Switzerland defeat Qatar at FIVB Beach World Tour

BRAZIL, May 18, 2018 – Qatar beach volleyball team comprises Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Switzerland duo in the last 24 stage at prestigious FIVB World Tour in Brazil on Saturday.Qatar duo were defeated by their Switzerland counterparts (16-21 and 15-21) to miss their qualifying chance for the next stage.Qatar's duo were ambitious to continue their impressive run in the FIVB World Tour and bring glory to the country.

Qatar drawn with hosts Indonesia, Taiwan & UAE in AFC U-19 Championship

DOHA, May 19, 2018 - Qatar have been drawn with hosts Indonesia in Group A for the 40th AFC U-19 Championship. The draw was held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Friday with Chinese Taipei and the United Arab Emirates completing the group. Indonesia, who won the U-19 title in 1961, will be hosting the tournament for a third time from October 18 to November 4, 2018. Qatar qualified for the championship after seeing off Iraq in a tense penalty shoot-out in November, 2017. Al Annabi have already won the championship in 2014 in Myammar beating North Korea 1-0 in the final. The tournament saw the emergence of Al Duhail's Almoez Ali and Al Sadd's Akram Afif, both of whom have gone on to be steady performers for the senior national team. The young Maroons this time will open their campaign against 2008 champions UAE on October 18. Defending champions Japan, who won their first title at the Bahrain event, will face Thailand, North Korea and Iraq who have won the title five times in Group B.In Group C, twelve-time champions South Korea, who suffered a heartbreak in 2016 narrowly missing out on the knock-out stage due to goal difference, will be aiming to do better this time against Vietnam, Australia and Jordan.In Group D, Saudi Arabia are grouped with Tajikistan, 1985 winners China and Malaysia. The draw ceremony began with a traditional Indonesian performance by dancers from the Liga Tari Mahasiswa Universitas Indonesia Krida Budaya, showcasing local folklore dances and music.In his remarks, Football Association of Indonesia Acting President Joko Driyono said,"We hope that the tournament which will take place in Jakarta in October will show the very best of youth football and escalate the level of football across Asia." "To all participating teams, I wish you the best," added Driyono.The tournament kicks off on October 18, but there is more than just the AFC U-19 Championship title on the line, as the top four teams will also secure their spots in the FIFA U-20 World Cup next year in Poland.

Giants Al Duhail, Al Rayyan eye Emir Cup glory in season Finale

DOHA, May 19, 2018 - Al Duhail will be looking to end the domestic football season with a trophy treble of their own when they take on fierce rivals Al Rayyan in the final of the Emir Cup today at the Khalifa International Stadium.The QNB Stars League (QSL) winners have been on a roll, both on the home front and in the AFC Champions League. At the continental level, coach Djamel Belmadi's side has reached the Asian quarter-finals, while at home besides the QSL title, they are the Qatar Cup champions also.Belmadi, the Algerian tactician, will be looking to lay his hands on the Emir Cup trophy to complete a rare triple trophy feat. “Full credit to my boys for reaching the final and the best way to finish the season will be to win the Amir Cup trophy," Belmadi said on the eve of the final yesterday.Belmadi's team, which won the hearts of football fans with their aggressive style of play, however seemed guarded against Al Rayyan strikers. “They have very good players in the front, so we have our plan in place to take care of these good players in the Al Rayyan camp," he added Belmadi said the lack of silverware this season for Al Rayyan this season will motivate them to go the extra mile in today's final.“We know the opponent have the same ambition - that is to win the title. Al Rayyan is a big club and a season without any title is not a good one for them … so they will be more hungry. They were very much in the race for QSL tile but they slipped and never got back," Belmadi said.In the rival camp, Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup knows that his side has a tough task at hand but said 'nothing is impossible' and they are focused on winning their first title of the season. “We will try to give our best for the final and hopefully this time we will win the trophy. Last year, playing at the this great stadium, unfortunately, we lost through a last minute goal. It was a fantastic atmosphere and a very intense game," Laudrup said while speaking to journalists on the eve of the final.The popular Dane wants to finish the season by winning a trophy. “Winning the title will be the fantastic ending to this season. Of course, we know it is very difficult. We are playing against the best team not only in Qatar, but in the entire Gulf region. They had a fantastic season, winning the QSL, then they beat Al Sadd to win the Qatar Cup and they have been winning in the AFC Champions League also," Laudrup said.Laudrup said many of the Al Duhail players have been together and know each other's game inside out. “(I know) many of the players at Al Duhail, as they were with the club when I was the coach. They have been with the club for three to four years. The secret of Al Duhail success has been many players playing together for many years.“Good players, when they are together, know exactly what they want to do and it makes it more difficult for the opponents because they know each other so well," he added. Laudrup sounded positive about Al Rayyan's chances of winning the title, saying past records show that Al Rayyan have done well against Al Duhail.“I look at the records. Out of the 34 games Al Duhail have played so far in the season, they have won 31, three games have been drawn, and one of them was against us, a 3-3 draw at the Khalifa Stadium. We were down 2-0, but rallied to draw 2-2 and then went up 3-2 until the late goal, it was a fantastic game, so that gives me confidence for tomorrow," Laudrup said yesterday. He said his team has been playing well and remained high on confidence ahead of the winner-takes-all clash.“In the last two games, we have played very good games, a very good display, scored goals and did not concede any goals against Al Arabi or Al Gharafa. So we are very well prepared for the final," said Laudrup. Meanwhile Al Rayyan star Rodrigo Tabata said his team has a difficult task at hand against Al Duhail.“It will be a difficult game but I trust all my colleagues will produce their best and win the title. God Willing we will be champions. The final is a big game so we will rise to the occasion to give our best."

Qatar team ready for AFC U-19 Championship

DOHA, May 18, 2018 - The Qatar junior team is due to participate in the upcoming AFC Under 19 Championship which its draw ceremony will be conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday.The prestigious championship will take place from October 18 to November 4 amid participation from 16 teams, including Qatar, hosts Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Iraq, Tajikistan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, China, Thailand, North Korea, Jordan, Malaysia, China Taipei.The teams will be distributed into four groups, each group includes four teams, the first two teams will qualify to the last eight stage.

Qatar defeat Chile in FIVB Beach World Tour

BRAZIL, May 18, 2018 – Qatar beach volleyball team comprises Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan made impressive performance to defeat Chilean counterparts in FIVB World Tour in Brazil on Thursday. The event's draw ceremony was conducted on Thursday based on rankings of the participating teams. Qatar's duo look ambitious to continue its impressive run in the FIVB World Tour and bring glory to the country.

Qatar Tennis Federation Championship concluded

DOHA, May 17, 2018 – Qatar Tennis Federation Championship (teams) has successfully concluded at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Federation on Wednesday.In the single event, Qatar Ghanem Khalid Al Kholaifi won U-18 event , meanwhile in boys U-14, Nasser Al Yafe clinched the first place.In the girls U-14 year event , Qatar's Amna Mahmoud clinched the first place , while in U-12 year (boys) Nasser Al Kholaifi clinched the first place.The prestigious event brought together more than 70 players who competed for one week.