Al Adaam wins bronze in Polish Goalball Open Championship

DOHA June 17 , 2019 – Qatar's goalball team confidently clinched the bronze medal of the Polish Goalball Open Championship 2019 which was concluded in Poland on Sunday.The bronze medal went to Qatar , following their hard-fought 6-5 victory over Italian opponents with golden goal format , while Algerian team claimed the first place after defeated hosts Poland 15-11.The prestigious event brought together 9 teams pooled into two groups, group A included Italy, Poland youth team and Poland senior team, while group B has seen Qatar, Czech Republic, Algeria team (A) and Poland team (B).

Qatar hit back to snatch Paraguay draw in Copa America debut

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil , June 17, 2019 - Boualem Khoukhi scored 13 minutes from time as Asian champions Qatar hit back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with Paraguay at the Copa America on Sunday.An Oscar Cardozo penalty and a stunning Denis Gonzalez strike gave the South Americans a 2-0 lead in Rio de Janeiro but goals from Almoez Ali and Khoukhi in the final quarter snatched a share of the Group B spoils for the tournament debutants.It left the sides two points behind Group B leaders Colombia, who opened their account with a 2-0 win over Lionel Messi's Argentina on Saturday.Tournament invitees Qatar made a disastrous start with a defensive mix up in the first minute causing panic in their own area.The Asian champions survived but Paraguay kept the pressure on and a couple of minutes later had won a penalty for handball after a Bruno Valdez header struck Portuguese-born full-back Pedro Miguel's arm.Cardozo hammered the resulting spot kick straight down the middle of the goal to give Paraguay a fourth-minute lead.Qatar should have equalized on 16 minutes but incredibly two players missed an open goal.Left-back Hassan Abdelkarim flashed an inviting center across the six yard box where Sudanese-born Ali and Hasan Khalid Al Haydos both somehow contrived to completely miss the ball from just a couple of yards out.Qatar were neat and tidy in possession but initially lacked the cutting edge and ruthlessness that Paraguay showed.The South Americans threatened to double their lead but Fabian Balbuena headed over and Hernan Perez forced a smart save from goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb.Qatar had another great chance to equalize after Al Haydas's beautiful chipped pass found Abdulaziz Hatem six yards out at an angle, but he blasted a volley straight into goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez's chest.Paraguay looked to have doubled their lead on 51 minutes when Cardozo turned home a Miguel Almiron cross, but VAR adjudged Gonzalez to have been offside in the build-up.Five minutes later, though, Gonzalez himself scored the second with a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner.Qatar were back in it halfway through the second period with a special strike of their own as Ali's shot from the corner of the 18-yard box took a nick off a defender's foot and arched over Fernandez into the top corner, drawing cheers from the sparse crowd inside the Maracana stadium.And the Asian champions were level 13 minutes from time after opening up the Paraguay defense with a slick passing move.Akram Afif slipped in Algerian-born Khoukhi, running in at an angle between full-back and center-back.His finish hit Fernandez's knee and ballooned up into the air where the back tracking Rodrigo Rojas attempted to head it off the line but succeeded only in putting the ball into the roof of the net and then injured himself falling into the goal.

Qatar to face Paraguay in Copa America on Sunday

DOHA, June 16, 2019 - RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Qatar's national football team will be aiming for positive result and a credible fighting performance when they make their Copa America debut on Sunday.Qatar team has intensified training sessions in Brazil ahead of their Copa America campaign in the last few days. The team is scheduled to face Paraguay in its opening match in Brazil on Sunday.Qatar will play against Colombia on June 19 and will take on former World Cup champions Argentina on June 23.Coach Felix Sanchez side are placed in Group B along with Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia. Asian champions Qatar are currently training in Porto Bela, a coastal town near Rio.The Copa America will take place from June 15 to July 7 at six stadiums in five cities with the participation of 12 teams. Qatar and Japan are the invited teams for this year's Copa America.The Qatari team is taking part upon an invitation sent to the Asian champion by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), to be the first Arab team to participate in this tournament.Meanwhile it was announced on Friday that key defender Bassam Al Rawi has been declared fit for the team's Copa America clash on Sunday.Asian Cup hero Al Rawi was injured before the team's international friendly against Brazil on June 5. The 21-year-old has returned to training, the team announced on Saturday.Qatar defender Tariq Salman on Saturday underlined the team's preparation saying the entire squad for the new challenge.“Copa America is a tough competition that will provide every player with tough tests. It will help us build capacity to take on tougher teams," Salman said.“Playing on Brazilian grounds like the famous Maracana Stadium is a great challenge for our players. We hope to give our best and to enjoy this atmosphere in this historic stadium," he added.“I hope we will succeed and achieve a positive result," Salman said.

Qatar opens Asian Beach Handball campaign with victory

CHINA , May 16 , 2019 – Defending Champions, Qatar beach handball team recorded a convincing victory over Philippines opponents in its opening match in the 7th Asian Beach Handball Championship for senior Men and Women held in China on Friday.Qatar team made impressive opening match to defeat Philippines 22-28) and keeps its title dream alive from early stage.The championship serves as a qualifying event for the 2020 IHF World Beach Handball Championships to be staged in Italy.The winners and runners-up will book spots in the upcoming 2020 IHF World Beach Championships, also the winners will qualify to 2019 ANOC World Beach Games.Qatar is playing in group (A) beside Vietnam, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Philippines while group (B) includes Oman, Iran, Thailand, Pakistan, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Qatar train ahead of Sunday's Copa America opener

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, June 15 , 2019 – Qatar's national football team is strongly looking for perfect result and honorable performance when begin campaign in the prestigious Copa America on Sunday.Qatar team is intensifying training sessions in Brazil ahead of their Copa America campaign. The team is scheduled to shake hands with Paraguay in its opening match in Brazil on Sunday.Qatar will play against Colombia on June 19 and will take on former World Cup champions Argentina on June 23.Coach Felix Sanchez side are placed in Group B along with Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia. Asian champions Qatar are currently training in Porto Bela, a coastal town near Rio.The Copa America will take place from June 15 to July 7 at six stadiums in five cities with the participation of 12 teams. Qatar and Japan are the invited teams for this year's Copa America.The Qatari team is taking part upon an invitation sent to the Asian champion by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), to be the first Arab team to participate in this tournament.

Qatar to play Philippines in Asian Beach Handball Championship

CHINA , May 15 , 2019 – The Qatari beach handball team will lock horns against Philippines in the prestigious 7th Asian Beach Handball Championship for senior Men and Women in China on Friday.The championship serves as a qualifying event for the 2020 IHF World Beach Handball Championships to be staged in Italy. The winners and runners-up will book spots in the upcoming 2020 IHF World Beach Championships, also the winners will qualify to 2019 ANOC World Beach Games.Qatar will play in group (A) alongside Vietnam, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Philippines while group (B) includes Oman, Iran, Thailand, Pakistan, Japan and Saudi Arabia.