Qatar U-23 make perfect start to Asian Cup 2020 Qualifiers

Doha, March 23, 2019- Qatar's U-23 team began yesterday their Asian Cup 2020 qualifiers with a 2-0 win against Afghanistan, in the match they played in Aspire.Group A matches will conclude on March 26, when Qatar will play its third match against Oman. The team's second match against Nepal will be two days earlier. Qatar's U-23 had the perfect start and top their group with three points. Oman have the same number of points, but scored a goal less against. The Asian Cup 2020 gains even more important because it acts as the qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.Hassan Ahmed opened the scoring in the 15th minute from the spot kick. Abdullah Al Ahraq added a second in the 43rd minute.In the second encounter of the day, Oman easily dispatched Nepal in Aspire Academy. The first goal came in the 13th minute through Youssef Al Malki. The team managed to maintain the lead over the course of the match to get the three points.

FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup proves a huge success

DOHA, March 23, 2019- The 12th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup continued in style at Aspire Academy on Friday. The four-day event – which is a qualification event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics –features a total of 128 men and 60 women artistic gymnasts from 57 countries.Jade Carey of USA claimed the gold medal of the women's vault event. Russia's Maria Paseka and France's Coline Devillard finished second and third respectively.“I'm not sure. I'm just trying to get better each day and upgrading my level. Hopefully, I will make it," said Carey. Arguably the best female European gymnast of her generation, Belgium's Nina Derwael moved a step closer to seal an Olympic berth after she won the Uneven Bars gold on Friday evening.This was her third gold in as many visits to the Qatari capital after winning Uneven Bars titles in Doha World Cup and FIG World Championships last year.Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Philippines started where he had left off at the Aspire Dome last October when he won his country's maiden medal at the 48th FIG Artistic World Championships.On Friday, the 19-year-old returned to the iconic venue and regaled the handful of Filipino expats by winning a bronze in men's floor final at the 12th FIG ART Individual Apparatus World Cup.

Qatar's Thulasi to compete for Gold in Arab Elite Boxing Championships

Khartoum, March 22, 2019- Qatar will compete for gold medal in the second edition of Arab Elite Boxing Championships for men in the weight of 69 kg, as Qatari boxer Thulasi Tharumalingam will face his Algerian counterpart Chamseddin Kramo on Friday at the end of the championships which began March 17.Thulasi continued his victories in the tournament, where he managed to beat his Moroccan rival Sofiane Al Tachi yesterday in a strong match after three rounds.In preparation for tomorrow's decisive match, Thulasi held his training session today under the supervision of coach Juan Carlos, who praised the performance of the boxer so far, stressing his ability to win the gold medal, if he continued to fight with the same performance and with great concentration.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.

Curtains come down on football competitions at SOP

DOHA, March 22 , 2019 – The football competitions for private secondary schools of the Schools Olympic Program 2018-2019 were successfully concluded at the Aspire Academy indoor playground on Thursday.Palestinian school confidently won the trophy and the gold medal after beating rivals Tunisian school 1-0 in a thrilling final match held on Thursday.HE Rabea Mohammed Al Kaaby, the president of Qatar School Sports Federation (QSSF) and Ali Al Hitmi, the QSSF secretary General crowned the winners and the runners-up in a festive sport scene.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.

Asia’s top athletes to descend on Doha for Asian Athletics Championships

Doha, March 22, 2019 - Doha, the world-renowned athletics destination, is set to welcome Asia's top athletes in a month' time when the city plays host to the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships from 21-24 April at the iconic state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium.The latest edition of the continental athletics showpiece brings together nearly 1000 athletes and up to 450 officials from 45 countries, who will compete for top honours in the world's most populous continent.“I'm thrilled to welcome Asia's elite athletes to Doha, the global hub for athletics, where our outstanding facilities promise to deliver a flawless experience for everyone involved in the event," said Dahlan Al Hamad, President of the Asian Athletics Association and Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations.“Qatar is about to embark on an enthralling summer of first-class athletics with the IAAF Diamond League and IAAF World Athletics Championships to follow as top athletics events staged in Doha. There is no better way to test our preparations for such major events than hosting the Asian Athletics Championships," Al Hamad added.The four-day tournament takes place at Khalifa International Stadium where Innovative and environmentally friendly cooling technology has been successfully operating, ensuring optimal conditions for athletes and fans alike. Over morning and evening sessions in which participating athletes will compete for 186 medals in 21 men's events, 21 women's events in addition to a mixed relay event that makes its debut in the Asian Athletics Championships.The tournament 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 over the championship, China has taken over as undisputed champion for 17 consecutive editions until it was unseated by last edition's hosts and eventual winners, India.With top Asian athletes descending on Doha from the different regions of the continent, the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships will surely produce promising athletes who can then return to Doha in September and shine on the global stage when the city hosts the IAAF World Athletics Championships. “It's a great honour to welcome some of the finest athletes in the world to Doha for yet another major athletics event. As always, our facilities and infrastructure are ready to help athletes compete at their best and deliver an amazing atmosphere for fans of the game in Qatar and the region," said Qatar Athletics Federation President Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari.Along with the Diamond League round in May, Asian Athletics Championships will be the official test event of the IAAF World Athletics Championships, with all major operations, including the venue, transport and accommodation, set to be examined to ensure a smooth and spotless experience during the global showpiece.Doha has a proven track record of bringing international athletics to the region by staging the annual Doha Diamond League, World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2010 and Asian Games in 2006.

Qatar's Olympic Team to face Afghanistan in Asian Qualifiers

Doha, March 21, 2019- Qatar's U-23 team will begin Friday its bid to qualify for the Asian Cup 2020.The qualifications will take place in Doha from March 22 to March 26. Oman, Nepal, and Afghanistan will all take part in the group. Qatar will meet with Afghanistan in Aspire at 7pm Doha time. Oman and Nepal will meet on the same day, just two hours earlier. The final matches of the qualification will take place on March 26 at 7pm. A total of 15 teams will qualify to the Asian Cup in Thailand. The competition in turn acts also as a qualifier to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.The Qatari U-23 team played three friendly matches in preparation for the qualifiers. The first was against Al Arabi, which they won with four goals. The second match was against Iraq, which they lost 0-1. The final match saw them beat India 1-0.