Chess competitions at SOP concluded

DOHA, March 30 , 2019 – The Chess competitions for both boys and girls schools were successfully concluded in the Schools Olympic Program 2018-2019 on Tuesday.In the girls' individual event, Giro Parsad from LDMIS school claimed the first place, while teammate from the same school Niraj Akankishi grabbed the runner-up place and the third place went to Rowda Qasiba from Newton International School.In Boys' individual event, Sharma Takish from LDMIS school won the first place, his teammate Fergisi Tom siezed the second place and the third place went to Rahool Balamornga.The SOP is held annually as a collaborative effort of Qatar School Sports Federation (QSSF) and Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with hundreds of student athletes competing from all over Qatar.The SOP committee aims to spread 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.

Stage set for 2019 Doha Diamond League

DOHA, April 30, 2019-This year Doha Diamond League has its 10th anniversary and the organisers are looking forward to celebrating this milestone with another night of world class athletics. The Khalifa International Stadium will be the place for this celebration on the 3rd of May, just months before the venue hosts the IAAF World Championships this autumn.The IAAF Diamond League came into being in 2010 and the first ever Diamond League meeting took place at the Qatar Sports Club on 14 May. Three meeting records set that year remain on the books with David Rudisha's 1:43.00 in the 800m, Eliud Kipchoge's 12:51.21 in the 5000m and Barbora Spotakova's winning mark of 67.33m in the javelin all lasting the test of time thus far.Kenyans Rudisha and Kipchoge and Czech Republic's Spotakova - all of whom are still active - have amassed eleven global titles as a triumvirate and are just three of the all-time greats of the sport who have competed in the Doha Diamond League over the years. The Doha Diamond League has traditionally raised the curtain on the IAAF Diamond League series and it has been a source of immense pride to the organisers that so many global champions choose to open their outdoor seasons at the Doha Diamond League each year.This year is no different as eight reigning world champions, nine reigning Olympic champions and nine reigning Diamond League champions at the time of writing are all due to compete at the tenth anniversary edition of the Doha Diamond League on 3 May.Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) President Dr. Thani Al Kuwari said: “It has been a privilege and an honour to welcome the world's best athletes to the Doha Diamond League for a decade. We have a new venue this year and I've heard the athletes are very excited to compete in the Khalifa International Stadium, especially as the IAAF World Championships will be taking place in the same arena later this year.“We have seen from times and performances at the recent Asian Championships that the track in the Khalifa International Stadium is exceptionally quick so we are certainly hopeful that we will see some meeting records - and maybe even a Diamond League record - at our new home on 3 May."Last year's edition was arguably one of the best to date as five meeting records were set across the programme. Croatia's Sandra Perkovic highlighted the meeting by setting a Diamond League record of 71.38m in the discus - one of five Diamond League records which have been set in Doha - while home favourite Abderrahman Samba won the 400m hurdles in 47.57.The performances of Samba, who improved his Diamond League record to 46.98 in the Paris Diamond League last year, and his compatriot Mutaz Essa Barshim in recent seasons have also added to the local interest in the Doha Diamond League. Barshim, the reigning world outdoor champion, also won in Doha last year with a 2.40m clearance in the high jump. The Doha Diamond League is also fondly remembered by fans and spectators for two outstanding performances in the field events in recent seasons. History was made in 2015 when Cuba's Pedro Pablo Pichardo and Christian Taylor from the United States both surpassed the 18-metre line in the triple jump - the only competition in which two athletes have surpassed 18 metres in wind-legal conditions - and two years later, Germany's Thomas Rohler produced the world's longest javelin throw in twenty years, winning the competition with a Diamond League record of 93.90m. There will no doubt be even more scintillating performances at the Khalifa International Stadium on 3 May.

Qatar win GCC Tennis Championship

DOHA, April 29, 2019-The GCC Tennis Championship for Men and Juniors (U12&16 Years) was concluded at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Sunday.The championship was organized by the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) in cooperation with the GCC Tennis Organizing committee.In addition to Qatar, the tournament featured the participation of Kuwait and Oman.Qatar claimed the first place in Men's event ahead of Kuwait in the second place while Oman finished third. Qatar also led the standings of boys under 16 years event. Oman and Kuwait occupied the second and third places respectively. In boys under 12 years event, Qatar took the first place ahead of Kuwait in the second place while Oman settled in the third place. The QTF President Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi was delighted by the success of the tournament and dedicated the Qatari victories to the Qatari wise leadership. Al Khelaifi also thanked HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee for his support to the Qatari tennis.

Qatar's Al Tamimi shines in ISSF Rifle/ Pistol World Cup

Beijing, April 29, 2019 – Qatar shooting Star, Mohammed Al Tamimi confidently clinched a qualifying number (567 points) in the Men's pistol 25m at the ongoing ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in China's capital of Beijing on Sunday.This number will pave his way to the Shooting World Cup will take place from 24- 31 May in Germany.In a post-event press release on Sunday , Al Tamimi confirmed his ambition to achieve a qualifying card will help him competing in the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

Qatar curling team participate in World Mixed Doubles Championship 2019

Norway, April 29, 2019-The Qatari curling team participated in the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2019 concluded in Stavanger, Norway on Saturday. Sweden claimed the gold medal after beating Canada by 6-5 in the final match.The tournament featured the participation of 45 nations including; Qatar, Belarus, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, Austria, Brazil, Guyana, Hungary, Netherlands, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Turkey, Australia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Nigeria, Wales, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Scotland , Slovakia, England, Finland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and United States. The state of Qatar was represented by Mubaraka Al Abdullah and Nasser Al Yafei. During the 2019 edition, the Qatari team defeated Saudi Arabia 7-3 in their first ever victory in the event.

Qatar Beach Volleyball team win bronze in Xiamen

Xiamen, China, April 29, 2019-Qatar's Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan won the bronze medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Xiamen Open after a come from behind victory against Italy's Enrico Rossi and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich (13-21, 21-15, 15-10).The Italians were in control of the first set taking an early five-point lead and pulling away after a number of costly Qatari errors. The second set was a different story and a run of big blocks from Younousse pushed Qatar ahead 15-8 and sent the match into the tie-break.In the third set, Younousse and Tijan came out powerfully and took back control of the match and earn their third FIVB bronze medal.“Thank goodness we finished the game, it was tough in the beginning, but we managed to come back in the second and third, but it wasn't easy. Especially with this weather and the condition. It was a tough game against them and we were feeling a little bit tired from yesterday. But we were so focused on the third place so that helped us to come back after the first set," said Younousse.“We just focused because it's not easy with this kind of sky-ball, it's very hard with the wind, you have to concentrate a lot. But fortunately, we could receive the balls. They are such a good team, but we gave 100 per cent and got the results and getting this bronze medal is so good for us," said Tijan.Russia's Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Oleg Stoyanovskiy won the title after defeating Spain's Pablo Herrera Allepuz and Adrián Gavira Collado, 2-0 (21-19, 21-13).