Membership of H.E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani at the Olympic Refuge Foundation has been renewed for 4 years

Doha- HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani attended the fourth meeting of the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) Executive Board, held yesterday via video conferencing. The meeting was chaired by the IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach and was also attended by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who is acting as vice-chairman, ORF Council Members and ORF Executive Board members. During the meeting, the membership of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has been renewed for a four-years term. The Board also appointed Kenya’s double Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist and the IOC member Paul Tergat as a new member. The meeting discussed a number of topics, including the Foundation's activities during the past year and its priorities in the current year in addition to the amendments that must be made amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) in the world. The Foundation Board also approved the four-year plan for 2021 to 2024, setting the strategy that will allow it to deliver on its ambition to ensure that one million young people affected by displacement have access to safe sport by 2024. Since its creation in 2017, the ORF has coordinated several programs around the world. As a result, 200,000 young people are currently benefiting from sports programs designed to improve their well-being and social inclusion. In addition, the Olympic Solidarity is currently supporting the 55 refugee athlete scholarship-holders vying to be part of the Refugee Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020.

Rozner wins 2021 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

Doha - Antoine Rozner hit an incredible 60 foot putt on the last to win his second European Tour title at the 2021 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on Sunday. The Frenchman entered the final 18 holes on a calmer day at Education City Golf Club three shots off the lead. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and South African Darren Fichardt, who won the 2003 edition, finished alongside Italy’s Guido Migliozzi a shot off the lead. Overnight leader Fichardt put his approach at the first inside ten feet for an opening birdie and briefly led by three, but Rozner and Migliozzi made rapid strides on the leaderboard. Fichardt signed for a level par 71 while Bhullar fired a closing 69, adding three birdies and two bogeys to that closing gain. McEvoy carded a 68 and Donaldson registered a 70 to sit a shot ahead of England’s Chris Paisley and South African Brandon Stone, who both carded 70s of their own. Belgian Thomas Detry, Dane Joachim B. Hansen, American Kurt Kitayama and Swede Niklas Lemke finished five shots off the lead.  

Stage set for FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series 2021

Doha-The season-opening meet, which will see the participation of around 100 long distance swimmers from  The season-opening meet, which will see the participation of around 100 long distance swimmers from 25 countries, will mark the return of FINA open water competitions after over a year. FINA President Julio Maglione joined athletes to praise the Qatar Swimming Association (QSA), which is set to host the FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series 2021 Doha at the scenic Katara Beach Saturday. The season-opening meet, which will see the participation of around 100 long distance swimmers from 25 countries, will mark the return of FINA open water competitions after over a year, with Covid-19 pandemic forcing cancellation of the events throughout last year following the 2020 Doha meet. The 10km event, being held under strict Covid-19 protocols, was launched at a video conference on March 11 in which QSA President Khaleel Khaleel al-Jabir welcomed all the athletes and participants. FINA Technical Delegate Andrea Prayer Galletti, Rio Olympics gold medalist Ferry Weertman (NED), last year’s Doha winner Leonie Beck (GER) and three-time Olympic medalist Oussama Mellouli (TUN) also spoke to the media. Doha – home to FINA World Aquatics Championships in 2023 – has become one of the main stops for FINA competitions over the years, also staging the FINA Swimming World Cups since 2012 and FINA World Swimming Championships in 2014. In a recorded message, FINA President Maglione said: “Everyone is excited for the race. I want to thank our host Qatar for their continuous support and help. This country is a strong FINA partner and we are always happy to be in Doha. We also enjoy the Qatari hospitality and take memories from this competition. I wish everyone good luck.” Khaleel said his team put up a tremendous effort for the event, adding that he was confident of organizing another successful competition, which Doha is hosting for fourth consecutive year. “We are happy to organize the event and it is my pleasure to welcome all the participants to Doha. I shall ensure you that we have taken all the necessary measures for your safe participation so that you can enjoy your performance,” the QSA President said. “We like challenges. We are working very hard with the government, the Ministry of Public Health. I would also like to thank the foreign ministry and our colleagues at Hamad International Airport for their support. We are working very hard to make this event happen. We are happy to clear all the obstacles. Most important thing for us is that athletes find a place to compete in this Olympic year.” Galletti said: “I would like to thank Qatar Swimming Association, Doha Municipality and sponsors for all the big force they spent in the organization of this event. This meet is very very important because it's been a long time since open water event took place. This is the best leg of the marathon series and I am sure with the support of Organizing Committee and the FINA delegates we can have a very nice and safe competition.” Both the men and women’s races will feature a competitive field of long distance swimmers. Weertman, who won in Doha in 2018, praised QSA’s efforts in staging the competition. “It's very nice to have the competition back. With all the testing and the quarantine in the room it feels pretty safe. I am very happy to race again. The water is a bit warmer than the last year so, I think the water is about 22 degrees so for me that was perfect conditions. The sun is shining and the water is nice and flat,” said the Dutchman. “I am always racing to win. I will do my best to race but I don't have idea in what shape the rest of athletes are as we have not been racing for such a long time but I am feeling pretty good,” he added. African record holder Mellouli said Doha will provide a perfect stage for athletes as they prepare for Olympics qualifiers. "I want to thank FINA and the QSA for organizing this event. I don't remember the last time I raced in open water so it's going to be cool for me to be in open water and take a crack in another marathon,” he said. “It's going to be interesting as a lot of swimmers entered the race. For me it is a stepping stone for my Olympic qualification. I am trying to qualify for my sixth Olympics this summer. I can't imagine a better stage to get me prepare for Olympics Qualifier, which will happen in May,” the Tunisian star added. Defending champion Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA), Kristof Rasovszky (HUN) – gold medalist at 2019 World Aquatics Championships (5km) and Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) are among the leading contestants in men’s race. Meanwhile, Beck, who defeated Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) to clinch title in Doha last year, expected a tough women’s race on Saturday. “It's a first competition for over a year and I am very excited to race again. I am very happy about it. There are lots of good girls like Ana Marcela in the race so it’s going to be tough. I am doing my best and hoping to defend my title,” the German star said. Athletes will complete the 10km races in 5 laps (2000m each). The women’s race will start at 9am followed by men’s race, which will kick off at 1:30pm.

