Action continues in SOP Ramdan Football Tournament

Doha : Competition remains intense in the 19th edition of the Secondary Schools Ramadan Football Tournament, organized under the School Olympic Program (SOP), as matches continue at Qatar University’s pitches.In Group Five, Lycée Voltaire shared the points with Omar bin Abdulaziz Secondary School following a 1–1 draw. Lycée Voltaire later delivered a strong performance to defeat Cairo Private School 5–1.With these results, Lycée Voltaire finished top of Group Five with 7 points, securing qualification to the Round of 16. Khalifa Secondary School followed in second place with 6 points to book the group’s second qualifying spot.Group Six fixtures also produced competitive encounters. Al Manar International School claimed a 2–0 victory over Ibn Taymiyyah Secondary School, while Qatar Science and Technology School defeated Al Furqan Secondary School 4–1. Ibn Taymiyyah Secondary School responded with a 4–1 win against Al Furqan, before Qatar Science and Technology School concluded the group stage with a commanding 6–1 triumph over Al Manar International School – Al Thumama.At the end of Group Six, Ibn Taymiyyah Secondary School advanced to the next round with 6 points, while Al Furqan Secondary School secured second place, also on 6 points. 

Qatar beach handball team line up for Asian Games in China

Doha: The Qatar Handball Association has announced the start of preparations for Team Qatar’s beach handball squad ahead of the Sixth Asian Beach Games, set to be held in China in April 2026.The preparations come as the team aims to preserve its remarkable golden record and continue its continental dominance in the sport.According to the training program approved by the National Teams Committee, the first training sessions officially began last Thursday at the beach handball courts of Al Gharafa Sports Club.The announced program includes seven intensive training sessions scheduled on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, running until March 11, to ensure the highest levels of physical and technical readiness before the team travels to China.The technical staff has called up the following players: Hasnain Aziz Bouzar (Al Ahli), Malek Faisal Sousso (Al Duhail), Osama Bakr Mousa (Al Duhail), Saifeddine Al Bashir (Al Rayyan), Osama Al Toumi (Al Rayyan), Al Sadiq Adel Fathallah (Al Rayyan), Mohammed Hassan Saleh (Al Wakrah), Hassan Bashir Mohammed (Qatar SC), Abdulrahman Helmi Dakhil (Qatar SC), and Bilal Masoud Mararha (Al Khor).The Qatari team enters this edition of the Asian Beach Games as the overwhelming favorite, backed by an exceptional history that includes winning the gold medal in the last three editions it contested: the Third Asian Beach Games in China (2012), the Fourth Asian Beach Games in Thailand (2014), and the Fifth Asian Beach Games in Vietnam (2016).Team Qatar is also seeking to relive its golden memories on Chinese soil, as the third edition in China in 2012 marked the beginning of Qatar’s dominance over Asian beach handball gold. 

Strong competition marks SOP Ramadan Football Tournament

Doha : The 19th edition of the Secondary Schools Ramadan Football Tournament, organized under the School Olympic Program (SOP), continued at Qatar University’s pitches amid broad participation. This year’s tournament brings together 32 teams, representing 13 government schools and 19 private schools.Group C fixtures in the opening phase produced high-scoring encounters and competitive performances, underlining the intensity of the tournament.The Preparatory and Secondary Religious Institute opened its campaign with a solid 3–0 victory over Global Academy – Muaither. Meanwhile, the Jordanian School delivered an emphatic 5–0 win against MES Indian School Abu Hamour.MES Indian School Abu Hamour responded strongly after its initial setback, defeating the Preparatory and Secondary Religious Institute 2–1. The team also secured a 3–3 draw against Global Academy – Muaither in an evenly matched contest that showcased attacking quality from both sides.In one of the most exciting matches of the round, the Preparatory and Secondary Religious Institute defeated the Jordanian School 6–3 in a nine-goal encounter that highlighted the competitive spirit of the group.At the conclusion of Group C, the Preparatory and Secondary Religious Institute finished top with 6 points from three matches, registering two wins and one loss. The team scored 10 goals and conceded five to claim first place on goal difference.The Jordanian School also earned 6 points from two wins and one defeat, scoring 11 goals and conceding seven, to finish second and qualify for the next stage alongside the group leaders.MES Indian School Abu Hamour placed third with 4 points, while Global Academy – Muaither ended fourth with one point.In Group D, West Virginia Academy secured first place with 6 points from three matches (two wins and one loss), scoring five goals and conceding three to advance on goal difference.Beverly Hills followed in second place, also with 6 points from two victories and one defeat, scoring four goals and conceding two, to book a spot in the next round after a balanced overall performance.The Sudanese School concluded its participation in third place with 6 points, having scored six goals and conceded five. Despite equaling the top two teams on points, it exited the tournament in a group that remained tightly contested until the final whistle. 

