HH the Amir attends final of Qatar Total Open

Doha-(QNA) - HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended Saturday the final of the 19th Qatar Total Open 2021 held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. HH the Amir watched the final match between Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Spain's Garbine Muguruza, which ended with a 6-2, 6-1 win for Petra Kvitova. HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani crowned the Czech player with the championship cup and the Spanish player with the second place cup. A number of Their Excellencies Sheikhs, ministers and tennis fans attended the final match amid precautionary measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). (QNA)  

Doha set to host FINA marathon swim opener

Doha- The Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) will host long-distance swimmers, who will compete over 10km course in the FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series 2021 Doha (QAT) to be staged at the stunning Katara Beach on March 13. A total of 99 swimmers – 66 male and 33 female athletes – along with 65 team officials from 27 countries will participate in the season-opening meet. The QSA under the guidance of Ministry of Public Health will organize the event by following strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure health and safety of athletes, officials and all other stakeholders. The athletes will remain in bio-secure zones throughout the event. The FINA Marathon Swim World Series races, which Doha hosted for the first time in 2018, is adding valuable experience and expertise as QSA prepares to organize the Doha 2023 FINA World Championships. The field confirmed for the first meet includes many top ranked athletes for both the races. Olympic bronze medalist Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA), who won in Doha last year, will defend his men’s title against a strong line-up also including Kristof Rasovszky (HUN) – gold medalist at 2019 World Aquatics Championships (5km). Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), Olympic and World long course and short course champion, and Fares Zitouni (FRA) will be the other main contenders in the men’s race. The women’s field is even more star-studded with open water marathon maestro Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA), returning to Doha, where she emerged victorious in 2019. Last year, Cunha finished second behind Leonie Beck (GER), who clinched her maiden title in the series. Beck will also return to Doha – one of her favourite stops – as she also took second position here in 2018.   Other leading athletes confirmed for women’s race include Rio Olympics silver medalist Rachele Bruni (ITA), Arianna Bridi (ITA) – 25km winner at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships – and Lara Grangeon de Villele (FRA).

Katara Beach Volleyball Cup to begin on Monday

Doha- The Qatar Volleyball Association will host the World Tour 4-star Katara Beach Volleyball Cup at Al-Gharafa Beach Arena from March 8 to 12, 2021 The 4-star event will mark the start of the 2021 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and feature some of the world’s top-ranked beach volleyball players competing for a total prize money of 300,000 USD. The event will also serve as an Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 qualification tournament with 400 Olympic ranking points on offer for the eventual champions of the Katara Cup.  It will be the first top-tier beach volleyball event to return to the calendar after the outbreak of the global health crisis. More than 100 men's and women's teams from more than 28 countries have confirmed their participation in the tournament including Brazil, France, Austria, USA, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Poland, Gambia, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark. Latvia, Czech Republic, India, Canada, Greece, Japan, Lithuania and hosts Qatar.     

Kvitova to take on Muguruza in Doha final

Doha-After five days of gruelling tennis, Grand Slam stars Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Garbine Muguruza of Spain have reached the final of the 2021 Qatar Total Open.  Fourth seed Kvitova on Friday ended the winning streak of Jessica Pegula of the United States to reach her third Qatar Total Open final. Playing a solid game from the baseline in windy conditions, Kvitova won 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hours and 22 minutes on the Centre Court.  It was Kvitova’s second successive win over Pegula after beating the plucky American at the US Open last year. Pegula, on the other hand, was the first qualifier to have reached the semifinal of the popular 32-player tournament.  For Kvitova, this will be her third final in Doha – having beaten Muguruza in 2018 before losing the Qatar Total Open final last year to Aryna Sabalenks of Belarus. The tall left-hander also reached the quarterfinals in Doha in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Earlier on Friday, wildcard entry Victoria Azarenka of Belaraus decided to pull out of her semifinal against Muguruza. Azaranka, who sought on-court treatment for her back in Thursday’s quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine on Thursday, is a two-time Australian Open champion.  A two-time title winner in Doha, Azarenka has played three finals in Qatar. By pulling out injured, the tall right-hander misses the chance of becoming the first player to win three Qatar Total Open trophies. The Belarusian was runner-up to Lucie Safarova in 2015.  With Azarenka’s pullout, unseeded Muguruza reaches her 14th career final and the second this year. The Spaniard was runner-up to Ashleigh Barty at the Yarra Valley Classic a month ago and will be seeking her first title since Monterrey 2019. Muguruza will be playing her second final in Doha after ending runner-up to Kvitova in Doha in 2018. On the other hand, Nicole Melichar of the United States and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands on Friday won the Qatar Total Open doubles title. Melichar and Schuurs beat Monica Niculescu of Romania and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-2, 2-6, 10-8 on the Centre Court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.   