Curtains come down on Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2021

Doha-Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner continued their winning streak through the men's final of the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 4-star in Doha and brought their fairy tale to a happy end. The 14th-seeded Czechs won their first ever gold on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. In their first World Tour event as a team, Brazil's Evandro Goncalves and Gustavo Carvalhaes (Guto) took the silver medals. Fourth-seeded Taylor Crabb and Jacob Gibb of USA grabbed the bronze. It was their second World Tour medal, after their Chetumal 4-star gold in 2019. The first set of the gold medal match was very competitive through 10-10, after which Perusic and Schweiner broke away on a four-point run and never looked back. Some efficient blocking by Schweiner helped them stay in the lead until Perusic hit the set winner. They opened up a wide lead early into the second set and seemed to be cruising comfortably to the victory. However, Evandro and Guto took advantage of some unforced errors to level it at 17-17. The Czechs, however, stayed intact and pushed forward to a 2-0 (21-16, 21-19) win. After the match, Director General of the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti and President of the Qatar Volleyball Association Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari crowned the winners.   

Bautista Agut, Basilashvili to battle for title

Doha-Spanish star Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday reached his second Qatar ExxonMobil Open final by beating defending champion Andrey Rublev of Russia. Playing their fifth match on Tour, fifth seed Bautista Agut won 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 13 minutes. Rublev, who was playing his first match following two walkovers this week, fired 8 aces but Bautista Agut played a controlled game from the baseline. It was the 32-year-old’s ninth successive win in Doha. The current world number 13 now has the chance to add to his 2019 Qatar ExxonMobil Open trophy on Saturday.  “It was very difficult conditions. The winds were blowing in every direction. I think I got good points as I was very focused in the match. I knew he was very well rested but I played a long match. But I felt fresh. I believe I played a good match. I am happy as I said. This court and this tournament is very special for me. I have played the best matches of my career in Qatar. I am happy with this win. I will rest and I hope to play a good final,” Bautista Agut said after his win.  In the day’s second semifinal, plucky Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia continued with his dream run when he beat American Taylor Fritz in straight sets. Basilashvili won 7-6, 6-1 in 1 hour and 16 minutes. By virtue of Friday’s win, the 29-year-old Georgian is now 1-1 with the American from two meetings on the Tour. It was Basilashvili’s 8th win in Doha against two losses. Basilashvili, who beat tennis star Roger Federer in the quarterfinals on Thursday, now has the chance to win his 4th career final. He has played in five finals. “Reaching the finals mean s a lot to me. During the pandemic I didn’t play well. I had tough times. To be in the final means a lot. I am playing really well. I am relaxed and looking forward to playing the final. It is really nice to have spectators here. We haven’t had this pleasure for a long time. These are tough times for everybody. Roberto is playing well. He won it here two years ago. It will be interesting as he is a great player,” Basilashvili said. In doubles event, Russia's Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev claimed the title after their 7-5 6-4 victory over Marcus Daniell and Philipp Oswald in the final match.    

Olivier, Cuna win FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series opener in Doha

Doha-Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA) and Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) were the winners in the season-opening 10km FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series 2021 Doha (QAT), held at Katara Beach on March 13. It was the first FINA competition in the discipline, since the disruption of the sport activities one year ago, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.     Olympic bronze medallist Olivier took 1h52m02s4 to bag his second consecutive title in the Qatari capital, while five-time world champion Cunha edged Océane Cassignol (FRA) in a photo finish, clocking 2h01m30s3 to regain her Doha title after the 2019 triumph.  In the men’s race – the final event of the day starting at 2pm - 2019 FINA World Championships gold medallist (5km) Kristof Rasovszky (HUN) was ahead in the first two laps before Olivier accelerated for the victory. Rasovszky finished second with a time of 1h52m05s5 while Olympic and world champion (in the pool) Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) completed the race in 1h52m07s9 for a bronze medal.  Olivier, 24, considered his victory in the season-opening race important:  “It was a difficult race because of high waves and I am so happy to win here again. I started slowly and recovered the pace in the last three laps, as I followed the last year’s plan, which was successful,” he said.  “This first meet was so important because it is an Olympic year and my win here is crucial,” Olivier added.       Earlier, in the women’s race kicking off at 9am, Cunha and Cassignol were neck to neck as there was not even a second gap between the two athletes throughout the contest.          However – Cunha, also a silver medallist in Doha last year – managed to keep her slim lead over the French during all the five laps for her second gold medal in Doha.  Cassignol finished the race in 2h01m30s8 for a second place, with Lea Boy (GER) clinching the bronze medal with a time of 2h01m31s9.    Brazilian star Cunha was elated with her close victory in Doha that marked the return of Marathon Series after over a year.   “The level of the race, with so many athletes who are preparing for the Olympics, was very tough. There was a lot of wind but I like swimming in these conditions. These conditions make the race tougher for every contender,” Cunha confessed.    On the return of World Series, the 28-year-old said: “I want to thank Qatar for organising the race. It is very exciting to come back here and compete in the World Series. During quarantine, we had more time to train. It is nice to come here and put that to practice.” Last year’s winner in Doha, Leonie Beck (GER) missed out a medal after touching the finish-line in 2h01m32s8, claiming fourth position.  Rio 2016 silver medallist Rachele Bruni (ITA) and European champion Arianna Bridi (ITA) claimed the next two spots with times of 2h01m33s2 and 2h01m34s4 respectively.  A total of 35 athletes finished the women’s race.   Just over a year ago Doha played host to the first and only FINA Marathon Swim World Series event of the year. In 2021, with strict COVID restrictions in place for all teams, staff and officials, both the government and organisers have done everything possible to ensure a world class and safe event could take place. Doha’s impressive high rise buildings line the waterfront promenade with the sandy beach of Katara once again the setting for this 10km Marathon Swim event held with increasingly windy conditions throughout the day with 21-degree C water temperature in this 2km loop/5 lap course. Mr. Husain Al Musallam, FINA First Vice-President awarded medals to athletes, while Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) President Mr. Khaleel Al-Jabir and Secretary General Mr. Talal Mohammed Al Darwish also attended the medal ceremonies.  QSA, which will host the Doha 2023 FINA World Championships, organised the event by adhering to all COVID-19 protocols advised by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), and also to the specific FINA guidelines for open water swimming.