Qatar Olympic Committee Ramadan Tournament Begins in the Spirit of Sport for All

DOHA – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Ramadan 2026 Tournament got underway on Tuesday evening with men’s shooting competitions (individual and family categories) and men’s singles table tennis matches. The tournament, organized for QOC employees and their families, runs from 24 February to 5 March 2026 at the Lusail International Shooting Complex, in a vibrant Ramadan atmosphere filled with unity, energy, and sporting spirit.The opening day featured shooting and table tennis competitions, along with traditional games and recreational activities for children. A range of community services were also provided by the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan), Qatar Diabetes Association, Cyber Sports Events Center, and Naseem Medical Center. The program included an Olympic quiz segment and the distribution of prizes to participants.In the shooting (singles) event, Khalid Nasser Al-Rumaihi claimed first place, while Mohammed Ahmed Al-Rumaihi finished second. In the shooting (doubles) event, the duo of Khalid Nasser Al-Rumaihi and Abdulrahman Al-Rumaihi secured first place, with Salem Abdulhalim and Abdulrahman Abdulhalim coming in second. Meanwhile, in the men’s table tennis singles event, Mohammed Abdulsalam captured first place, while Khalid Al-Akkad finished as runner-up.This year’s tournament includes five diverse sports: shooting, table tennis (introduced for the first time), padel, football (making its debut), and beach volleyball. The variety reflects the QOC’s commitment to expanding its sports programs and enhancing competitiveness and renewal in each edition.Football competitions will take place from 1–2 March, featuring teams from the General Secretariat, the Shooting Federation, the Procurement and Logistics Department, the Public Relations Department, and the Sports Events Department. Beach volleyball matches will be held from 3–5 March, with teams representing the President’s Office, Sports Events Department, Procurement and Logistics Department, Shooting Federation, Public Relations Department, and Sports Affairs Department.Mr. Mana Ahmed Al- Jael, Director of the QOC Ramadan Tournament 2026, confirmed that this year’s edition includes 250 participants. He explained that the addition of table tennis and football came in response to a staff survey, allowing participants to select sports that suit their physical abilities and personal interests.He also noted that the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, as the host entity, will participate for the first time in football and beach volleyball competitions, after successfully hosting five previous Ramadan editions at its venues.Employees’ Impressions:Abdulaziz Al Balushi, employee from the QOC Public Relations Department, expressed his appreciation to the organizing committee for its outstanding efforts, praising the expansion of activities this year and the increased participation across five sports, while affirming his pride in taking part in all of them.Mahmoud  Ahmed Elgharably, employee from the International Cooperation and Communication Department, said he was delighted to participate for the first time, especially in his favorite sport, table tennis, thanking the organizing committee for providing opportunities for everyone to join.Strong Participation from Social, Sports, and Medical Institutions:Through the involvement of the Ehssan Center, people  with special needs , the Qatar Diabetes Association, and Cyber Sports Events Center, the QOC continues to promote sports culture and Olympic values, reinforcing the concepts of “Sport for All” and “Sport for Life” as part of its social and sports responsibility.In this context, Ms. Mona Al Yafei, Health Coordinator at the Qatar Diabetes Association, stated that the association’s participation aims to raise health awareness within a sporting community environment through children’s educational coloring activities, free blood sugar testing for the public, and nutritional guidance sessions that promote culture of Prevention Is Better than Cure.The QOC also remains committed to strengthening human connection and unity among its members inside and outside the workplace. It supports the integration of persons with disabilities through inclusive sporting activities, empowers senior citizens as active contributors to community health initiatives in cooperation with the Ehssan Center, and enhances the quality of life for diabetes patients through awareness-driven sports programs in collaboration with the Qatar Diabetes Association.The participation of these diverse groups aligns directly with the Social Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasizes building a cohesive, safe, and tolerant society based on solidarity and social protection, ensuring essential services, safeguarding vulnerable groups, and promoting sustainable social stability and comprehensive development. 

