OCA President Crowns Beach Volleyball Champions at Sanya 2026

Sanya (China), April 30  (QNA) – His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), crowned the top three finishers of the beach volleyball competition at the 6th Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026, currently taking place in the People’s Republic of China.Qatar produced a stellar performance in the final to clinch the gold medal after overcoming Iran, who secured the silver, while Thailand completed the podium with the bronze medal following a hard-fought victory over Oman.His Excellency congratulated the medal-winning teams on their remarkable achievements, praising the athletes for their high technical standards, strong competitive spirit, and exemplary embodiment of Olympic values throughout the tournament.He further stated that the competition reflects the continued growth and rising standards of beach sports across Asia, reaffirming the OCA’s commitment to advancing these disciplines and providing world-class platforms that enable Asian sporting talent to shine on the international stage. 

Team Qatar Take Silver at Sanya 2026, Capping Remarkable Beach Handball Campaign

Sanya (China)– Qatar’s beach handball team concluded a remarkable journey at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games with a well-earned silver medal, following a narrow 1–2 defeat to Iran in a gripping final decided by the finest of details on Wednesday.Despite falling just short in the title match, Qatar’s performance throughout the tournament reflected resilience, quality, and championship character. The team surged through the competition with victories over Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Jordan, before securing top position in their group with a win against Thailand. A confident semi-final triumph over Bahrain then paved the way to the final showdown.In the battle for bronze, Thailand defeated Bahrain 2–0 to complete the podium.This latest achievement adds to Qatar’s distinguished record in beach handball, which features multiple continental titles and consistent global success. With three Asian Beach Games crowns, a World Games silver medal, and two World Championship bronze finishes, Qatar continues to affirm its place among the sport’s leading nations.

Cherif and Ahmed Crowned Sanya 2026 Champions as Qatar Secure Beach Volleyball Gold

Sanya (China) – Qatar’s beach volleyball duo Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan were crowned champions at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games, clinching the gold medal with a commanding 2–0 victory over Iran (21–15, 21–12) in Wednesday’s final.The triumph marks the culmination of a dominant and steadily rising campaign by the Qatari team. The duo topped Group B with a perfect record, defeating Maldives, Uzbekistan, and Iran, before overcoming Qatar’s second team in an all-Qatari Round of 16 clash. They then continued their impressive run by defeating China in the quarter-finals and Thailand in the semi-finals, before sealing gold in emphatic fashion.Thailand secured the bronze medal after defeating Oman 2–0 in the third-place match.Cherif and Ahmed are widely regarded among the world’s elite, having achieved a string of remarkable milestones, most notably their Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, alongside consistent performances on the international circuit that underline their enduring excellence.Qatar’s success in beach volleyball at the Asian Beach Games reflects a sustained trajectory of growth. After claiming bronze at Phuket 2014, Qatar asserted its dominance at Da Nang 2016, winning both gold and silver medals, a testament to the nation’s rising stature on the continental stage.On this occasion, Ali Ghanem Al Kuwari, President of the Qatar Volleyball Association, dedicated the gold medal to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and to H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar Olympic Committee, in recognition of their continued support and patronage of the sport. He also extended the dedication to the Qatari people for their unwavering backing of national teams.Al Kuwari highlighted that Sheikh Joaan’s leadership at the continental level has played a pivotal role in elevating Qatar’s sporting standing across Asia, positively impacting various disciplines, including volleyball, which continues to achieve outstanding results.He further noted that the formation of the Cherif–Ahmed partnership in 2016 marked a defining moment, with the duo establishing themselves as a consistent force on both Asian and global stages. Their return to the top of the podium following their 2016 gold reflects sustained planning, development, and competitive excellence.Al Kuwari emphasised that the increasing competitiveness of the tournament, marked by several upsets, underscores the challenge of not only achieving success but maintaining it. He also pointed to the federation’s long-term vision, which includes expanding the talent base, developing youth categories, and preparing for major upcoming events, notably the Asian Olympic qualification tournament in September and the FIVB World Championship Qatar 2029.

Qatar Wins Hammer Gold at Arab U20 Athletics Championships

Tunis, (QNA) - Qatar's athlete Abdulrahman Ibrahim secured the gold medal in the hammer throw on the fourth day of the Arab U20 Athletics Championships, currently taking place in the Tunisian capital with the participation of 320 athletes representing 15 countries.Ibrahim topped the competition with a winning throw of 72.79m, marking his best performance of the season.With this victory, Qatar's athletics team increased its tally to nine medals, four gold, two silver, and three bronze, with further medal prospects as Faisal Mohammed and Abu Bakr Idris qualified for the 400m hurdles final.Qatar is represented in the 21st edition of the championships by a strong group of young athletes competing across multiple disciplines, including Yusuf Abdulaziz and Mohammed Kala (400m), Mubarak Saeed (1500m and 3000m), Idris Abu Bakr (110m hurdles), Faisal Mohammed and Abu Bakr Idris (400m hurdles), Samer Hassan, Abdul-Sadiq Mohammed, and Mohammed Musa (4x400m relay), Ibrahim Zakaria and Abdullah Al-Abdullah (pole vault), Hamad Dawi and Mohammed Jimi (discus throw), and Abdulrahman Mohammed (hammer throw). 

OCA President Crowns 3x3 Basketball Champions in Sanya 2026

Sanya, April 30  (QNA) - HE President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani crowned the winners of the 3x3 basketball competition at the 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026, currently taking place in Sanya, People's Republic of China.Qatar's national team claimed the gold medal, while Thailand secured silver, and China took bronze.HE the OCA President said the competitions reflected the rising standard of performance in beach team sports, praising the strong level of competition and the high-quality displays delivered by the participating teams.  

Qatar Table Tennis Team Set for World Team Championships in London 2026

DOHA – Qatar’s men’s table tennis team will launch its campaign at the 2026 World Team Championships in London on Tuesday, as the prestigious tournament runs through May 10, bringing together the world’s elite in one of the sport’s biggest global events.The championship features 64 men’s teams and 64 women’s teams, with the contenders divided into 16 groups of four teams each, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive battle for international honours.Qatar’s squad is made up of Mohammed Abdulwahab, Fahad Al Mughni, Abdullah Abdulwahab, Sultan Al Kuwari, and Rawad Al Nasser, under the guidance of head coach Vitaly Nekhvedovich. The national delegation departed Doha on Monday ahead of the opening matches.Drawn in Group H, Qatar will face Serbia in its opening fixture on Tuesday, before taking on Luxembourg on Wednesday and Croatia on Thursday in a challenging group-stage schedule.Qatar secured its place at the 2026 World Championships following a series of encouraging performances at the Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar, India, last year.Hamad Ahmed Al Hammadi, President of the Qatar Table Tennis Federation, affirmed that the national team has undergone thorough preparations for the tournament through an intensive domestic training camp and participation in several local competitions.Al Hammadi acknowledged the strength of Qatar’s group, noting that the team will face opponents ranked higher in the world standings, while expressing confidence in the players’ ability to deliver a strong performance on the global stage.He also emphasised that competing at the World Championships will provide invaluable preparation for Qatar ahead of its participation in the 4th Gulf Games in Doha next month.Al Hammadi further revealed that the International Table Tennis Federation will stage a special centenary celebration next Saturday, adding that he will also attend the Federation’s General Assembly meeting in London next Sunday.