Al Subaie Finishes Fifth in Ice hockey at 2020 Winter Youth Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 16, 2020- - The Qatari player, Thawab Al Subaie, finished in fifth place in the 3x3 ice hockey competition of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland.The competitions witnessed the participation of 1,800 athletes representing 76 National Olympic Committees.This participation was Qatar's first participation in the Winter Olympics. Al Subaie came close to qualifying for the next round but only the first four spots advance to the next round.Al Subaie joined a team of different nationalities and participated with his team in several matches where his team finished in fifth place. The 2020 Winter Youth Olympics continues until January 22.

Team Qatar line up for Asian Men’s Handball Championship

Kuwait, January 15, 2020-Defending champions Qatar arrived in Kuwait yesterday to participate in the Asian Men's Handball Championship – a qualifying event for the 2021 World Championship in Egypt.Qatar are in Group B of this year's Asian Championship alongside Japan and China. They will start their campaign against China on January 16.Group A includes Bahrain, Iran and New Zealand while Group C comprises South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Hosts Kuwait, UAE, Hong Kong and Iraq form Group D.After the preliminary stage in Kuwait, top two teams from each group – divided into two groups – will feature in the main round before the event advances to the semi-finals.Qatar Squad: Ahmed Maddi, Abdul Rahman Tariq, Rafael de Costa Capote, Alauddin in Al-Rashid and Rashid Youssef Amin Zakar, Mahmoud Zaki, Daniel Sirch, Wajdi Senan, Anis Al-Zawawi, Hani Kakhi, Mustafa Al-Karad, Mustafa Hiba, Yassin Sami, Hassan Awad, Muhammad Amin, Marwan Sassi, Youssef bin Ali, Frances Carroll and Mario Tomek.​​​

Qatar to take on Japan in AFC U23 Championship

Bangkok, January 15, 2020-Qatar coach Felix Sanchez will lead his team into their final Group B meeting with already-eliminated Japan on Wednesday knowing they must secure a win to advance to the quarterfinals of the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020.Sanchez's side have drawn both of their opening games – against Syria and Saudi Arabia – to sit in third place in the standings on two points, two points adrift of the leading duo with just one round of matches remaining.With the Syrians and Saudi Arabia due to face each other at Thammasat Stadium, a two-goal win over Hajime Moriyasu's side at Rajamangala Stadium would be enough to guarantee the Qataris a place in the next round, regardless of the result of the other group match.“It's our last group game and it's very important," said Sanchez, who has taken the West Asian nation to the semi-finals of this competition in each of the last two editions. “We know it is going to be a very difficult one. This generation of Japan is a good one and they have a great squad at this level but we have to show we can compete against teams like that."Despite coming to Thailand with high hopes of a run deep into the tournament, Japan are already out of contention for a quarter-final berth after back-to-back defeats in their first two games.As a result, their focus has started to shift towards the nation's hosting of the Olympic Games in July and August.The loss against Syria coupled with the opening day defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia means Moriyasu's side have no chance of progressing to the knockout rounds of a tournament the Japanese won in 2016.Moriyasu, who also doubles up as head coach of the country's senior side and who led Japan to the final of the AFC Asian Cup last January, accepted he was to blame for his side's struggles at the tournament in Thailand.“I think I have to show more ability than I have in selecting the squad for this tournament," said Moriyasu. “It was a really disappointing result and we don't know who will be in the final squad for the Olympics. We still have a large group and we still have the overage players who can come in and strengthen the team that will be playing at the Olympics."​

Students show high skills in SOP competitions

DOHA, January 14, 2020 – The secondary schools volleyball competitions of 13th edition of the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) 2019-2020 continued impressively at the Qatar's Volleyball Association in Doha on Monday.In the Monday's fixtures, Ummsaieed school defeated Tarek bin Ziad 2-0, Omar bin Khatab outclassed Rowdat Rashid 2-0, Sumaisma beat Mohammed bin Abdulwahab 2-0.On the same track of victory, Religious Institute defeated Jassim bin Mohammed 2-1, Sumaisma beat Ummsaieed 2-1 and Omar bin Khatab won Tarek bin Ziad 2-1.In the preparatory schools' volleyball competitions, Philippines defeated Bhavans Public school 2-0 and Cambridge outclassed Noble International 2-0.In the basketball competitions for secondary schools for girls, Tunisian school defeated Lebanese counterparts 7-4, Al Arqam Academy beat Al Andulas 16-3 and Shimaa school defeated Aisha bint Abi Bakr 10-6.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.

Team Qatar eye full points against Japan

Bangkok, January 14, 2020-Qatar football team stepped their preparations for their crucial match against Japan in Group B of the AFC U23 Championship on Wednesday.Team Qatar began their campaign in the championship which serves as a qualification event for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a 2-2 draw against Syria then they also drew with Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Syria lead the standings of Group B with four points ahead of Saudi Arabia in the second place and Qatar in third place while Japan occupy the last place. Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez has urged his players to put aside their results against Syria and Saudi Arabia and focus on winning all three points when they Japan on Wednesday.

Sheikh Joaan attends IOC Public Affairs and Social Development Commission meeting

Lausanne, January 13, 2020-HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani attended the second meeting of the IOC Commission for Public Affairs and Social Development Through Sport held today in Lausanne, Switzerland under the leadership of Mr. Luis Moreno and with attendance of the IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach.During the meeting, the members discussed the strategies of developing sport and Olympic movement in international community and the recent achievements made by the IOC.Dr. Thomas Bach gave a keynote speech, focused on the latest updates of Olympic movement, appreciated the efforts of members and the significant role of the Commission for Public Affair and Social Development through Sport in boosting IOC's role as a pioneering organization in the field of thought , also as strong representative at global sport arena and a key player in boosting international development and peace.Work agenda topics and necessary decisions been taken were also reviewed during the meeting.On other hand, HE the QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani attended the Ice Hockey competitions on Monday evening, where team Qatar's player Thawab Al Subaey participated in as a part of the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne.