Stage set for Qatar Total Open 2020

Doha, February 20, 2020-The draw of the Qatar Total Open 2020 will be held in Doha on Friday. The tournament will feature seven of the World top-ten players who are set to strut their stuff at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex from February 23 to 29, 2020. On the other hand, World No. 5 Bianca Andreescu of Canada and Great Britain's Johanna Konta, the World No. 14, have withdrawn the tournament as a result of knee injuries while USA's Danielle Collins, ranked 50th, will also not feature due to abdominal injury."I'm very sad to announce that I won't be able to compete in the Qatar Total Open in Doha next week. I'm not at 100% yet and following my team and doctor's recommendation I don't want to take any risk to reinjure my knee. Each day I get closer to being back to the court competing, but Doha is just too soon. Hope I can come and play in Doha next year!," said Bianca Andreescu on Wednesday.The latest development moves USA's Jennifer Brady, Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, and Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova into the main draw.For the qualifiers, Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas has also pulled out due to a yet to be confirmed injury. Russia's duo of Liudmila Samsonova and Natalia Vikhlyantseva, as well as Belgium's' Ysaline Bonaventure, have now been placed in the qualifiers.Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi said, "Though we would have loved to see Andreescu and the rest of the stars play at this year's tournament, we, however, understand that their health is more important at this moment. We wish them a speedy recovery and also wish them the best as we look forward to welcoming them to Doha in the future."Qatar Total Open 2020 is the 18th edition of the annual WTA Premier 5 tournament and this year's event carries a total prize purse of $2,939,695 .

Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship to begin on Thursday

DOHA, February 20, 2020- The competitions of the prestigious 34th edition of the Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship 2020 will get underway the Doha Golf Club on Thursday.More than 100 players from 39 countries will take part in the Championship, which has added importance as its winner, top three Qatari players and top three professionals will get to match their skills with some of the best players on the European Tour in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the Education City Golf Club (ECGC) from March 5 to 8.This is one of the oldest tournaments in the region and from last two years, the tournament has seen the participation of some of the best international professionals. This year's event includes 22 European professionals and 80 amateurs," he said.Organised by the Qatar Golf Association, the Championship has come a long way since its inception in 1983, when it was contested over a sand course in Umm Said, to become an international tournament qualifying tournament for the Qatar Masters.The spotlight will be on eight Qatari players – Saleh al-Kaabi, Ali al-Shahrani, Abdurahman al-Shahrani, Jaham al-Kuwari, Fahad Rizwan, Abdelaziz al-Muhannadi, Abdelaziz al-Boainain, Ghanim al-Kuwari and 47 other Doha-based golfers.Al-Kaabi's 2017 runner-up position is the best result for a Qatari in the championship. Some of the Qatari players are in good nick and will be hoping for an impressive outing in the event which will be a three-day Individual Strokeplay tournament with half the field advancing to Saturday's final round play on Saturday. The handicap limit for amateur players is nine.Last year, Danish youngster Mikkel Mathiesen, who has been a junior member at Doha Golf Club (DGC) for ten years, won the championship. The 18-year-old played remarkably well as his final round 70 with a birdie and a bogey earned him a seven-shot victory. He aggregated one-under 215, with the next closest player, England's William Shucksmith, at six-over. In the professional category, Poland's Adrian Meronk emerged as the winner.This is the third time professionals are participating in the tournament with the organising committee awarding the best three results a spot in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which has moved across the Qatari capital from Doha Golf Club for the first time in its 23-year history to ECGC – a landmark project for Qatar and the world of golf – which offers a revolutionary and holistic approach to growing the game.The winners of both the categories will receive a Royal Air Maroc round trip ticket.Tournament director Mohamed Faisal al-Naimi, Royal Air Maroc Country Manager Youssef Berchid, Ali Bin Ali General Manager Said al-Hajri and Rayyan Water Company's Trade Marketing Manager Arun Sreekumar were also present on the occasion.

Qatar to host Women’s Snooker world Championships

DOHA, February 19, 2020 – Qatar's Billiard and Snooker Federation (QBSF) intensified its managerial and technical preparations to host the first ever Women's Snooker Championship from 28 February to the first of March, 2020 in Doha.The prestigious event will be bringing together top 16 world players (women) to compete for the top honors. The World Snooker Championship is the leading snooker tournament both in terms of prestige and prize money.