Qatar Olympic Committee reaffirms commitment to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032

Doha- The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) today reiterated its total commitment to maintaining continuous dialogue with the IOC’s Future Host Commission as it moves forward in its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time. The QOC presented its initial plans to the Future Host Commission on 3 February 2021 as part of the continuous dialogue phase of the IOC’s new bid process. The QOC showcased how its bid is fully aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 to advance Human, social, economic and environmental development through sport, and has the full support of the Qatar Government. The QOC is also exploring opportunities to use the Games to help spread the principles of Olympism beyond Qatar and further unite the Middle East region – a region that has never hosted the Games before.  The QOC’s Venue Masterplan comprises more than 80% existing venues, all of which have been tried and tested with International Sports Federations during many high-level events hosted in Qatar, such as the 2019 World Athletics Championships and 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Qatar’s extensive experience in hosting major sporting events will grow further in the years ahead with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, FINA World Aquatics Championships 2023, IJF World Judo Championships 2023 and 2030 Asian Games, among others.  QOC President HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said: “Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032 remains our ultimate ambition. We have listened and learned from our two previous bids and humbly believe that we are now perfectly positioned to deliver a low-risk, sustainable and world-class edition of Games, which is perfectly aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020+5. “We are looking forward to continuing our dialogue with the Future Host Commission. With the Games 11 years away, we hope to have the opportunity to discuss our plans with the Commission and develop our bid further, before a final decision is taken. We are confident that in continuing our dialogue with the IOC we can demonstrate how the Games in Qatar would make history, delivering an unprecedented legacy for our region and the Olympic Movement.” Qatar boasts significant existing and planned transport infrastructure and accommodation, which allows the QOC to promise a low-risk Games, free from cost overruns. Qatar’s proposed Olympic venues are well served by the extensive transport network, helping to ensure minimal travel times during the Games and accessibility for a meaningful post-Games community legacy.  The QOC is committed to making sure the venues support community sport, and the Games can contribute to a healthier society in Qatar and the region.  

Svitolina sets quarters date with Azarenka

Doha-Top seed Elina Svitolina on Wednesday set a quarterfinals date with eighth seed Victoria Azarenka after she beat Misaki Doi of Japan in straight sets in a Round of 16 clash. Svitolina, from Ukraine, won 6-1, 6-2 in 1 hour 5 minutes. The world number five will now play Azarenka who on Wednesday beat Germany’s Laura Siegemund  6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour and 55 minutes. In an earlier match on Wednesday, Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit proved too strong for former world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany to reach the quarterfinals. Kontaveit completed a 6-1, 6-4 win in exactly one hour of aggressive tennis. It was 25-year-old Estonian’s fourth win over the German in five meetings. Maintaining the order for top players in the field, fourth seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic delivered a flawless performance to beat Anatasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia. Pavlyuchenkova, who had earned two wins over top-10 players this year, could not do much against her experience rival. Kvitova won 6-1, 6-3 for her 9th career win over the Russian. Kvitova will now play Kontaveit in the quarterfinals.   “I feel great to be back here and playing in front of these fans. I think we are lucky to be playing and enjoying in these tough times. We have played each other many times since I have been on Tour. I am just glad to be here,” Kvitova said. “It is always challenging to be playing against her. I just did well today.”   Also on Wednesday, Jessica Pegula of the United States beat former champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in straight sets. Pegula won 6-2, 7-5 in 1 hour and 18 minutes. In a fighting display, Greece’s Maria Sakkari on Wednesday beat Madison Keys of the United States. Sakkari, aged 25, won 6-2, 6-2. On Thursday, Pegula will meet Karolina Pliskova who beat Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.   In the quarterfinals on Thursday, Sakkari will meet Spain’s Garbine Muguruza who beat defending champion and third seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. Two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza won 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.