Qatar's Mutaz Barshim and Hamdi Ali shared High Jump gold medal at GCC Games

Kuwait- Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Hamdi Ali shared the high jump gold medal at the third edition of the GCC Games in Kuwait on Wednesday. Mutaz and Hamdi each cleared 2.15M. There was nothing to separate the reigning world and Olympic champion from his compatriot and they shared the title. It was one of four gold medals won by Qatar on the day. Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Abdullah Altarouti (2.10) took the third spot. Wednesday's competitions were attended by H.E Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain.  Qatari runners Abdirahman Hassan and Musaab Ali also did the nation proud, finishing first and second in the 1500M. Abdirahman timed 4mins 02.80secs, more than a second faster than Musaab (4:04.20) and Kuwait’s Khaled Alharbi (4:06.36). Ahmed Amjad Elsaify claimed the hammer throw gold with a 69.40M throw, leaving Kuwait’s Ali Zankawi (66.97) and Bahrain’s Mahmoud Elgohary (64.68) behind. The Qatar men’s 4x400M relay team finished third (3:07.27), behind Bahrain (3:06.20) and Saudi Arabia (3:06.37). Meanwhile, Qatari women athletes Lial Tamam (3,405 points) and Saja Saadoun (3,050) finished second and third in heptathlon. Rania Al Naji claimed silver in women’s hammer throw with a 47M heave. Oman’s Hana Touqi (49.36) and the UAE’s Wedad Robari (40.63) finished in first and third positions. Qatari swimmers took home a silver and three bronze medals on the day.   The 4x400M freestyle relay team — consisting of Firas Saidi, Abdulaziz Al Obaidly, Ali Al Nuaimi and Mohamed Mohamed — finished second in 3:35.07, behind Kuwait (3:31.02).  Qatar had begun the day with a 100M butterfly bronze from Mohamed (55.66). In 800M freestyle, Kareem Salah (9:00.46) claimed bronze. Yousef Abouelela (1:00.22) was also third, in the 100M backstroke. The Qatar men’s basketball team suffered another reverse in Group A, losing to Bahrain 77-90. Qatar, who clinched four gold, four silver and five bronze medals on Wednesday, took their overall tally to 10 gold, 10 silver and eight bronze medals. They are behind Bahrain (17, 14, 7) and Kuwait (13, 13, 15) in the standings.  

Team Qatar athletes keep up their winning streak in GCC Games

KUWAIT – Team Qatar powered by its  well-trained swimmers and athletes won  three gold, five silver and two bronze medals on the second day of the third GCC Games in Kuwait on Tuesday . With six gold, six silver and two bronze medals, Qatar are third in the medal standings, behind Bahrain (12-8-4) and Kuwait (6-8-10). Abdirahman Hassan (1:49.73) and Musaeb Balla (1:49.83) kicked off Qatar’s celebrations on track with gold and silver respectively in the men’s 800M. Kuwait’s Ebrahim Alzofairi (1:49.91) was third. Qatar’s second gold in athletics came through 400M hurdler Ashraf Osman, who sailed home in 50.27sec. He was faster than Saudi Arabians Mohammed Almuawi (50.60) and Muath Alsaad (53.34). Moaaz Ibrahim threw the discus to a distance of 58.87M to clinch silver, behind Kuwait’s Eissa Zankawi (60.20). Saudi Arabia’s Osama Aloqayli (51.97) was third. Saja Saadoun (1:08.46) took bronze in the women’s 400M hurdles, finishing behind Bahrain’s Aminat Jamal (58.55) and Saleha Lahdan (1:06.86). In swimming, Abdulaziz Al Obaidly (4:34.31) and Omer Abouelela (4:36.48) claimed gold and silver for Qatar in the 400M individual medley. Kuwait’s Abdulaziz Alsawaihi (4:46.73) was a distant third. Kareem Salah won silver in the 1,500M freestyle race, finishing in 17:13.60. Kuwait’s Saoud Alshamroukh (16:42.20) took gold while Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Alhashim (17:30.98) was third. Qatar’s 4x100M medley relay team won silver in 3:53.64. Kuwait (3:48.66) claimed gold while Saudi Arabia (4:03.51) clinched bronze. Tameem Elhamayda (2:07.12) put up a brave fight but could finish only third in the 200M butterfly event, behind Kuwait’s Abbas Qali (2:06.15) and the UAE’s Salem Ghalib (2:06.97).  

