Qatar ExxonMobil Open to begin on Monday

Doha: Top seed Denis Shapovalov will be looking to forget his terrible Rotterdam outing in a hurry when the Canadian begins his challenge at the 30th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the ATP 250 event at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The World No. 12 has a first round bye in the 32-player Doha field in the $1,176,595 in prize money tournament which begins on Monday. Shapovalov has been handed a relatively easy path but the 2021 quarter-finalist in Doha could be on a collision course with the defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Gerogia, the draw revealed yesterday. The 22-year-old is familiar with the Doha courts having played here before so he will be motivated to do well once more.  The six-feet plus left-handed Shapovalov awaits the winner of Slovak Alex Molcan vs Serbian Filip Krajinovic for his opening round opponent. The left hander enjoyed few notable wins at the Australian Open before going down fighting to Grand Slam record-holder and the eventual champion Rafael Nadal of Spain in a five-set thriller in the Melbourne quarter-finals. Those who fell victims to Shapovalov at the Melbourne Park included World No. 3 Alexander Zverev and Reilly Opelka. But last week in Rotterdam, Shapovalov suffered a shock 6-4, 6-4 loss against qualifier Jiri Lehecka. Lehecka, ranked at No. 137 in the world. In his second appearance in Doha, Shapovalov also has Kazakh Alexander Bublik, seeded seventh, in the top half of the draw with a possible quarter-final meeting. If Shapovalov progresses then he could well meet the tournament’s defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the semi-finals. The 29-year-old Basilashvili is expected to meet the fast-rising Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti, who plays a qualifier in his opening clash. In contrast, a relatively difficult meeting will await last year’s runner-up and second-seed Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain in his opening match. Bautista-Agut may have to face three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Andy Murray of Britain – a two-time winner in Doha. The draw set up Murray against Daniel Taro once more after the Japanese player halted Murray at the Australian Open. If Murray wins he will face last year’s runner-up Roberto Bautista Agut.  Murray will also look for some good tennis in Qatar after having limited success in Rotterdam. In the mix are 4th seeded wild card Croatian Marin Cilic, and Belgian David Goffin. Goffin could possibly meet sixth-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round. Khachanov will start his campaign against Mackenzie McDonal of the US. Meanwhile, Thomas Fabbiano, Christopher Eubanks, Christopher O'Connell and Jozef Kovalik made it to the main draw while the qualifying rounds on Sunday. 

HH The Amir Participates in National Sport Day

Doha (QNA): HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani participated on Tuesday morning in the activities of the National Sport Day. HH the Amir practiced walking in Al Bayt Stadium Park's walkway, with the participation of a number of primary schools students, within the context of raising awareness among young people of the importance of sport and encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyles and take care of physical fitness. The Park has green spaces surrounding the entire Al Bayt Stadium, which is scheduled to host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The Park also includes sports facilities, tracks for running and cycling, in addition to horse riding track. The park is one of the most prominent projects that is considered a legacy that will be used after the World Cup. (QNA)

Sheikh Joaan participates in National Sport Day Events

DOHA – The Qatar Olympic Committee President H.E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani participated in the events of the 11th edition of National Sport Day (NSD)  at Al Shaqab on Tuesday. His Excellency also attended the National Sport Day activities organized by Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation at Lusail Shooting Range The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC)  organised   2.5km Sport For Life Walk at Al Shaqab , which  featured  the participation of the QOC and national sports federation employees in addition to Team Qatar Stars. The NSD celebrations this year have seen number of virtual events on the QOC’s social media platforms, included, Team Qatar Challenge (physical fitness exercises)  and a number of other events for kids and younger age categories. By staging these virtual awareness and educational events , the  QOC aims to  promote an active lifestyle nationwide and to boost  the sustainable value of sport in building up a healthy community. A number of educational and sport culture programs were organised during the NSD  with objective of making sports a daily lifestyle and encouraging the community members  to practice sports regularly. In a post- event statement on Tuesday, the Qatar Olympic Committee President H.E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani lauded the successful outcomes of this year NSD’s events and said that Qatar is one of the first nations that dedicated a national holiday for sports to raise up the valuable benefits of being active. “ Our wise leadership has a true belief in importance of sport that is why it is a key factor of Qatar National Vision 2030. Sport is increasingly recognized as an important tool for development of individuals and communities and National Sport Day is a platform where we bring focus and awareness to role of Sport in our loves and encourage people and the youth to adopt exercise and a healthy life style” Said H.E the President. QOC Secretary General, H.E Jassim Al Buenain has also outlined that the QOC is keen to bring all efforts together that will make  NSD’s events and programs successful and more valuable for everyone. He said that the QOC will spare no effort to promote the Olympic movement by organizing multiple events and activities for all demographics throughout the year. “We are truly proud to see this amazing turnout from participants (locals and residents) as well as  the fantastic record of success being achieved during NSD. On this occasion,  also we appreciate the contribution of government and non-government organization who left no stone unturned to make NSD’s objectives possible and real” Added the Secretary General.

