Stage set for Doha Showdown

DOHA, September 10, 2018-The Qatar Swimming Association has completed its preparations for hosting the second leg of FINA World Cup later this month. Last year's overall winners Chad Le Clos and Sarah Sjostrom will look for repeat success at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. Over 100 swimmers representing 20 countries, with almost all the prominent names in the sport have confirmed their participation for the Doha leg (long course), which will take place at Doha's state-of-the-art aquatic centre from September 13 to15.Olympic and World Champion Le Clos –the last year's overall winner at FINA World Cup – will continue his love affair with Doha where he picked six medals including four gold medals last year. Russian world record holder Vladimir Morozov and his compatriot Kirill Prigoda will join the South African maestro in men's battles.American Michael Andrew, who won four titles at the US Nationals this year and Aussie Mitchell Larkin have also confirmed their participation.The women line-up also offers a treat for fans as Sweden's Sjostrom – the last year's overall winner – and Hungary's Katinka Hosszu, famous as the 'Iron Lady' will also return to Doha, promising top-notch action.Hosszu's compatriot Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Dutchwoman Ranomi Kromowidjojo and China's Yifan Yang are among the other female stars who will also be seen in action in Doha.Swimmers will fly to the Qatari capital after competing in the opening leg of this year's FINA World Cup, scheduled in Kazan, Russia from September 7 to 9.Doha leg will conclude Cluster 1 comprising long course contests, with the remaining two clusters of the FINA Swimming World Cup to be competed on short course. The Cluster 2 includes Eindhoven (Netherlands) and Budapest (Hungary) meets while legs in Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan) and Singapore form Cluster 3.Qatar, the host country for 2023 FINA World Championships, has been hosting the FINA World Cup legs successfully since 2012 and, the Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) President Khaleel Al Jabir said the Organising Committee was confident of delivering another blockbuster event.“The Qatar Swimming Association is honored to welcome the world's best swimmers in Doha for the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018," Al Jabir said.“One of our main goals when we first hosted the event back in 2012 was to promote swimming in Qatar and in the region as a whole, to inspire new athletes and to introduce new fans to this exciting sport. We thank FINA and its partners for their continued support, which has helped us in achieving our mission.“This year's FINA Swimming World Cup will continue to build on this success," he added.

Danah Al Mubarak finishes seventh in World Shooting Championship

Changwon, September 09, 2018 – Qatar's Danah Al-Mubarak took the seventh place in the 52nd World Shooting Championship, currently being held in the Korean city of Changwon, from August 31 to September 15, with participation of 81 athletes from various countries, including the United States, Ukraine, Russia and Germany, Korea, Singapore, the Czech Republic, India, Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain.Danah qualified to the finals of the World Shooting Championship and secured her place among the top eight athletes in the final round.Ali Mohammed Al-Kuwari, President of Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) confirmed that Qatar's participation in the World Championship was a part of the preparation for qualifications to the upcoming Olympics in Japan.

Abderrahman Samba shines in IAAF continental Cup

Ostrava, September 09, 2018-Qatar's Abduerrahman Samba claimed the first place in men's 400m hurdles event at the IAAF continental Cup being held in Ostrava. The year's dominant man took a clear win, his ninth of the season in as many races on Saturday.His time of 47.37 not only beat the closest contender by over a second, it also equalled the World/ Continental Cup record set by Edwin Moses in Rome 37 years ago.Samba's race completes his remarkable series this season, in which he broke 48 seconds in every final he has run, scored victories in six IAAF Diamond League races and took gold at the Asian Games.European champion Karsten Warholm of Norway started the race strongly and appeared to hold a slim lead over Samba until 250 metres, but once Samba started his move, nobody had a response. The Qatari's lead kept growing, and the only remaining doubt was who would finish in second and third.Annsert Whyte of Jamaica was the runner-up in the end with 48.46, a season's best, and he was followed home by the two representatives of Europe: Warholm in 48.56 and Yasmani Copello of Turkey with 48.65. The African champion Abdelmalik Lahoulou of Algeria finished next in the order with 49.12This was the second event of the day in which Europe used the joker card, and just as in the women's hammer throw, they tied for first place, this time with the Asia-Pacific team. That joint victory meant another 14 points for their overall point tally in the overall standings.

