Qatar’s Younousse and Tijan in AVC Beach Tour semis in Thailand

Samila: Qatar’s top beach volleyball pair, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan powered into the semi-finals of the 2026 AVC Beach Tour - 25th Samila Open in Thailand on Tuesday after a flawless run marked by dominant straight-sets victories.The Qatari duo, former Olympic bronze medallists, and Asia’s top beach volleyball pair, topped Pool B with authority before continuing their momentum in the knockout rounds.They secured their semi-final place with a convincing 21-9, 21-7 win over China’s Li Wei and Du Hongjun, then followed it up with another clinical performance against Kazakhstan’s Bogatu Sergey and Kirill Gurin, winning 21-16, 21-18 in Round 2. Younousse and Tijan will now face Australia’s D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse in the semi-finals. Earlier in the tournament, the Qatari pair opened their campaign with a dominant 21-7, 21-8 victory over Hong Kong’s L.F. Lee and C.H. Lee.They then edged Oman’s Hood Al Jalaboubi and Alhashmi Mazin in a competitive three-set encounter, winning 21-16, 18-21, 15-8. The Samila Open has drawn 27 teams from 15 countries, divided into eight pools, with a combination of three-team and four-team groups, setting the stage for a highly competitive tournament. 

FEI Group VII Finals at Al Shaqab from today

Doha:  The FEI Group VII Finals kick off on Wednesday at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab, bringing together more than 100 riders from across the region. Running over four days, the championship will feature junior, youth, and senior athletes competing for a total prize purse of €318,000.In a milestone addition, this year’s event introduces the Under-25 (U25) class for the first time. Sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the category is designed for riders aged 16 to 25 and is already established across Europe and the United States.The U25 class runs alongside the Longines Global Champions Tour, contributes to international rankings, and offers a vital pathway for emerging talent to gain top-level competitive experience.Competition begins from 5pm to 8.30pm, opening with junior and youth classes at heights of 110cm and 120cm, followed by the U25 class at 135cm.The second day continues with individual and team competitions across all categories, with jumps ranging from 110cm to 140cm.On Friday, action starts at 2:00 PM with a local junior class, followed by team competitions for juniors and youth. The highlight of the day will be the U25 Grand Prix at 145 cm, scheduled for 9.30pm. The championship concludes on Saturday with a full afternoon of junior and youth competitions, featuring heights up to 135cm.Tournament Director Sheikh Talal bin Khalid Al Thani highlighted the event’s continued growth, noting steady improvements in both organization and competition level. He emphasised Qatar’s rising prominence on the international equestrian stage and its commitment to developing the sport.“The introduction of the U25 category marks a significant step forward,” he said.“It strengthens the development pathway for young riders, helping them progress to elite levels while gaining valuable international experience ahead of major global competitions.” 

QOC President crowns Al-Rayyan HH the Amir Handball Cup Champions

Doha: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, crowned Al-Rayyan as HH The Amir Handball Cup champions for the 2025–2026 season after defeating Al-Arabi 28–26 in the final match held today at Duhail Arena.H.E. Sheikh Joaan presented the championship trophy and gold medals to Al-Rayyan, with Al-Arabi taking silver medals.The final witnessed a high technical level from both sides. Al-Arabi finished the first half ahead (16–12), but Al-Rayyan mounted a strong comeback in the second half, overturning a four-goal deficit to secure a two-goal victory and claim the title.This marks Al-Rayyan’s fifth title in the competition’s history, having previously won in the 1997–1998, 2000–2001, 2008–2009, and 2009–2010 seasons.Al-Rayyan reached the final after defeating Al-Wakrah 27–23 in the quarter-finals and overcoming Al-Duhail 24–21 in the semi-finals. Al-Arabi advanced after beating Al-Sadd 31–25 in the quarter-finals and Al-Gharafa 29–16 in the semi-finals.This is Al-Rayyan’s first title of the season, while Al-Arabi had already secured three titles: the Federation Cup, Qatar Cup, and the league.Al-Sadd remains the most successful club in the competition’s history with eight titles, followed by Al-Ahli, Al-Duhail, and Al-Rayyan with five titles each. Al-Jaish have won four titles, Al-Arabi three, and Al-Wakrah one.President of the Qatar Handball Association, Ahmed Al-Shaabi, congratulated Al-Rayyan on winning the title, praising their performance in the final against Al-Arabi.Al-Shaabi said: “We congratulate Al-Rayyan on winning HH The Amir Handball Cup and concluding the season on a strong note,” while also commending Al-Arabi for their efforts.He also praised the overall atmosphere of the final, noting the high technical and organizational standards, as well as the strong fan attendance that contributed to a fitting conclusion to the season.

