Qatar Swimming Team Targets Podium Success at GCC Games Doha 2026

DOHA  – Armed with confidence and extensive preparations, Team Qatar’s swimming squad is set to begin its campaign at the 4th Gulf Games Doha 2026, which will be hosted by Doha from May 11 to 22.The national team heads into the competition with high ambitions of achieving notable results that underline the continued development of Qatari swimming on the Gulf stage. Qatar will be represented by Ali Tamer, Mohammed Mahmoud, Saad Al Din, Emil Fawzi, Hamza Shaalan, Abdullah Al Ghamri, Aziz Ismail and Tamim Al Humaida, a promising group eager to compete for top honors.The swimming events are scheduled to run from May 12 to 15 at the Hamad Aquatic Center and are expected to attract enthusiastic crowds supporting Team Qatar against strong competition from across the GCC.Members of the squad emphasized their determination to showcase the highest levels of performance and achieve results that reflect the rapid rise of Qatari swimming regionally. 

Team Qatar Completes Preparations for 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships in India

DOHA – Team Qatar has finalized its intensive preparations for the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships for men and women, which officially got underway on Saturday in India and will continue until May 17, featuring many of Asia’s elite lifters as part of their preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.The Qatari delegation departed today for Gandhinagar ahead of the continental championship, which has attracted 172 male and female lifters representing 28 national federations in one of the strongest and most highly anticipated editions of the tournament.Qatar will be represented by two athletes: Wesal Khalaf in the women’s +86kg category and Fares Ahmed Jaber in the men’s +94kg division.Khalaf heads into the competition following a remarkable run of achievements, most notably winning nine gold medals across the 10th Qatar International Weightlifting Championships 2025, the Arab Championship, and the West Asian Championship, all staged in Doha last December.She also captured three gold medals at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games held in Riyadh last November.Meanwhile, Fares recently delivered an impressive performance at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Ismailia, recording 156kg in the snatch and 206kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 362kg in the U20 110kg category and U17 +94kg competitions.The Qatari duo is scheduled to compete on May 17, the final day of the championship, with Team Qatar aiming to achieve strong results and proudly raise the nation’s flag on the continental stage.The event features a star-studded lineup of Olympic and world champions, led by Liu Huanhua, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion and 2023 world champion, alongside Park Hye-jeong, the 2025 world champion and Paris Olympic silver medallist.Also competing are North Korean champions Kang Hyon Gyong and Ri Suk, Bahrain’s Gor Minasyan, who secured an Olympic medal in Paris 2024, in addition to world champions Liao Guifang and Chen Guan-ling.On the sidelines of the championship, the Asian Weightlifting Federation will hold two key meetings chaired by H.E Mr. Mohammed Bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Qatari, Arab, Asian and Afro-Asian Weightlifting Federations, as well as Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation.The Executive Board meeting will discuss bids to host the federation’s electoral General Assembly scheduled for December, with Qatar, the Maldives, Iran and Singapore competing for hosting rights.The Asian federation’s General Assembly will also convene to discuss the roadmap for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with particular focus on technical regulations and strengthening anti-doping measures. 

HH the Amir Attends Amir Cup 2026 Final and Crowns Winners

DOHA , May 10 (QNA) - HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the 2026 Amir Cup football final on Saturday evening, as Al Gharafa SC defeated Al Sadd SC 4-1 at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.Following the match, His Highness presented Al Gharafa with the Amir Cup trophy and gold medals, while Al Sadd received the silver medals.The final was also attended by HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, along with a number of Their Excellencies sheikhs and ministers.Among those present were senior officials from friendly countries, heads of Arab and international sports federations, members of the media and football supporters.  

Team Qatar Advance to Round of 16 at Asian U18 Beach Volleyball Championship

Tashkent: Qatar’s beach volleyball duo, Mousa Al Khair and Mubarak Mousa, advanced to the Round of 16 at the Asian U18 Beach Volleyball Championship, currently taking place in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, after securing two consecutive victories in the main draw.The Qatari pair opened their campaign with a straight-sets win over Lebanon’s Raja Khoury and Mike Mazrani before continuing their strong performances with another straight-sets victory against Kazakhstan’s Pavlov and Shikalov to book their place in the next round.The tournament marks the first Asian-level participation for the Qatari duo, who delivered impressive performances reflecting their readiness and ability to compete strongly on the continental stage.Team Qatar are scheduled to face China’s Liu Hu and Wang tomorrow (Saturday) in the Round of 16 competition. 