Stage set for World ART Gymnastics Championships

Doha, September 07, 2018- The Organizing Committee of the World ART Gymnastics Championships 'Qatar 2018' held its regular meeting yesterday to discuss the latest preparations for hosting the tournament. The meeting was attended by heads of different committees. The Qatar 2018 will be held for the first time in the Middle East and is hosted by Doha at Aspire Dome from 25 October to 3 November.The meeting discussed the progress achieved at all levels and discussed ways to overcome obstacles that may stand in the way of reaching the maximum possible readiness to host the World ART Gymnastics Championship in an unprecedented manner. The Organizing Committee seeks to ensure successful organization of the championships in a way that reflects the reputation and status of Qatar in hosting international tournaments. The latest developments were also discussed at all levels in various committees.During the meeting, it was highlighted that the Organizing Committee was in constant contact with the International Gymnastics Federation to brief it on all the details related to the continuous progress in the preparations as well as the agreement on the date of arrival of the officials of the international federation and the guests of the tournament in Doha during the coming period, in addition to preparing for the early arrival of some delegations and facilitating all matters related to their work, accommodation and training grounds.It also discussed the signing of some sponsorship contracts for the championship based on the recommendations of the marketing committee in cooperation with the media committee among other topics.In a statement after the meeting, Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) President Ali Al Hitmi praised the efforts exerted by the various committees to ensure successful organization of the World Gymnastics Championships in Doha, especially as the Organizing Committee provided all the requirements and facilities for hosting it to reflect Qatari leadership in the organization of events.

Qatar football team line up for China friendly match

DOHA, September 05, 2018- Qatar's football team held their first training session on Tuesday in preparation for their friendly match against China on Friday. Earlier on Sunday, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez named the squad for the two friendlies against China and Palestine.Th two matches come in light of Qatar's preparations for the 2019 Asian Cup to be held in the UAE in January next year.Sanchez named 25 players for the camp ahead of the two friendlies.In the 2019 Asian Cup, Qatar will be playing against Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and North Korea in Group E.Squad: Meshal Barshm (goalkeeper), Pedro Miguel, Salem Al Hajri, Tarek Salman, Abdul Karim Hassan, Boualem Khoukhi, Hashim Ali, Hassan Al Heidos and Akram Afif (Al Sadd). Bassam Hisham Al-Rawi, Sultan Al-Barik, Asim Madbo, Abdullah Abdul Salam Al-Ahraq, Abdulrahman Fahmi, Al-Moaz Ali (Al-Duhail), Yousuf Hassan (goalkeeper), Mahdi Ali, Abdul Aziz Hatem and Ahmad Alaa, Hamad Al Obeidi and Abdul Karim Salim Al Ali (Al Sailiya) Mohammed Alaa (Al Rayyan) Ahmed Fathi (Arab) Ahmed Moeen (Qatar) Mohammed Bakri (goalkeeper) (Al Khor).

Qatar to host 24th edition of Arabian Gulf Cup next year

DOHA, September 05, 2018- The Executive Committee of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation has announced that Qatar will officially host the 24th edition of Arabian Gulf Cup next year.This came during a meeting held by the Committee at the headquarters of the Association in Doha, chaired by HE President of Qatar Football Association and Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani.The Executive Committee also approved HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani to continue as President of Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation for a period of two years, with the adoption of the resolution at the nearest General Assembly meeting as stipulated in the articles of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation.During its meeting, the Executive Committee entrusted the General Secretariat of the Federation and the working committees to carry out their duties as stipulated in the regulations.