Kerr eager to launch Diamond League campaign in Doha

Doha: Olympic, world and Commonwealth high jump champion Hamish Kerr (NZL) will return to Qatar for the Mazzraty Doha Meeting – the opening meeting of the 2026 Wanda Diamond league series – on 8 May (Friday).A proven championship performer, the 29-year-old national record holder has a best of 2.36m, a title-winning height he’s achieved on three occasions, first at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow (2024), followed by the Olympic Games in Paris (2024) and most recently, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (2025).He finished second at the Doha Diamond League meeting in 2025 with 2.23m, but after a summer that included series wins in Rabat and Silesia, he went on to claim his first ever Diamond Trophy with 2.32m at the Wanda Diamond League final in Zurich.“The Doha crowd support was amazing last year and while I was happy enough with my result, I obviously wanted more from a performance perspective,” said Kerr, who is currently preparing for the New Zealand Championships – and a tilt at his tenth national title – next month.“It’s still early in the season so my training will be pretty heavy, but it’s about building momentum and confidence. I’ve always said you can chase easy or you can chase growth, and taking risks – even when it’s early season and it feels a bit scary – can be where you learn the most. That all said, nothing beats the feeling of jumping high and I hope I can give the crowd something to really cheer about this time around.”The Mazzraty Doha Meeting is the opening meeting of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League. The series comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents. It concludes with a single final across two days in Brussels (4-5 September). 

SOP Ramadan Football Championship kicks off

Doha – The ninth edition of the Ramadan School Olympic Program Championship got underway at Qatar University’s pitches, with strong participation from schools across the country. The 2026 edition features 32 teams at the secondary school level, including 13 government schools and 19 private schools.The tournament is held under the patronage of Qatar Insurance, the official sponsor of the championship, with all matches taking place at Qatar University’s facilities.The competition is being played across several stages in the group phase. In Group A, Umm Salal Secondary School secured a 1–0 victory over the American Academy in the opening round. Belgravia High School suffered a 3–0 defeat to Edison International Academy “Aspire,” while Umm Salal later lost 4–1 to Edison International Academy “Aspire.” Belgravia High School also fell 4–3 to the American Academy.Edison International Academy “Aspire” topped Group A with 7 points, followed by Umm Salal Secondary School in second place with 6 points. The American Academy finished third with 4 points, while Belgravia High School placed fourth without points.In Group B, Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School lost 3–2 to Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School. Al Andalus Private School defeated Middle East International School 2–0, and later edged Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School 2–1. Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School recorded a 4–0 victory over Middle East International School, while Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School beat Middle East International School 3–0. Al Andalus Private School also overcame Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School 4–3.Al Andalus Private School topped Group B with 9 points, followed by Ahmed bin Hanbal Secondary School in second place with 6 points. Abdullah bin Ali Al Musnad School finished third with 3 points, while Middle East International School placed fourth without points.For his part, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Qatar School Sports Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the School Olympic Program, expressed his satisfaction with the continued success of the Ramadan School Olympic Program Championship. He affirmed the organizing committee’s commitment to providing students with the opportunity to showcase their abilities, compete in a distinguished Ramadan tournament, and discover new sporting talents.