Qatar wins silver and bronze medals in Arab Boxing Championship

Khartoum, March 24, 2019- Qatar's boxing team won a silver medal and a bronze medal in the second Arab boxing championship, which took place in Sudanese capital Khartoum.Coach of the national team Juan Carlos praised the achievement, and said it was a great result given the lack of experience of the players. He noted that some of the players were participating for the first time in an Arab championship. He expressed his hope that the team can carry out more training camps in the future ahead of future competitions.Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdullah Al Banai who won the bronze medal said he was pleased with his result, especially given that his weight category has some of the best players in the Arab world and even internationally.

FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup concludes

Doha, March 24, 2019 – The 12th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup concluded at the Aspire Dome with five finals on the last day of the four-day competition. In the highly anticipated Horizontal Bar Croatia's Tin Srbic managed to beat his nerves by competing last, after waiting patiently for the other seven gymnasts to finish their programs. The 2017 Horizonal Bar world champion raised the highest score (14.400) to defeat by small margin, Japan's Hidetaka Miyachi (14.300).“It was a tough final in Doha, because it was like it was like a World Championships final with all these great competitors. It is always hard for me to go last, because I see everything and all the rivals competing before me. The scores were lower than I expected. I saw on the board that I needed over 14.3 to get the gold. I did the best I could, I know I can do a lot better. For now I am satisfied with what I did", were the winner's quotes.Miyachi presented a powerful program but he came just short. Cuba's Randy Leru was third (14.000). World Champion on this event and fan favorite, Epke Zonderland fell from the bar and managed only seventh position. Earlier the 2012 Olympics gold medalist Hakseon Yang earned his second World Cup victory of the season on the Vault. The Korean was awarded with 15.266 points from the judges, including a 15.466 score for his first vault. The winner of the first World Cup in Melbourne, Igor Radilov (Ukraine) with 14.916 points was second again to Yang after the 1-2 at the previous World Cup in Baku. “It is a long season, I am happy with my results so far. Next year everything will be clearer, regarding the Olympic qualification", Radilov said after the final. Armenian Artur Davtyan was third with 14.695, having suffered a fall in his second effort.China's Jingyan Zou put on an impressive performance on the Parallel Bars and took the victory with a great margin (15.700). Second in the final was Russia's Vladislav Polyasov (15.066) and Australian Mitchell Morgans third (14.566).Newcomer Qi Li (China) was the winner on the Balance Beam. The 17-year-old gymnast claimed her first victory in the women's category, by placing first with 14.333 points. Last time around Li was fifth in Baku. The smiling Li said after the victory ceremony" that “I am very happy, I was very nervous, so I made a lot of mistakes. I hope that in the next competition I will be better. My dream is to be included in the Chinese team for the World Championships in Stuttgart".Belgium's Nina Derwael added another medal to her bag. After the gold on the Uneven Bars, Derwael was second on the Balance Beam with 13.633. France's Marine Boyer completed the podium with a score of 13.333. Jade Carey (USA) achieved a second double. After her victory on the Vault on Saturday, the 19-year-old American took first place on the Floor as well with 14.466 points. Carey had already achieved such a success in the World Cup in Baku. “It feels really good just to be able to hit my routines this weekend and do well enough to win", were the words Carey used to describe her performance in Doha.The Italian duo of Lara Mori (13.433) and Vanessa Ferrari (13.300) finished in second and third place respectively.

Qatar wins 13 medals in Special Olympics World Games

Doha, March 24, 2019- Qatar's sports delegation that participated in the Special Olympics World Games in the UAE returned yesterday. They won a total of 13 medals (four gold, four silver, and five bronze).The winners of the gold medal were Saoud Al Sulaiti in badminton, Salma Al Hammad in the 100m sprint, Hamad Mubarak in powerlifting, and Shua Al Abdullah for roller-skating. The silver medals were won by Mohammed Ali Al Abd in shot put, Naif Al Jassim in badminton, Hamad Mubarak in powerlifting, and Bakhita Azab in softball throw. Bronze medals were won by Khalifa Al Dosari in roller skating, Hadam Al Jaber won two in powerlifting, and Mubarak Al Hebabi won two also in roller skating.Head of the delegation Mohammed Duhaim Al Dosari expressed his delight with the achievement of the athletes. He was also pleased that the athletes were part of 7000 from 190 countries who competed in various games. He also highlighted that their performance was extra special, because they had to endure a very long flight that exceeded 20 hours to Abu Dhabi.

Beach handball team gear up for Asian campaign

DOHA, March 25 , 2019 – Qatar's national beach handball team concluded its first stage of preparation for the upcoming 7th Asian Beach Handball Championship for senior Men and Women will take place from 15-22 June in China.The team played several friendly matches and conducted intensive training sessions over past period in preparation for major Asian beach handball event.The beach handball team is expected to start its second stage for Asian campaign by the end of the season.Qatar beach handball team list includes, Anadeen Solaukovic, Mahmood Zaki, Said Qanawi, Ameer Dangeer, Rasheed Yousif, Hamdy Ayyad, Motasem Abdulwahid, Hani Kakhi, Abdulrazaq Murad, Ahmed Al Minawi, Kamal El Deen Malash, Nasr Al Deen Magdeesh, Mahmood Obaidy, Hossam Roman, Marawan Sasi and Mohammed Zaki.

Qatar beat Nepal 5-0 in AFC U23 Championship qualifications

DOHA: March 25 , 2019- Qatar and Oman are set for a showdown that will decide the winners of AFC U23 Championship qualifying Group A after both sides won their respective matches here on Sunday.The hosts continued their trouble-free start to their campaign, producing a commanding second half performance to overpower Nepal 5-0.While Qatar delivered an impressive team performance, the match will be best remembered for the two sensational second-half goals scored by Bassam Al Rawi, who added to his rapidly-growing reputation with a superb individual performance.Qatar spent almost all of the first half on the front foot, but their attacking forays often came unstuck on the final pass, and they only managed two shots at goal in the opening 45 minutes, with Nepal unable to test their aim at all.Despite the lack of goalmouth action, the hosts did go to the break with a 1-0 lead after Abdullah Al Ahrak sent a penalty into the top corner in the 25th minute.Captain Al Rawi provided a moment of outstanding quality in the 54th minute, letting fly with an extraordinary 35-yard half volley which sailed beyond Nepali goalkeeper Arpan Karki and into the back of the net.An unfortunate Dinesh Rajbanshi own goal extended the lead further, before the brilliant Al Rawi produced another stunner in the 80th minute, this time sending a wonderful 30-yard free-kick into the top corner.In a moment Karki would prefer to forget, Al Ahrak added the final coat of gloss, scoring on the bounce with a speculative long-range effort in the dying minutes, as Qatar sealed a thumping win.Superior goal difference means Albert Caballeria's side will need only a draw against Oman to secure direct qualification on Tuesday while Nepal will play against Afghanistan.In an earlier match, Oman scored a narrow 2-1 victory over Afghanistan.

Qatar wins silver medal in Arab Boxing Championship

KHARTOUM, SUDAN, March 23, 2019 - The Qatari national boxing team confidently won silver medal in the conclusion of the 2019 Arab Men's Boxing Championships in Khartoum on Friday.Qatari boxer Thulasi Tharumalingam seized the silver medal and the runner-up place in 69kg event , following his defeat at the hands of last year's defending champion Sham El Deen Karamo of Algeria.Thulasi Tharumalingam represented Qatar in all levels of boxing in the recent years including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships.The Arab Elite Boxing Championships is being organized by Sudan for the second time in a row, with the participation of Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Palestine and Syria, as well as the hosting country Sudan.