Beach handball team concludes training program in Hungary

DOHA, July 12, 2018 - Qatar beach handball team delegation arrived in Doha on Wednesday following a productive training program held from 28 June to July 10 in Hungary.The training program came in the frame of the team preparation for the upcoming 8th Beach Handball World Championships, which will be held in the Russian city of Kazan from 24 to 29 July.The draw of the World Beach Handball World Championship put Qatar in Group C alongside Oman, Australia and Denmark. Group A comprises Croatia, Iran, Uruguay and Argentina, while Group C comprises Spain, Hungary, Vietnam and New Zealand, and Group D comprises Brazil, Russia, US and Sweden.The Qatari team seek a new achievement in the next edition, which will witness their fifth consecutive participation in World Championships.The Qatari beach handball team qualified for the world championships after winning the sixth Asian Championships in Thailand last year for the fourth time in a row.

Qatar Beach Volleyball Team qualify to main draw of Gstaad Major

Gstaad, July 12, 2018- Qatar's beach volleyball team, including Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, qualified to the main draw of Gstaad Major Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday.In their first match, the Qatari duo defeated the Chinese team 2-1, then in the second match, they recorded a 2-0 victory over Austria.Qatar beach volleyball team have advanced in the FIVB World Ranking, rising to the 16th place, after finishing fifth in Espinho 4-Star tournament recently held in Portugal.

Qatar’s athletes aim high ahead of Asian Games

DOHA, July 12, 2018-Six of Qatar's most talented and ambitious athletes outlined their hopes and aspirations for the Asian Games today, in a lively question and answer panel session hosted by The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) at Olympic Tower.The session, threw a light on what it takes to prepare for the Asian Games, the second biggest multi-sport events in the world after the Olympics, which will take place in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from 18th August – 2nd September and involve over 250 athletes from Team Qatar across 30 different sports. Taking part in the session were three talented shooters including Reem al-Sharshani, Matara al-Aseiri and Ahmed Mohsen al-Ali, Team Qatar boxer Abdullatif Mohamed Sadiq and Team Qatar Olympic football team member Hatem Kamal.Speaking at the event, Ahmed Darwish – Deputy Head of Administrative Delegation, said: “We are now at the final stage of preparations and we are working with all participating federations to confirm the final list of all participating athletes. Qatar will participate with 245 athletes competing in 30 sports. Our athletes are currently attending training camps to be well prepared for the games in Indonesia. We will have two delegations, one for competitions that will take place in Jakarata and one for the competitions in Palembang. Our united goal is to represent Qatar in the best way possible and for Qatar we do anything."Hatim Kamal spoke about the relationship between his team members, saying: “Our relationship is very strong as a team; we work and train together as one family. We look forward to competing at the Asian Games where it's an opportunity for the team to gain experience and help us prepare for the Asian Cup." Speaking about her greatest achievement and the local competitions organised by the shooting federation, Reem al-Sharshani said: “I won a team gold medal at the Asian Championship. We competed against best athletes from both Asian and International world and this enriches our experience. Our federation is committed to organise local and international championships and we have recently got Al Nishan Shooting championship which is a strong competition and a great opportunity for all shooters in Qatar to gain points and for the amateurs to participate. It is also an opportunity for people here to know more about different shooting weapons."Matara al-Aseri, also a shooter who competes in the air rifle said about her beginning with the sport: “I stared the sport in 2001 when I used to go with my sister to practice. Then I joined the federation and I participated at a Championship held in Iran. My best achievement was in 2011 when I won team gold in the Arab Championship and the 2nd place in the individual category. There were strong opponents from Kuwait and Egypt but the team and I gained great experiences."About his hopes for the Asian Games and the future, aspiring shooter Ahmed al-Ali said: “The Asian Games is a great opportunity to gain the experience needed in achieving my goals for the future. I am juggling between my studies and my sport, hoping I can graduate and still practice shooting. I am always giving fair attention to both my training and my studies because I want to excel in both. I even train during exam periods."Abdullatif Mohamed Sadiq who holds a gold medal from Qatar boxing open 2018 and has a Guinness record, spoke about his achievement and goals by saying: “I achieved this record in 2009 in push-ups on two fingers of each hand. I managed to achieve 132 push-ups in one minute. The previous record was 124 in one minute. My goal to achieve more records."About his training, he added: “An athlete has to dedicate enough time for training if they want to achieve greatness and this comes with the support of his family and coach. “Before the games, we have to have enough rest, and during the game, we have to apply all the tips and instructions all in one minute that could make a huge difference."When asked about how boxers get to know their opponents before a championship: “We usually check the list of boxers in the championship's website and then we search about their playing style. Is my opponent left-handed or right-handed? Does he depend on defence or attack during a match? So this way we can be more prepared."

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad visits Majlis Qatar in Moscow on sidelines of Russia World Cup

Moscow, July 12, 2018-HE President of Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani visited on Wednesday Majlis Qatar, which is organized by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy on the sidelines of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani was welcomed by a number of officials at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, where he was briefed about the facilities and activities of Qatar Majlis.He praised Majlis Qatar for its contribution to introducing the State of Qatar, its heritage, landmarks and achievements.Majlis Qatar is located in the center of Moscow's famous Gorky Park, one of the largest parks in Moscow. The visitors enjoy its various free activities, and has special areas for VIPs and media representatives.Majlis Qatar resembles "Bayt Al Shaar", the traditional tent common throughout Qatar and the Arab world and which serves as the inspiration for the 60,000-seat 2022 FIFA World Cup venue Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City.The State of Qatar has launched several events during the 2018 World Cup in Moscow and St. Petersburg in order to introduce to football fans the atmosphere the world will experience when Doha and other Qatari cities host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar’s tennis stars shine in France

Cannes, July 11, 2018- Qatar's Mubarak Shanan claimed the title of US PEQO Tennis Club Tournament held in Cannes, France recently on the sidelines of the national tennis team's training camp.Coached by Younes El Aynaoui, the Qatari squad includes Mousa Shanan, Mubarak Shanan, Issa Shanan, Jabor Al Mutawa, Rayene Alami and Mubarak Al Sulaiti.Ibrahim Al Khelaifi, Deputy Head of National Teams Committee at the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) chairs the Qatari delegation.Khalid Al Khelaifi, the QTSBF Board Member and Head of National Teams Committee, said “The men's team training camp being held France comes as a part of the summer training camp plan developed by the federation to provide its players with opportunity to compete with players from other countries"On the other hand, Mubaraka Al Naimi also clinched the title of Opio Tournament in Cannes, France earlier this week.

Qatar Beach Volleyball Team advances to 16th place in World Ranking

​Doha, July 11, 2018- Qatar beach volleyball team, made up of the duo Sharif Younis and Ahmed Tijan, has advanced in the FIVB World Ranking, rising to the 16th place, after finishing fifth in Espinho 4-Star tournament recently held in Portugal, won by Latvia at the expense of Brazil 2-1.Qatar team is ranked 16th in world ranking after collecting 3180 points in 12 world tournaments, while the world ranking is led by the Polish duo Kantor and Losiak.The Qatari team, during its ongoing participation in world championships this season, achieved good results, including winning the bronze medal of Katara Beach Volleyball Cup held in Doha last March.