Team Qatar taekwondo athlete inspires next generation through school visit

DOHA, February 21, 2019: Team Qatar's Othman Abdelmalik 2018 World Taekwondo Beach Champion visited grade 5 students of Umm Al Qura boys school yesterday. He gave a short presentation highlighting his achievements, his personal experiences and his goals as he prepares for his next championships. The schoolchildren enjoyed a demonstration of the Poomsae and asked many questions showing their interest in the sport of taekwondo.Students ages 10 -11 years old were excited to welcome Othman to their school with his taekwondo equipment. They also had the opportunity to see and hold his medals, leaving the students wondering if they too could become champions one day. During Othman's presentation, he introduced himself and explained the different types of taekwondo and went into details about his own expertise, the Poomsae. Some of the students took part while Othman demonstrated some of the techniques and many asked questions about the sport and his experiences during a Q&A session.Team Qatar's Othman Abdelmalik commented on his school visit:" I really enjoyed my visit to the school today. It makes me happy to see young children showing interest in Taekwondo. It is a sport practiced by people of all ages, so I was glad I could share my experience and I hope I was an inspiration for the students to take up the sport."The 33-year-old taekwondo athlete started practicing the sport when he was 10 years old encouraged by his father and has been on the Qatar National Team since then. In 2003 Othman won his very first gold medal at the GCC Championships which kept him motivated to continue practicing the Poomsae. In 2018 Othman claimed his greatest achievement when he won the gold medal at the World Taekwondo Beach Championships in Greece. The Qatar Olympic Committee would like to thank Um Al Qorra boys' school, its Director and teachers for their support and collaboration to promote sport among their students. The QOC also thanks the school for providing all the equipment and setting the place to stage a very useful and interactive session between Team Qatar's athlete Othman Abdelmalik and their schoolchildren. QOC is celebrating its 40th anniversary on 14th March, marking tremendous successes in the different sports fields and all levels in its short history. Throughout its journey, the QOC has committed its mission to promoting sports and physical activities in the country. Since its new brand launch in 2017 the QOC refreshed its image to focus on uniting, inspiring and engaging the community through Team Qatar athletes. In support of the QOCs 40th anniversary, the QOC is arranging for 40 Team Qatar athletes to visit 40 schools in Qatar this year. The key objectives of these visits are to raise awareness of Team Qatar's athletes and the various sports by introducing them to schoolchildren in order to increase the level of physical education and healthy lifestyle amongst the younger generation.

Qatar leads GCC Junior Athletics Championships

DOHA, February 21, 2019- The 2019 GCC Junior Athletics Championships began at Qatar Sports Club on Wednesday. The event is organized by the Qatar Athletics Association (QAF) with participation of three nations including Kuwait, Oman and hosts Qatar. HE Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the QAF announced the championships open on Wednesday. Qatar led the standings of boys' competitions on the first day with 141 points. Kuwait took the second place with 57 points while Oman finished the first day in the third place with 50 points. In girls' competitions, the state of Qatar led the standings with 76 points ahead of Kuwait in the second place with 40 points and Oman in the third place with 25 points. ​The 2019 edition of the GCC Athletics Championships is one of 4 major athletics championships to be staged in Doha this year as it will be followed by the Asian Athletics Championships in April, the IAAF Diamond League in May and the IAAF World Athletics Championships from September 28 to October 04.

Qatar team arrives in Muscat for Oman Sailing Championship

Muscat, Oman, February 20 ,2019 – Qatar sailing team arrived in Oman's capital of Muscat on Tuesday to participate in Oman International Sailing Championship 2019 organized by Oman Sailing Committee.Qatar team is represented by promising sailor Ghanem Al Suwaidi and alongside experienced sailors Fares Al Bekeri, Waleed Al Sharshani who will compete in 4.7 class under the supervision of coach Khalid Batit and administrator Hassan Jassim.The prestigious championship will bring together elite sailors representing different teams from GCC , Arab world, Asia and Europe.

Third round of SOP football competitions concludes

DOHA, February 20, 2019-The third round of football competitions at the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) in its 12th edition was concluded on Tuesday. Khalifa Model School and Al Shorouk Model School qualified to the quarterfinals. Khalifa School defeated Abi Hanifa School 2-0 and overpowered Kamal Naji School 4-2 while Al Shorouk School downed Kamal Naji School 3-1. In Group (B), Umm Salal School and Semaisma School reached the quarterfinals. In private schools' competitions, Oscar Academy, Al Faisal Academy, Doha Academy and Al Noor Private School made it to the quarterfinals. 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 students competing from all over Qatar.The SOP committee aims to promote 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.

Draw held for 2019 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

Bangkok, February 20, 2019-The draw for the 2019 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship was held in Tehran, Iran on Tuesday. The championship will be held in Tehran, Iran in September 2019. Qatar will player in group (A) alongside Iran and Australia. The top two teams in each group will qualify to quarterfinals which will be held in Knockout format.

GCC Junior Athletics Championships to begin on Wednesday

DOHA, February 20, 2019-The Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) will host the 2019 GCC Junior Athletics Championships at Qatar Sports Club with participation of three nations including Kuwait, Oman and hosts Qatar. The QAF President HE Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari chairs the event's higher organizing committee while the QAF Secretary General Mohamed Essa Al Fadhalah acts as Director of the Championships to begin on Wednesday. The QAF Secretary General Mohamed Essa Al Fadhalah stressed that Doha is set to host the 2019 edition of the championships. The GCC Athletics Championship is one of 4 major athletics championships to be staged in Doha this year as it will be followed by the Asian Athletics Championships in April, the IAAF Diamond League in May and the IAAF World Athletics Championships from September 28 to October 04.