Golfers ready to compete in Qatar Open Championship on Thursday

DOHA, February 19, 2020 - The stage is all set for the 34rd edition of the Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship, which will be held at the Doha Golf Club from February 20 to 22.More than 100 players from 39 countries will take part in the Championship, which has added importance as its winner, top three Qatari players and top three professionals will get to match their skills with some of the best players on the European Tour in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the Education City Golf Club (ECGC) from March 5 to 8.“In my opinion, it will be a very strong tournament with many professionals with very high rankings taking part. The professional section is growing every year since the time we introduced it three years back. Many players who cannot make it to the Qatar Masters will be trying to qualify for the event," Qatar Golf Association (QGA) general secretary Fahad al-Naimi said at a press conference at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.“This is one of the oldest tournaments in the region and from last two years, the tournament has seen the participation of some of the best international professionals. This year's event includes 22 European professionals and 80 amateurs," he said.Organised by the Qatar Golf Association, the Championship has come a long way since its inception in 1983, when it was contested over a sand course in Umm Said, to become an international tournament qualifying tournament for the Qatar Masters.The spotlight will be on eight Qatari players – Saleh al-Kaabi, Ali al-Shahrani, Abdurahman al-Shahrani, Jaham al-Kuwari, Fahad Rizwan, Abdelaziz al-Muhannadi, Abdelaziz al-Boainain, Ghanim al-Kuwari and 47 other Doha-based golfers.Al-Kaabi's 2017 runner-up position is the best result for a Qatari in the championship. Some of the Qatari players are in good nick and will be hoping for an impressive outing in the event which will be a three-day Individual Strokeplay tournament with half the field advancing to Saturday's final round play on Saturday. The handicap limit for amateur players is nine.Last year, Danish youngster Mikkel Mathiesen, who has been a junior member at Doha Golf Club (DGC) for ten years, won the championship. The 18-year-old played remarkably well as his final round 70 with a birdie and a bogey earned him a seven-shot victory. He aggregated one-under 215, with the next closest player, England's William Shucksmith, at six-over. In the professional category, Poland's Adrian Meronk emerged as the winner.This is the third time professionals are participating in the tournament with the organising committee awarding the best three results a spot in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which has moved across the Qatari capital from Doha Golf Club for the first time in its 23-year history to ECGC – a landmark project for Qatar and the world of golf – which offers a revolutionary and holistic approach to growing the game.The winners of both the categories will receive a Royal Air Maroc round trip ticket.Tournament director Mohamed Faisal al-Naimi, Royal Air Maroc Country Manager Youssef Berchid, Ali Bin Ali General Manager Said al-Hajri and Rayyan Water Company's Trade Marketing Manager Arun Sreekumar were also present on the occasion.

Palestinian School win SOP Private Secondary Schools Football Cup

DOHA, February 19 , 2020 – The Palestinian school displayed impressive football skills to win the cup of football competition for Private Secondary Schools of the prestigious 13th edition of Schools Olympic Program (SOP) 2020 held at Aspire Academy outdoor playground on Tuesday.Palestinian secondary school for boys have secured a deserving 2-0 victory over Lebanese counterparts in a crucial game Tuesday to win the cup of Private Secondary Schools (boys).At the victory ceremony, Mr. Saeed Al Marri, the Director of football affairs at Aspire Academy and Abdurrahman Al Moftah, the Executive Director of Qatar School Sports Association (QSSA) crowned the top three teams in a festive sport scene.The SOP is held annually as a collaborative effort of to encourage hundreds of students athletes competing from all over Qatar.The SOP Committee aims to spread a culture of sports through Qatar's schools and to engage the entire community in active and healthy lifestyles while retaining local values and traditions.

Aspire Academy to host SOP football final match

DOHA, February 18, 2020- The final match of football competitions for boys' private secondary schools at the 13th edition of School Olympic Program (SOP) will be staged today at Aspire Academy where Palestinian School will take on Lebanese School. Al Rayyan private school claimed the third place. On the other hand, Al Zubair bin Al Awam School, Cambridge School, Jaber bin Hayan School and Um Al Qura School qualified to the semifinals of football competitions for boys' primary schools. The semifinals will be staged on Tuesday, February 25 where Al Zubair bin Al Awam School will take on Umm Al Qura School while Jaber bin Hayan School will shake hands with Cambridge School. The SOP is a national program that covers all the schools in Qatar. The SOP Organizing Committee aims to promote a culture of sports throughout Qatar's schools and to engage the entire community in active and healthy lifestyles while retaining local values and traditions.