QOA organizes new training courses

DOHA, March 18, 2019-The Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) hosted a number of training courses in March 2019 in several fields including media, psychology and management in light of its strategy to contribute to the development of the Qatari sport. The Sport Psychology Training Course being organized by the QOA in cooperation with Community Services and Continuing Education Centre at Qatar University and Asian South-Pacific Association of Sport Psychology began on Sunday On its first day, the training course highlighted the definition of sport psychology, sport psychosocial diagnosis and quality standards of diagnostic equipment.Dr. Yousri Marzouqi from Qatar University will deliver a lecture on Monday where he will focus lights on the new methods to build confidence and strengthen performance. ​

QOC winter camp hosts Al Messila Traditional Horse Race

DOHA, March 18, 2019-The winter camp of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) hosted Al Messilah Traditional Horse Race on Friday. The event featured the participation of 8 riders including Mohammad Abdullah Al Shamsi, Abdullah Rashed Al Mansouri, Abdullah Al Hajri, Nasser Mesfer Al Shahwani, Yousef Al Malki, Ali Qadi, Abdullah Al Amri and Rashed Al Khayarin. Mohammad Abdullah Al Shamsi claimed the first place ahead of Abdullah Rashed Al Hajri in the second place while Yousef Al Malki finished third. The medal ceremony was attended by Nasser bin Hamad Al Thani, Mansour bin Hadi Al Shahwani, Ghanim Al Muftan and Rashed Udaiba. Sheikha Reem bint Mubarak Al Thani said that this success will encourage us organize this event yearly as this sport reflects the Qatari legacy and tradition. She also thanked the sponsors for their contribution to the success of the event. Aysha bin Abdullah Al Naimi thanked the QOC for hosting the first edition of Al Messilah Traditional Horse Race. ​​

Qatar's Fahad Al-Abdulla wins bronze at Asian Youth Athletics Championships

HONG KONG, March 18, 2019 – Qatar's middle distance runner, Fahad A-Abdulla confidently claimed the bronze medal in the 400m event of the 3rd Asian Youth Atheltics Championship held in Hong Kong on Sunday.Al -Abdulla finished third with slim gap from the Singapore's Mark Bryan who won the event, mean while the second place went to Henry Feong of Hong Kong.Qatar's youth athletics delegation to the prestigious event represented by 14 athletes and headed by Mr. Mohammed Essa Al Fadalah, the Assistant Secretary general of Qatar Athletics Federation.

Marco and Esteban Grimalt win Katara Beach Volleyball Cup

Doha, March 17, 2019 – Marco and Esteban Grimalt won their second FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour gold medal in two weeks when they beat Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena in the Doha 4-Star Katara Cup on Saturday.The Chilean cousins beat the American pair 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) to add their first 4-Star gold to the Sydney 3-Star gold they won last Sunday.The Katara Beach Cup was the fifth time that Qatar has hosted a World Tour tournament. It began on March 12 and finished on March 16 at the Katara Cultural Village.“It was a crazy two weeks, and we are so proud of our team, our family and our country," Esteban Grimalt said. “I don't have words to describe our feelings right now.“When we started on the World Tour nine years ago it was against Dalhausser (and Todd Rogers) and now many years later we have beaten him in a final. It is a dream come true for us, but we want more and to keep improving."After the Grimalt won the Sydney 3-Star they flew 14 hours to reach the Qatari capital and competed in the qualification tournament on Tuesday. Their victory in Sydney was their second World Tour victory in the past year following gold at the Tokyo 3-Star in July.Much of the turnaround is down to the influence of Brazilian coach Paulo Moreira de Costa, better known as Paulao. He has many years of experience coaching on the World Tour and is now bringing it to bear on a team who made their Tour debut in 2011.“He is an excellent coach," Esteban Grimalt said. “He has given us so many new ideas and gives us so much information before every game. Because of that we are more prepared before every game. He is part of our team and it is a dream for all of us."For Dalhausser and Lucena the silver is their first World Tour medal since the won the Fort Lauderdale 5-Star in March 2018.The Americans enjoyed a long off-season and the Doha 4-Star was their first tournament since August 2018. They appeared back to their best in Doha and before the gold medal match had lost only one set in five matches.Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira won bronze when they defeated Poland's Grzegorz Fijalek and Michal Bryl. The Spaniards won 2-0 (21-17, 22-20).The bronze is Herrera and Gavira's first World Tour medal since they won silver at the Gstaad 5-Star and will provide them with vital points as they chase qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.“It was a tough match," Gavira said. “We were in the bronze medal match so I think we have played a good tournament and really, really happy to start the year like this. Now we have one week off at home and have to celebrate with family and friends and then work hard."

SOP Athletics and Shooting competitions conclude

DOHA, March 17, 2019- The athletics and shooting competitions at the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) in its 12th edition were concluded on Saturday.Fahad Ayed from Qatar School claimed the first place in 10m Air Pistol event for secondary schools. Abdulla Khalid Al Sulaiti finished second ahead of Abdullah Mohammad from Semaisma School in third place.In 10m Air Rifle event for secondary schools, Abdulrahman Al Yafei claimed the first place ahead of Jassim Yaqoub from Omer bin Al Khatab School in the second place while Abdulrahman Al Kuwari from Al Khaleej English School finished third.In 10m Air Rifle event for preparatory schools, Saad Al Sulaiti from Al Razi School took the first place ahead of Ali Al Beraidi from Mohammad bin Jassim School in the second place while Mohammad Al Kerbi from Semaisma School finished third.Ibrahim Al Mohannadi from Omer bin Al Khatab School led the standings of 10m Air Pistol Event for preparatory schools. Mohammad Al Emadi finished second while Rashed Al Naimi from Abi Obaida School settled in the third place.In 50m event for primary schools, Masoud Al Meraikhi from Saad bin Abi Waqas School claimed the first place. Nabil Yousef from Al Muthana bin Kharetha School finished second ahead of Moayad Yousef from Al Quds School in the third place.In High Jump Event, Masoud Al Meraikhi from Saad bin Abi Waqas School took the gold medal. Abdulaziz Al Qahtani from Heteen School and Yousef Ahmed from DPS School occupied the second and third places respectively.

Qatar Wins Three Medals in the Special Olympics

ABU DHABI, UAE, March 17, 2019 (QNA) - Qatar's special Olympics team won on Saturday three medals (one gold and two bronze) in their first day of participation in the Special Olympics World Summer Games taking place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.Shua Al Abdullah won gold for roller-skating, while Khalifa Al Dosari and Mubarak Al Hebabi won two bronze medals for competing in the same category. The Qatari delegation has 14 players participating. They are participating in six games; athletics, swimming, badminton, powerlifting, bowling, and roller-skating.Head of the delegation Mohammed Duhaim Al Dosari said that the Qatari team will participate in four of the games in Abu Dhabi and the other two in Dubai. He highlighted that Qatar is participating with new players in this edition, who are very determined to win medals. He expressed his hope that the players can get more medals in the coming days.Qatar Paralympic Committee under the presidency of HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saoud Al-Thani is committed to the integration of people with disabilities in society.