to emerge champions. Bahrain, who had lost to Qatar on Wednesday, beat back the hosts’ challenge in their final match to win silver. Qatar’s tennis team started the team competitions on a winning note blanking UAE 3-0. Moosa Shanan and Rashed Nawaf gave their team a 2-0 lead winning their singles matches in straight sets against Fahad Janahi and Abdulrahman Al Janahi respectively. Moosa then partnered Issa to win the doubles against Omar Ahmadi and Abdulla Al Marzooqi to seal Qatar’s win. Qatar’s padel team meanwhile pulled off a 2-1 win over UAE after fighting back from a 0-1 deficit. Jabor Al Mutawa and Mohammed Al Kanji went down 1-6, 6-4, 2-6 to Mohammed Al Janahi and Abdulla Ahli in the opening contest.  Qatar drew level through Mohammed Al Kuwari and Abdullah Al Hijji who defeated Hamad Al Janahi and Khalid Al Shamsi 6-2, 6-1. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and Mohammed Abdullah then won 6-0, 6-4 against Fares Al Janahi and Omar Al Awawhi.

Team Qatar book place in FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships

DOHA – Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan  of  Qatar have booked their spot in the upcoming 2022 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships to be held  from 10 to 19 of June in Italy’s capital city of Rome. Preparations for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships Rome 2022 are now in full swing with 96 participating teams confirmed and the draw for the pool phase set to take place on May 31. The biggest teams will all be in Rome for the World Championships, set to take place from June 10 to 19. In the men's competition, Poland’s Michal Bryl and Bartosz Losiak lead the list of 48 men’s pairs preparing to compete. They won two Challenge tournaments on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour earlier this season. Participants will also include reigning Olympic champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum of Norway and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan of Qatar. They will be joined by FIVB World Ranking leaders Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands, their compatriots, 2013 world champions Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen, current Asian champions Christopher McHugh and Paul Burnett of Australia and many more of the world’s top men’s duos. Adrian Carambula and Enrico Rossi will be the highest seeded team to represent hosts Italy.

Sheikha Hind bint Hamad crowns winners of SOP girls competitions

Doha: Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani crowned the winners of girls events at the conclusion of the 15th Schools Olympic Program (SOP) at indoor hall of women's club, Aspire Zone yesterday.   The closing day of girls competitions was also attended by President of Qatar School Sports Association H.E Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, SOP Board Member and Secretary General of Qatar Women's Sports Committee Ms. Sheikha Al-Qahtani and senior officials from the QOC, QSSA and Ministry of Education.  Al Daayen School claimed the first place in football competitions for preparatory schools. Global Academy and Fatima Al Zahraa School took the second and third places respectively.  In Basketball Competitions for preparatory schools, Lebanese School took the first place ahead of Mozah bint Mohamed School in the second place while Amna bint Wahb School finished third.  Al Maha Academy hoisted the trophy of football competitions for secondary schools. Al Khor Secondary School and Al Eman Secondary School took the second and third places respectively.  The SOP was launched in 2007-2008 under the slogan Sport and Health.

GCC Games: Qatari judokas win two silver medals as volleyball team sets record

Kuwait - Team Qatar’s judokas wrapped up their impressive performance at the third GCC Games, claiming two silver medals as Al Annabi’s volleyball team set a record with perfect performance in Kuwait, yesterday.  Mohamed Rebahi clinched yesterday’s first silver for Qatar after reaching the men’s 81kg final, where he lost to Bahrain’s Askerbii Gerbekov at Sheikh Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah Hall.  Khalil Rebahi secured second silver of the day for Qatar in the men’s 90kg category after he was beaten by UAE’s Nugzari Tatalashvili in the final.  Also yesterday, Qatar volleyball team set a new GCC record by earning their fourth consecutive victory with a 3-0 margin. Yesterday, they defeated Bahrain 25-21, 25-19, 25-23 to get closer to title.   Qatar, who also blanked Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia with same score-lines, lead the contest with 12 points followed by Bahrain, who have nine points from three victories from four matches.  Al Annabi will meet the UAE in their last match today and a win will ensure a gold medal for the side. Bahrain will play Kuwait in their final match.     Praising team’s phenomenal performance, Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari said: “All the players are working hard and their performance is commendable. Bahrain are a good side and it was an impressive win against them. The team is showing great performance as winning four consecutive matches without dropping a single game in the event is a record,” he added.  Meanwhile, Qatar's tennis players Rashid Nawaf and Mubarak Shannan reached the final of men’s doubles after beating Saudi Arabia’s duo of Omar Ahmad and Abdullah Al Faraj 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals.    Nawaf will also play against Saudi Arabia's Saud Al Hogbani for a bronze medal in men's singles after he lost to Essa Qabazard of Kuwait 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the semi-finals. In table tennis, Qatari pair of Ahmad Al Mohannadi and Mohammed A Hussein advanced to the semi-finals of men's doubles after outwitting Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Al Abbad and Khalid Al Shareif 3-1 with a 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 score-line. The Qatari pair will meet Kuwait's Ibrahem Al Hasan and Marzooq Al Rashidi in the semi-final today.  Meanwhile, Qatar got off to a flying start in handball as they outclassed Saudi Arabia 33-20 after a dominant performance. Al Annabi will meet UAE in their second match today.   Qatar, who have won 12 gold, 18 silver and 12 bronze medals, slipped to fourth on the table, led by Kuwait with 25 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze medals. Bahrain are second with 55 medals including 20 gold followed by the UAE, who have clinched 16 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze medals.