Qatar to take on UAE in Arab Cup quarterfinals

Doha: The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ knockout phase gets underway on Friday with two contrasting, although equally important, fixtures. Hosts Qatar will take on neighbours UAE in the latest edition of the Gulf Derby while Group B winners Tunisia will face Group A runners-up Oman. Having won all three of their group games, team Qatar will be hoping to extend that impressive run against a UAE side keen to improve on their group-stage performances. After overcoming three Gulf teams in the group phase, Qatar will face another opponent from the region in the shape of quarter-final opponents UAE. Team Qatar go into this game as firm favourites, not only because of the form that saw them win their three group games, but also because they beat their opponents on the last two occasions they met, in the AFC Asian Cup (4-0) and the Gulf Cup (4-2), both in 2019. Coach Felix Sanchez will once again be expecting big things from captain Hassan Alhaydos, in-form star Akram Afif and striker Almoez Ali. All three starred in the final match of the group stage and played a key role in the team’s aforementioned 2019 defeats of UAE. Qatar's captain Hassan Alhaydos said “The game against UAE won’t be easy or like the previous encounters, as they are now a different team. It will be difficult, but we hope we can win to qualify for the semis.”

Al Mana re-elected as a member of executive board of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees

Rihadh - Qatar Weightlifting Federation President, Mr. Mohamed Yousef Al Mana has been re-elected  as a member of the  executive board of the  Union of Arab National Olympic Committees (UANOC) for the new term 2021-2024,  on the sidelines of  the 20th General Assembly meeting of the UANOC hosted by the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Rihadh on Wednesday. In this  meeting , H.R.H Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal was unanimously  elected as the president of the  UANOC and  Mr. Abdulaziz Al Anazi , elected as the Secretary- General of UANOC for the new term 2021-2024. At this UANOC General Assembly , the  Qatar Olympic Committee was represented by the  Director Public Relations and International Cooperation Department, Mr. Hamad Al Obeidly and the Head of International Cooperation section, Ms. Sara Al-Misnad, 

Team Qatar defeat Iraq to maintain perfect record in 2021 Arab Cup

DOHA - Qatar needed three late goals from substitutes Almoez Ali, Akram Afif and Hassan Haydoos to put away Iraq and maintain their perfect record at the Arab Cup in a pulsating contest at Al Bayt Stadium. Felix Sanchez rang the changes for already qualified Qatar against Iraq. Despite nine new faces from the side that edged out Oman last time out. Al Annabi side bossed the early exchanges but didn’t have the firepower to trouble Iraq, striker Mohamed Muntari was guilty of fluffing his line missing a good chance early into the contest. Iraq found their stride and duly had the better chances as Bashar Rasan created two instant chances to open the scoring only to be denied by Qatar keeper Yusef Hassan. Whilst five minutes from the break, Yaser Kasim thought he opened the scoring for the Lions of Mesopotamia only to his strike crunch off the post. The first half ended 0-0. Qatar started the second-half brightly as wingback Musab Kheder broke forward and timed his run perfectly only to nod Mohammed Muntari’s cross inches wide. Three minutes later Muntari showed a quick turn of pace to evade a defender before his outside of the boot shot was saved by keeper Fahad Talib. With 70 minutes on the clock, Felix Sanchez turned to Almoez Ali and Hassan Haydoos who came on for Ali Assad and Mohammed Muntari with the striker looking to have worryingly injured his knee. Haydoos duly smashed the woodwork with a dipping strike, the closest that Qatar came to opening the scoring. Iraq raised their game in the final stages as they pushed for a win. Substitute Mohammed Qasim smashed the woodwork for a second time in the game with a fine strike that had Yusef Hassan beaten.  It was Qatar who had the last laugh. Three goals in the final twelve minutes turned the tide in the favour for the hosts against an Iraq side that was in truth was out of breath. Substitutes Almoez Ali, Akram Afif and Hassan Haydoos found the back of the net to maintain Al Annabi’s perfect record at the tournament and give the side plenty of confidence ahead of a quarter-final against local rivals UAE.

Team Qatar to play in group C of Asian Men's Handball Championship

DAMMAM - The draw ceremony  for the 20th Asian Men's Handball Championship, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from Jan.18 to 31, and qualifies for the World Championships in Poland and Sweden 2023, has placed the Qatari team in Group C along with the teams of the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Oman. The participating teams were divided into four groups, the first group included the teams of South Korea, Kuwait, Jordan and Singapore, the second group, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Australia and India, the third group, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq and Oman, and the fourth group included Japan, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The first and second from each group will qualify for the main round, where the eight qualified teams will be divided into two groups of four teams in each group, Qatar won the last 19th edition of the Asian Men's Handball Championship, which was held in Kuwait last year.

Qatar to take on Iraq in Arab Cup

Doha: Qatar's national football team will have their eyes set on keeping their perfect record at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 when they meet Iraq on Monday at Al Bayt Stadium. Team Qatar lead the first group with six points ahead of Iraq in the second place with two points, followed by Oman and Bahrain (both with one point). The Asian Champions secured their quarterfinals spot after their second successive victory over Oman  on Friday. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez stressed that he will identify the mistakes made by the Qatari team in previous matches and will try to correct them in tomorrow's match.  

QOC organises its Annual Fitness and Health Program

DOHA - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) organized on Saturday its annual program for ‘Physical Fitness and Health’ at the  Katara Cultural Village,  in the frame of  its continuous effort to promote the sports culture and making sport activities  a lasting value for all community individuals. This new look of 2021 Fitness and Health Program has seen the biggest ever spinning class in Qatar , that brought together more 200 participants from both genders. The QOC organized  this year’s program in cooperation with  Katara cultural village and Befitness who is   highly interested with QOC  in promoting Health and physical fitness among local and residents. The key objective of the QOC’s drive is to promote health and sport awareness among individuals, enhancing  the QOC’s relationship with the local society and making sport an integral part of their daily lifestyles .   The Qatar Olympic Committee’s calendar includes 13 community events and more than 60 International Championships.