Skeet event at Qatar Open Shotgun Championship to begin on Friday

DOHA, March 1, 2019 – The skeet ompetitions at the Qatar Open Shotgun to will get underway on Friday at Lusail Shooting Range.In Friday's competition, hosts side is represented by Nassir Al Attiyah, Abdulaziz Al Attiyiah, Rashid Saleh, Masood Saleh, Hassan Al Manae, Reem Al Sharshani, Amal Ahmed, Hagir Mohammed.Qatar Open Shotgun Championship is witnessing participation of 280 shooters from 38 nations, including Qatar , Australia, Croatia, China, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, USA, Ukraine, Malaysia, Poland, Peru, Pakistan, Lithuania , India, Georgia, Denmark and UK.More than 100 shooters (men and women) took part in skeet training sessions at Lusail Shooting Range on Thursday.

LGCT season opener kicks off

DOHA, March 01, 2019-With attendance of HE Sheikh Joaan in Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha kicked off in style yesterday with a win from Maikel van der Vleuten in the first CSI5* class of the weekend.As the curtains lifted for the first time in the 2019 Championship, over 50 riders took to AL SHAQAB's magnificent arena to contest for the win in the first competition of the year.The first speed class of the LGCT 2019 season was a flat out thriller as Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) took the win by over half a second from the flying Frenchman Simon Delestre (FRA) coming over the line in 24.40 seconds. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) riding Que Bueno de Hus Z finished in 3rd place just 0.03 seconds slower than Simon's time of 24.98 seconds proving how tight and fast the competition was. In Team Event, Monaco Aces kicked off their 2019 GCL campaign in determined style combining speed and pinpoint accuracy to take the lead going into Saturday's showdown. Ten out of the 16 teams jumped double clears as it quickly became clear the new GCL teams had more strength and depth and motivation is at an all time high to win the championship. The fresh Aces duo of Jos Verlooy and Marlon Monolo Zanotelli, teaming up for the first time after transferring from other teams, were almost three seconds faster than Hamburg Giants who finished in second place ahead of Shanghai Swans in third.

Doha set to host LGCT and GCL season opener

DOHA, February 27, 2019-The state-of-the-art Al Shaqab arena will open the 14th season of Longines Global Champions Tour and the fourth year of Global Champions League from tomorrow. The three-day five-star event will host over 50 world class riders from 17 different countries as the spectacle of showjumping returns to Doha.Until last season, Al Shaqab held the season-ending leg of the LGCT and GCL but the organisers have opted to get the ball rolling for this season in Doha. Qatari Olympians Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohamed will lead the home charge, with the reigning LGCT champion and 2018 Grand Prix of Doha winner Ben Maher of Great Britain looking for an encore. Two-time overall champion and Super Grand Prix winner Edwina Tops-Alexander returns to a venue she has previously performed well as will leading riders.Omar al-Mannai, Commercial Manager of Al Shaqab spoke of the importance of hosting an event like LGCT and GCL in Doha, alongside other premium events such as tennis, golf, MotoGP and athletics.“This event is in line with the Qatar vision of 2030 - as the sporting hub. With the federations and infrastructure available in Qatar we have to use them in the best way possible in order to show our capability of hosting international events and prove the big part that Qatar plays (in global sporting events). The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the (pinnacle) of this and will contribute to (the vision of) Qatar as a sporting destination. LGCT is one of the best events in the world."Al-Mannai also praised Sheikh Ali for inspiring the next generation. “Sheikh Ali is a role model for all the young people who are taking part in this sport and we wish him all the success for this edition of the LGCT. We have many plans that contribute to forming and training the young riders of the future," he said.LGCT president and founder Jan Tops said the top class infrastructure and organisation at Al Shaqab makes the Doha leg one of the most anticipated events of the year. “I am very happy to be in Doha - we call this our second home. We have been here for many years and have a great relationship with Al Shaqab and the Qatar Foundation. Everyone is watching the start of the season to see which horse and rider combinations are on form in the LGCT and GCL Championship. The focus from around the world is on Doha and this amazing facility."Last week the GCL teams were announced, with exciting rider changes and new faces taking part in the series. Tops said: “This year the teams are stronger than ever. On top of that we have the success of the GC Playoffs in Prague last December, which is an exciting new concept for the riders."As the champions of show jumping gather at Al Shaqab for the first event of the 2019 season, there was praise for the impact the circuit has on motivating young riders and Qatar's national riders. Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, runs special programmes to encourage youngsters to take up riding and train to become future athletes, and with the GCL team series providing a global platform for under-25 competitors to train and gain experience on, the future is bright for the next generation of show jumping talent.A youth camp will run alongside LGCT Doha, with 8-18 year old athletes able to meet and watch many of their international heroes. Mohamed al-Suwaidi, Equine Education Manager at Al Shaqab said: “The idea was to seize the opportunity of this event, we are the first institution to put this together and we can focus on riders who have talent. We have some of the best facilities in the world - the horses, riders and staff. The people love it."Competing for the home city team, the Doha Falcons, Sheikh Ali highlighted the importance of the Championship and the calibre of competition. “LGCT is world famous - it includes the best riders in the world and participating in this event allows us to continue to improve. We cannot elevate our level if we don't compete again the best, so it is very important for our team to do this. As a Qatari team we are interested in the GCL as it is not possible to participate in many team competitions and to have team spirit is very important for us."However Sheikh Ali admitted the GCL team line ups look particularly formidable this season. “We will work hard to be in the top 5 - we will do our best but the teams are strong so our objective is to be the best we can."The action starts at 14:45 tomorrow, with the first round of GCL Doha kicking off at 5:45pm. Home team Doha Falcons will be in action, and have three riders on their roster this weekend - looking to play to their strengths in front of their local crowd. Friday will see two top level competitions, before the GCL Doha winners are revealed at 14:30 local time on Saturday.The climax of the weekend, the LGCT Grand Prix of Doha kicks off at 17:45 local time, with riders not only vying for the win but also the first golden ticket to the GC Playoffs and the LGCT Super Grand Prix.

Faris Al-Bakri shines in Mussanah Race Week

Mussanah, February 27, 2019-Qatar's Faris Al-Bakri claimed the second place in Laser Radial event at Mussanah Race Week concluded recently. Tobias Sandmo Birkeland of Norway led the standings of the event while Qatar's Waleed Al Sharshani secured the fifth place. On the other hand, Qatar's Ghanim Al Sewaidi took the sixth place in Laser 4.7 event. Abdullah Yousef Al Sulaiti, President of the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation congratulated the players on their achievements and stressed that these results came as a result of the support from the Qatar Olympic Committee under the leadership of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani.

SOP football competitions enter quarterfinals stage

​DOHA, February 28 , 2019 – The football competitions for government and private schools (preparatory stage) continued successfully at prestigious the Schools Olympic Program 2018-2019 Aspire Academy Indoor playground on Wednesday.In Wednesday's competitions, Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad school, Religious Institute, Abo Obeida bin Jarrah school, Ali bin Abi Taleb school, Bahavan Al Wakrah, D Pack, Cambridge and Sudanese school booked their spots in the last eight stage.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.

Students gets more experience about Gymnastics

DOHA, February 28, 2019 - Students of Moza bint Mohammed primary school received more experience and knowledge about gymnastics during an exceptional visit from Qatar gymnastic team members to the school building on Wednesday.The retired Qatar gymnast Shaden Wahdan and teammate Duhaa Al Habashi paid a productive visit to the school and briefed the students about gymnastics.The two gymnasts visit to the school came on the frame of Qatar Olympic Committee's celebration of its 40th Anniversary.