Doha 2026 Gears Up as Organizing Committee Unveils Official Competition Schedule for 4th GCC Games

DOHA – The Organizing Committee of the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 has officially approved the competition schedule for the event, set to commence on May 11, with broad participation from national teams representing all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.Athletes competing in the fourth edition will take part in 17 diverse sports: handball, table tennis, athletics, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards, snooker, 3x3 basketball, shooting, archery, volleyball, equestrian, and bowling. Competitions will be staged across 10 state-of-the-art venues, including Aspire Dome, the Women’s Sports Hall, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Qatar Sports Club, the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall, Al Gharafa Sports Club, Lusail Shooting Range, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Qatar Bowling Federation Hall, and Duhail Sports Hall.Swimming events will kick off on May 12 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre and run for four days, alongside the start of 3x3 basketball competitions at Al Gharafa Sports Club for two days. Aspire Dome will host taekwondo events over two days, in addition to table tennis competitions continuing until May 17 at the same venue. Meanwhile, billiards competitions will run until May 15 at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall, while bowling events at the Qatar Bowling Centre will continue through May 17.On May 13, equestrian events will begin at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and continue until May 15. Aspire Dome will also host fencing competitions over three days and boxing over two days, while shooting events at Lusail Range will run until May 20.Athletics competitions will commence on May 14 at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club and continue for four days. Handball events will also begin at Duhail Sports Hall, running through to the final day on May 22.Snooker competitions will take place from May 15 to 19, while volleyball events will run from May 16 to 19 at the Women’s Sports Hall. Padel competitions at Aspire Dome will continue until May 20.Archery events will begin on May 17 at Lusail Shooting Range and run until May 21, while karate competitions will be held on May 21 at Aspire Dome for one day.Historically, the inaugural GCC Games were held in Manama, Bahrain, from October 11 to 22, 2011, featuring around 1,500 athletes from six nations competing in 11 sports. Qatar finished third with 20 medals (7 gold, 11 silver, 2 bronze).The second edition took place in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, from October 12 to 26, 2015, with five participating nations and nearly 1,500 athletes competing in 15 sports. Qatar again secured third place with 59 medals (21 gold, 22 silver, 16 bronze).The third edition was hosted by Kuwait from May 16 to 31, 2022, featuring over 1,500 athletes competing in 16 sports. Qatar placed fifth with a total of 52 medals (16 gold, 21 silver, 15 bronze). 

Team Qatar to begin World Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships Campaign on Thursday

Ismailia (Egypt) :  Team Qatar are set to begin their campaign tomorrow (Thursday) at the World Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, currently taking place in the Egyptian city of Ismailia with the participation of 270 male and female lifters representing 53 countries.Qatar’s Nader Mohammed Bakr will compete in the 94kg category against a strong field of international lifters, while teammate Fares Ahmed Jaber will take part in two events: the Under-20 110kg category and the Under-17 +94kg category.The Qatari team enter the championships aiming to achieve a new milestone at the age-group level and contend for medals, following an intensive preparation program that included an overseas training camp to enhance technical and physical readiness.On the sidelines of the championships, Ismailia also hosted the Executive Board meeting of the International Weightlifting Federation, where officials discussed several strategic issues concerning the future of the sport, including the qualification system for the upcoming Olympic Games, updates to technical regulations, integrity and transparency standards, and mechanisms to support host nations and strengthen organizational capabilities.The meeting was attended by HE Mohammed Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, President of the Qatar and Arab Weightlifting Federations, and Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation. Al Mana reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the development of weightlifting at both the international and Arab levels and strengthening the sport’s global presence, particularly during a period of major transformation within the discipline.In a press statement, Al Mana said the meeting addressed several important topics, most notably the Olympic qualification system and the development of officiating, describing them as important steps toward a more transparent and balanced future for the sport through continued cooperation between international, continental, and national federations.He added that the Qatar federation places significant emphasis on developing young lifters through integrated preparation programs that provide international exposure and competitive experience, helping to build a generation capable of competing at the highest levels. He stressed that investing in young talent remains a cornerstone in the development of any sport.Al Mana also praised the technical and organizational standards of the championships hosted by Egypt, noting that the event reflects the ability of Arab nations to organize major international sporting events with high efficiency and further reinforces Egypt’s status as a global sporting destination.