Qatar Gears Up for Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 with 34 Athletes

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced that it will participate with a delegation of 34 male and female athletes in the Asian Beach Games, set to be held in Sanya, China, from April 22 to 30, 2026, with the participation of 1,790 athletes, competing across 14 sports.Mr. Abdulla Al Abdulla, Deputy Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation, confirmed during a press conference held at the QOC headquarters on Sunday that Qatar will compete in 7 sports: beach volleyball (men and women), basketball (men and women), beach handball, sailing, aquathlon, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling.Al Abdulla noted that Qatar’s participation in the Asian Beach Games comes as part of the QOC’s commitment to maintaining an active presence in various continental sporting events and to strengthening the country’s sporting presence on the Asian stage.He added that Qatari teams have completed their preparations for the Games through comprehensive training programs overseen by the respective sports federations in coordination with the QOC, emphasizing that the delegation aims to deliver strong performances and compete for medals in a number of sports, particularly beach handball and beach volleyball, in addition to individual disciplines.The Deputy Head of Administrative Delegation further highlighted that the Games are expected to feature a high technical level, given the participation of elite athletes from across Asia, which presents significant challenges requiring Qatari athletes to demonstrate peak readiness. He explained that the primary objective of participation extends beyond results, focusing on maximizing technical benefits by providing athletes with opportunities to compete against diverse sporting schools and gain valuable competitive experience in a multi-sport environment. He added that this participation represents an important step in the development pathway of Qatari athletes, contributing to enhancing their performance levels and readiness for upcoming continental and international events.Al Abdulla also reviewed Qatar’s history in the Asian Beach Games, which began with the inaugural edition in Bali 2008, followed by Muscat 2010, and Haiyang 2012, where Qatar secured its first gold medal through the handball team. Qatar later achieved 12 medals in Phuket 2014 (2 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze), and 7 medals in Da Nang 2016 (5 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze), reflecting the country’s consistent presence in the Games.For his part, Mr. Mohammed Al-Zaidan, Head of the Team Qatar Media Delegation, announced the launch of the promotional campaign accompanying Team Qatar’s participation in the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026. He explained that the campaign comes as part of efforts to support the athletes of the Qatari delegation and enhance their media presence throughout the competition period. He added that the campaign aims to motivate both fans and athletes, while also highlighting the achievements of Qatari athletes.Al-Zaidan further noted that the campaign will focus on showcasing Qatar’s key tourist attractions and the beauty of its beaches, under the slogan “From the Shores of Doha to the Shores of Sanya,” reflecting the connection between sport and tourism and contributing to the promotion of Qatar’s coastal destinations. These include Katara Beach, Old Doha Port, Lusail Marina, the Doha Corniche, The Pearl Island, and 974 Beach.He also emphasized that the campaign will deliver diverse digital content that captures the atmosphere of the competitions and enhances audience engagement, as part of an integrated media vision aimed at projecting a positive image of Qatari sport at both the continental and international levels across the Committee’s platforms and various media outlets in the country.The Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 will feature 1,790 athletes competing in 14 sports: 3x3 basketball, aquatics (open water swimming and water polo), aquathlon, athletics, handball, kabaddi, football, volleyball, wrestling, rowing, jiu-jitsu, sailing, sport climbing, and teqball. 

Qatar Open Campaign with Win over Oman at AVC Beach Tour Samila Open

Bangkok: Qatar’s leading beach volleyball duo, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan (Team Qatar 1), secured a strong start to their campaign at the 2026 AVC Beach Tour – 25th Samila Open, currently underway in Thailand, after defeating Oman in three sets.The Qatari pair prevailed 21-16, 18-21, 15-8 in a competitive encounter, demonstrating composure and control in the decisive set to claim their first victory in Group B.Team Qatar 1 will resume their campaign on Monday with a second group-stage match against Hong Kong (1), as they aim to strengthen their position in the standings.In Group A, Qatar’s second team, comprising Mohamed Ihab and Mousa Al Khair, will open their campaign on Monday against Hong Kong (2), before facing Thailand (1) later on the same day.The tournament brings together 27 teams representing 15 countries, distributed across eight pools, with five groups featuring three teams each, while Groups F, G and H include four teams. 

Team Qatar Beach Volleyball duo advance to round of 16 at Asian Open in Samila

Bangkok:  Team Qatar’s beach volleyball duo, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan (Team Qatar 1), advanced to the Round of 16 at the Asian Beach Volleyball Open – Samila, which began on Sunday in Thailand and runs until Wednesday, featuring 27 teams from 15 countries.Team Qatar (1) secured qualification after defeating Hong Kong (1) in straight sets in their Group B match today, winning 21-7 and 21-8. The victory saw them top the group with a perfect record (6 points), having also defeated Oman on Sunday. Oman finished second with five points, while Hong Kong (1) exited the tournament in third place.Following this result, the Qatari team will face China in the Round of 16 tomorrow (Tuesday), aiming to secure victory and progress to the quarterfinals.Meanwhile, Team Qatar (2), consisting of Mohamed Ihab and Mousa Al Khair, exited the competition after suffering two defeats in Group A. They lost to Hong Kong (2) in three sets (19-21, 21-7, 7-15) and were then defeated by Thailand (1) in straight sets (12-21, 16-21).Qatar’s participation in the tournament forms part of an integrated preparation program, which will continue with a training camp in Thailand from April 16 to 19, ahead of the Asian Beach Games – Sanya, scheduled to take place in China from April 22 to 30.