Stage set for Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2022

Doha: Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili will be defending his Qatar ExxonMobil Open title at this year’s annual Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour 250 series tournament which will take place from February 14 to 19 in Doha, Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) has confirmed on Thursday. The tournament, to be held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, the traditional home of tennis in Qatar, will feature three former champions. With ten days to go, the rank of superstars on the cards includes, two-time champion Andy Murray (2007, 08) and 2018 winner Gaël Monfils, and last year’s runner-up and 2019 winner Roberto Bautista Agut. The list also includes World No. 12 Denis Shapovalov, and World No. 27 Karen Khachanov. Last year, Basilashvili defeated Bautista Agut 7-6(5), 6-2 to clinch his fourth ATP Tour title. Among the former champions, who are vying for another title in Doha is Monfils. The Frenchman won his first title in 2018 after defeating Russia's Andrey Rublev in a one-sided final, 6-2, 6-3 and became the first wildcard to win in Doha since compatriot Nicolas Escude triumphed back in 2004. The 35-year–old had featured in three previous finals in 2006, 2012 and 2014 but had finished on the losing side until he attained success in 2018. For the ever-popular Frenchman the start to 2022 has been a feel-good affair having made a strong start to the season. He claimed his 11th ATP Tour title in Adelaide and is now 8-2 on the year with all the eight victories having come in straight sets. The World No. 20 reached his 10th Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open but then lost to Matteo Berrettini in five sets. Briton Murray, who has been on and off the tour with various injuries since having hip resurfacing surgery in 2019, will be eyeing his third title in Qatar having won his last title 12 years back. The Brit, now ranked 102 on the ATP ranking calendar, has had a mixed season so far. At the Australian Open he lost to Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to the No. 120-ranked qualifier in the second-round tie. The four-time Grand Slam champion also reached the final of the Sydney Tennis Classic losing to Karatsev and battled through a three-hour, 52 minute five-set epic with Basilashvili in the first round in Melbourne to reach the next round. Last year’s winner Basilashvili will be aiming to continue his momentum from last season, when he won titles in Doha and Munich and reached his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Indian Wells. Among the other former champions, Bautista Agut’s nine career singles titles, one of them has come in Doha and the No. 17 player in the ATP Rankings will be keen to add one more in Doha. The former champions’ pursuit for top honors’ will be challenged by Shapovalov of Canada and Russia’s Khachanov, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist. The Canadian  gave a spirited quarter-final performance in Melbourne against eventual winner Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open and will be all pumped up to win his first title in Doha and add to his lone career title. Besides Murray, two other players have been given wildcards for the event. World No. 26 Marin Cilic 26 who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open along with Tunisian seed Malek Jaziri are the wildcards of the event. Four players will make it to the main round draw via the qualifying tournament. Tickets for the six-day event are available to the public online at www.qatartennis.org, as well as at various  locations across Doha. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is one of the two ATP Tour events held in the Middle East and has been selected by players as the ATP 250 Tournament of the Year on four occasions (2015, '17, '19, '21). It is a much-anticipated sporting event that hosts some of the biggest names in tennis, and attracts thousands of tennis enthusiasts from around the world. Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won multiple titles at this event, with Nadal's haul including the 2014 singles title and four doubles crowns (2005, '09, '11 and '15). Djokovic won back-to-back titles in 2016 and '17.

QOC to mark National Sport Day

DOHA-The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) will celebrate the 11th edition of National Sport Day on Tuesday.  On this occasion, the QOC will hold a number of virtual events on its social media platforms in light of the protective measures taken by the state of Qatar to curb the spread of Coronavirus. The QOC program to mark the National Sport Day includes; Team Qatar Challenge and a number of other events for kids and younger age categories.  The QOC's virtual awareness and educational events aim to promote an active lifestyle nationwide and highlight the important role of sport in creating a healthy community. Also, to mark the National Sport Day, the QOC will also hold Sport For Life Walk at Al Shaqab. The event will feature the participation of the QOC and national sports federation employees in addition to Team Qatar Stars.  It's worth mentioning that, the QOC organizes many community events and activities throughout the year to raise awareness among all segments of society about the importance of sport.   

Team Qatar arrive to warm welcome

Doha: The Qatar's handball team delegation arrived to a joyous welcome in Doha on Tuesday after winning the Asian Handball Championship for the fifth consecutive time in Dammam, Saudi Arabia on Monday. With the title win, Qatar, who also won 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 editions, equaled South Korea’s record of five straight titles in the continental event. On Tuesday, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary-General H.E. Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain and the Qatar Handball Association (QHA) President Ahmed Al Shaabi led a delegation of sports officials to receive the team at the Hamad International Airport. The QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain lauded the achievement made by team Qatar stars who claimed the Asian Handball Championship title for the fifth straight time. Al-Buenain also appreciated the efforts of the Qatar Handball Association which made this achievement possible. Team Qatar began their campaign in the event with a 31-14 victory over Oman, then they defeated Iraq 37-22 and United Arab Emirates 22-17 to lead their group. In the main round, Qatar topped their Group I after beating Saudi Arabia 34-19 and Uzbekistan 46-15 then South Korea forfeited their final main round match as many of their players were laid low by Covid-19. In the semifinals, Qatar trounced Iran 34-19 before defeating Bahrain 29-24 in the final match. Team Qatar also qualified for the World Championship for the ninth time after participating in Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, and Egypt 2021 World Championships. Qatar had finished as the runners-up in 2015 when the nation played host to the handball showpiece. Earlier on Monday, hosts Saudi Arabia secured a bronze medal after a 26-23 win over Iran in the third position play-off. After the Asian Championship, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran and South Korea qualified to the 2023 World Men’s Handball Championships to be staged jointly by Poland and Sweden.