SOP competitions to resume next week

DOHA, January 3, 2019 – The competitions of the prestigious Schools Olympic Program (SOP) 2018-2019 will resume next week, after schools midterm holidays finished.The SOP organizing committee has made all managerial and technical arrangements to resume the second section competitions of SOP which are expected to be more significant and crucial where top qualifiers will compete in the final 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.

Djokovic stars as Wawrinka fights for win in Qatar ExxobMobil Open

DOHA, January 02, 2019-World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia on Tuesday beat Damir Dzumhur in straight sets to complete his first win at the 2019 Qatar ExxobMobil Open. Djokovic, a Doha champion in 2016 and 2017, won 6-1, 6-2 in just 55 minutes on the Centre Court at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. It was Djokovic's second win over Dzumhur in as many matches. The former Qatar winner looked in little trouble as he broke his opponent with ease in both sets to complete his dominating show. Also on Tuesday, three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland battled past Russia's Karen Khachanov 7-6, 6-4 in 1 hour 42 minutes on the Centre Court. It was Wawrinka's second win over the Doha third seed in as many matches. Wawrinka fired 7 aces compared 6 by Khachanov. Wawrinka now has improved to 5-4 overall in Doha. In another Centre Court clash, Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis continued with his dream run when he beat 6th seed David Goffin of Belgium. Berankis won 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Goffin fired 11 aces but Berankis showed better finish on key points to take the win. Fourth seed Marco Cecchinato of Italy beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-4, 6-2 in 88 minutes on Court number 2. Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 35, beat Qatar's Mubarak Shannan Zayid 6-1, 6-3 in 61 minutes on Court Number 1. The Qatari wildcard entry impressed with 6 aces as Garcia-Lopez sealed a place in the second round of the six-day tournament. It was a first meeting for both players. In another clash on Tuesday, Serbia's Dusan Lajovic beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6 in 1 hour 35 minutes. Both players fired three aces each. Lajovic now has won both matches against Mannarino. The $ 1.4 million tournament continues on Wednesday with quarterfinals slated for Thursday followed by the semifinals on Friday and the title clash on Saturday.

Doha set to host 2019 FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series

DOHA, January 01, 2018-The Qatar Swimming Association will host the first leg of the 2019 FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series on February 16 as turquoise waters of Doha's iconic Corniche will provide a stunning setting for reigning Olympic and World Champions to go ahead in the 10km open water races.The event features seven legs taking place in some of the world's most scenic waterways, including the Seychelles, Portugal, Canada, Hungary and China.Doha hosted the first leg of the 2018 FINA/HISA Marathon Swim World Series in March 17. Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands claimed the title of Men's event while his compatriot Sharon van Rouwendaal took the gold medal of Women's event.

Shannan to begin his campaign in Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday

DOHA, January 1, 2019-Qatar's Mubarak Shannan will begin his campaign in the 2019 Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday as he will take on Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Earlier on Monday, fifth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia beat Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 for his season's first victory on the opening day of Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Also, on Monday Fernando Verdasco of Spain defeated Paolo Lorenzi of Italy to reach the second round of the six-day tournament. In another match involving an experienced player, tall Czech Tomas Berdych on Monday beat Germany's Philipp Kohlschrieber in straight sets. Berdych won 6-4, 7-6. Berdych, who was playing his first match in months, had received a wild card for the season's opening event in Doha.The seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat Italy's Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4 to move into the second round while Nicolas Jarry of Chile edged Dutchman Robin Haase 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 in 2 hours 38 minutes. In another match, German qualifier Maximilian Marterer beat compatriot Peter Gojowczyk 6-1, 6-4.In a rare doubles appearance, world number one and Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic celebrated a win with brother Marko on Court Number One. The Djokovics - who got a wild card - on Monday beat Turkey's Cem Ilkel and Qatari player Mubarak Shannan Zayid 6-3, 3-6, 10-6.

Qatar to face Iran in Football Friendly

DOHA, December 31, 2018 – Qatar's senior football team will lock horns against Iranian counterparts in international football game will take place at the Khalifa international stadium in Doha on Monday.Monday's game comes in the frame of both teams preparations for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup scheduled for first of January to first of February in United Arab Emirates.Qatar's national football team was pooled in group F alongside Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and North Korea.Qatar will officially begin campaign in Asian Cup against Lebanon on 9 of January.

Qatar ExxonMobil Open to begin on Monday

Doha, December 31, 2018-The competitions of the 2019 edition of Qatar ExxonMobil Open will begin at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex on Monday. Djokovic will be up against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening round of the tournament while Wawrinka will face Khachanov. Thiem, on the other hand, is drawn against world No. 55 Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France.The Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2019 carries a $1.3 million total purse and will be held until January 5.The event picked up the prestigious ATP 250 Tournament of the Year in 2017 for the second time having won it also in 2015.