QOC and Masraf Al Rayan sign Agreement to support team Qatar Athletes

Doha- The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Masraf Al Rayan signed on Monday a cooperation agreement to support team Qatar athletes  . The signing ceremony was attended by H.E Qatar Olympic Committee President, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani , as H.E  Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain inked  on behave of  the committee and Masraf Al Rayan Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr.  Fahad bin Abdulla  Al-Khalifa signed for the Group. In this three year- agreement ,  Masraf Al Rayan will provide  necessary financial  support  to Qatar’s elite athletes to have  an ideal sport  environment and hold  training camps that will get them ready for  the major sport events. In a post- signing statement on Monday, H.E  Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain thanked the group and appreciated its valuable contributions in making elite athletes program real and achievable.  “ We are truly believing in private sector growing role  in  the sports, we highly appreciate national companies efforts as  key partners who spare no effort to do their social responsibility by helping  Qatari athletes dreams to come true and  taking Qatar to  greater levels at international sports arenas” said the QOC Secretary General.   “ The QOC will do  its  best to provide all necessary support that can help the  national teams and clubs push the limits and take  our nation’s sport achievements to a new level of excellence” added QOC Secretary General. In the same context, Masraf Al Rayan Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr.  Fahad bin Abdulla  Al-Khalifa  said:” It’s my pleasure  to see  Masraf Al Rayan joining  the list of companies that are supporting the elite athletes program in Qatar, hopefully  that this program can help our athletes hit the highest level of success to meet our wise leadership’s efforts  to develop  human element as a key pillar of Qatar 2030 National Vision”.  “ I’m really appreciating the QOC officials’ constant  efforts that will help  team Qatar  athletes making  these achievements possible, as well as help Qatar name prevail more stronger at international tournaments” added Mr. Fahad. Elite Athletes Program is an ambitious project  that launched  by the Qatar Olympic Committee to focus lights on the Qatar athletes’ achievements at the Olympic, continental and global levels. It is also helps taking  athletes to greater achievements in the future. This program provides best sport training environment and helps athletes develop day in day out.

Team Qatar athletes win three gold medals in GCC Games

Kuwait-The stars of Qatar's athletics national teams for men and women began their campaign at the third GCC Games with a bang winning three gold medals and one silver medal on Monday.  The third edition of the GCC Games brings together more than 1700 athletes who compete in a total of 16 disciplines across 12 venues during the Games. The disciplines are: athletics, 3x3 basketball, basketball, cycling (road), e-sports, fencing, futsal, handball, ice hockey, judo, karate, padel, shooting, swimming, tennis, table tennis and volleyball. Sprinter Tosin Ogunode stood out with a stirring display in the 100M final, clocking 10.05 seconds to clinch the gold medal. Saudi Arabia’s Akbar Abdullah (10.21sec) and Oman’s Barakat Al Harthi (10.30sec) settled for second and third places respectively. Woman pole vaulter Samar Mansouri contributed another gold for Qatar on the opening day with an effort of 3.40M. In the 400M final, Qatar's Ammar Ibrahim claimed the gold medal. Saudi Arabia’s Mazen Alyaseen finished second while Bahrain’s Ali Abbas settled for third place.  Qatar’s silver medal came from Saeed Al Absi, who clocked 14.08sec in the 100M hurdles.  He was beaten by Kuwait’s Yaqoub Alyouha who recorded a time of 13.65sec. Qatar’s basketball team was also in action on the opening day but went down 55-73 to the hosts in a Group A match.  On the other hand, the swimming competitions will begin at Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Aquatics Complex on Tuesday.  Team Qatar will be represented by Abdulaziz Hassan Al Obaidli, Feras Al Saidi, Mohamed Mahmoud, Karam Salama, Omer Ashraf, Yousef Ashraf, Tamim Al Hamayda, Abdullah Al Ghamri, Abdullah Nabil Al Khaldi and Naimi.   

Armand Duplantis wins wind-delayed Doha Diamond League pole vault

Doha- Sweden's Mondo Duplantis began his outdoor season with a meeting record in Doha Ooredoo Meeting when he cleared 6.02m to win men's pole vault event on Saturday. USA’s KC Lightfoot and Belgium’s Ben Broeders (both 5.71) claimed silver and bronze medals respectively, on a countback. The event, originally scheduled for Friday at the Qatar Sports Club, had been postponed and held indoors due to heavy winds. Duplantis was pleased with his gold-medal win.

Team Qatar athletes look for new glories in GCC Games

KUWAIT -  Curtains will come up on the third edition of  the  2022 GCC Games ,which will  kick off officially on Monday and last from May 22nd to  May 31st at  Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Shooting Complex Kuwait. Almost 1700 athletes from six GCC nations will fight nail and tooth for the top honor of 16 games including,  handball, volleyball, basketball, futsal, swimming, athletes, shooting, karate, Judo, tennis, cycling, Ice hockey, table tennis , Padel and e-sport game. In this prestigious games, women will compete for the first time in seven sports, including futsal , e-sports, athletics , cycling, 3x3 basketball, padel and table tennis. Approximately, 173 team Qatar athletes  have completed their training sessions on Sunday  to compete in all the games except Futsal and Ice hockey.