Barshim and Samba donate Olympic and Continental Cup kit to IAAF Heritage Exhibition in Doha

DOHA, April 12, 2019-Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and Abderrahman Samba have donated kit to the IAAF Heritage Collection which will be on display at the IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhibition, which opens in City Center Doha shopping mall in one week's time.Barshim, the reigning world high jump champion, has donated his London 2012 Olympic Games competition vest and number, while Samba has given the bodysuit which he wore when winning the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018 400m hurdles title.At the exhibition opening ceremony on the evening of Thursday 18 April, the Qatari stars, who are the second-best all-time performers in their respective events, will officially hand over their donations to IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Dahlan Al Hamad, IAAF Vice President and Director General of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee.“The opening of the exhibition, just three days before the Asian Championships begin, is a major step on the road to the start of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in September," said Barshim, the 2017 IAAF World Athlete of the Year. “I'm really pleased that my London 2012 kit which I wore when taking my first Olympic medal will be on public show, helping to promote the excitement of athletics and the best of Qatari sport."Samba, the 2018 Asian Games champion was equally excited. “The IAAF Continental Cup last summer was my first major global victory, so I'm delighted that the bodysuit from that race will be in the exhibition and will be preserved long term in the IAAF Heritage Collection. I hope its display will help inspire more Qataris to take up sport and to turn out to support Qatar's national team at the World Championships," confirmed Samba.Joining Barshim and Samba on stage at the Opening Ceremony will be three all-time greats: Britain's Liz McColgan, 1991 world 10,000m and 1992 world half marathon champion, Finland's four-time Olympic champion Lasse Viren and Poland's Anita Włodarczyk, the two-time Olympic and three-time world hammer throw champion and world record holder.

Air Pistol and Rifle competitions conclude at HH Amir Championship

DOHA, April 11, 2019 - The competitions Air pistol and Rifle 10m event were successfully concluded at the prestigious HH Amir Shooting Championship 2019 at Losail shooting range on Wednesday.In Men's pistol event, Ahmed Al Shammari claimed the first place ahead of Osama Al Sheeba who managed in the second place , while the bronze medal went to Talal Al Ali.In Youth Pistol event, Mosfer Al Marri won the first place, Fahad Ayad claimed the runner-up place and Abdulrazaq Al Mohannadi finished in the third place.In sub-junior pistol event, Mohammed Al Shammari finished first, Ibraheem Al Mohannadi in the second place and the third place went to Abdullah Al Hagiri.

Tickets go on sale for 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in Doha

Doha, April 11, 2019- Athletics fans in Qatar, Asia and all over the world can now secure their tickets for the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships after the competition's Local Organising Committee put the tickets for online sale on the competition's official website.The competition takes place at the air-conditioned Khalifa International Stadium from 21-24 April and brings together nearly 700 athletes and over 400 officials and coaching staff from 43 countries, who will compete for top honours in the world's most populous continent.Starting at an affordable QR 30, tickets provide a wide array of options for the public, whether athletics fans or those looking to learn about the game. Among the ticket options on sale are a group of unique selections, including traditional Arab majlis seats, “follow your champion," and finish-line tickets, with all the innovative types allowing an exclusive way of watching the event.Up to 7,000 tickets will be available for purchase per each day of the competition, including a family deal that allows for two adults and two children to secure tickets with a 15% discount. People with disabilities and 1 accompanying person will enter for freeTicket options mirror those on offer at the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships, which Doha hosts in September for the first time in the Middle East. Asian Athletics Championships serves as an official test event for the World Championships, and the LOC will trial all major operations, including the venue, transport and accommodation, to ensure a smooth and spotless experience during the global showpiece in less than six months.“Today marks yet another milestone in the journey of welcoming the world of athletics to Doha. In less than three weeks, we will show the world how ready our world-class facilities and infrastructure are to host the biggest of athletics events. Asian Athletics Championship is the biggest IAAF event in the continent, and we are ready to pleasantly surprise our guests," said Dahlan Al Hamad, President of the Asian Athletics Association and Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).“The 23rd Asian Athletics Championships will be significant not only for bringing together Asia's elite athletes but also because it allows us to put our organizational capacities into examination ahead of the World Championships," Al Hamad added.The 23rd Asian Athletics Championships will be staged across four action-packed days divided into morning and evening sessions. The morning sessions start at 8:00 am and the evening sessions begin at 4:00 pm.Nearly 700 elite Asian athletes will compete for 186 medals in 21 men's events, 21 women's events, and a mixed relay event that makes its debut in the Asian Athletics Championships.The competition will see the usual continental powerhouses go head-to-head for the number one spot in Asia's athletics. After an initial period of Japanese dominance at the championship, China took over as undisputed champion for 17 consecutive editions until it was unseated by last edition's hosts and eventual winners, India.Tickets are available for purchase through the official website: https://athleticsasianchampionships2019.ticketmaster.gr/asianathletics-ww/showProductList.html

Al Wakrah wins Qatar Handball League title

DOHA, April 10, 2019 - Al Wakrah SC confidently claimed the title of Qatar's Men Handball league 2019 after defeating Duhail 22-18 in a crucial match took place in Duhail Sport Arena on Tuesday.Tuesday's victory braced Al Wakrah to raise points tally to 49 points and grabbed the league title, ahead of Duhail who settled in the runner-up place with 47 points.In other fixtures, Qatar SC defeated Al Sadd 31 – 25 , Al Gharafah outclassed Al Ahli 25-19, Al Rayyan beat Al Khor 27-25 and Al Arabi defeated Al Shamal 34-27.

Shooters sparkle in HH Amir Championship

​DOHA, April 10, 2019 - The competitions of the prestigious HH Amir Shooting Championship 2019 continued successfully at Losail shooting range on Tuesday.In Tuesday's event, shooter Elizabeth Shakova claimed gold medal in Women's air rifle 10m event, Shahad Darwish seized the silver medal while the bronze medal went to Hassa Al Binali.In Air rifle 10m junior (ladies),Rawada Al Kuwari won the gold medal, Jawhara Al Kuwari managed in the second place , while Maha Al Ali seized the bronze medal.In beginners category (ladies), Ghazalan Al Kaabi won the first place, Entisar Al Sulaiti grabbed the runner-up place, while Dana Al Kaabi finished in the third place.

GCC Olympic Committees meeting concludes

Muscat, April 10, 2019-The 31st meeting of the Council of Presidents of GCC National Olympic Committees was held in Muscat, Oman on Tuesday.The meeting was attended by HE Mr. Jassim bin Rashed Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).The meeting approved the formation of the GCC Dispute Resolution Authority to be based in Bahrain. The Authority's board of directors will include secretaries general of the GCC Olympic Committees, executive director of the authority and representative of the GCC Secretariat General.The meeting, chaired by Sheikh Saif bin Hilal Al Hosni, Acting Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee, also congratulated the state of Qatar on winning the title of 2019 AFC Asian Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.The QOC Secretary General HE Mr. Jassim Al Buenain thanked the officials of the Oman Olympic Committee for hosting the meeting and for their efforts to strengthen the GCC joint action.Jassim Al Buenain also thanked the presidents and representatives of the GCC Olympic Committees for congratulating the state of Qatar on winning the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.Another decision was the formation a team including the Oman Olympic Committee and Kuwait Olympic Committee to prepare a vision draft of joint sport cooperation in the GCC countries.On international cooperation, the GCC meeting emphasized the continuation of cooperation in the field of sport between the GCC and both Jordan, and Morocco.