Al Ahli to face Al Rayyan in HH the Emir Volleyball Cup Final

DOHA, May 12, 2018 - While Al Ahli will be hoping to make good of their first HH The Emir Cup final appearance in 22 years, an in-form Al Rayyan will be looking to make an unprecedented sweep by lifting the sixth title this season when the two teams meet at the Qatar Volleyball Association Indoor Hall court at 7pm Saturday.Rayyan have ruled the season, opening the season with a Super Cup win over Police, before grabbing three more domestic titles including the QVA League, the Qatar National Tournament and the Qatar Cup. They also emerged supreme in the prestigious Arab Clubs Championship.Despite celebrating so many wins, Rayyan coach Carlos Schwanke is keen on capping the season with a sweep.“In every tournament, I set a target for the team. I'm very proud that my team has been able to match my expectations. The Amir Cup is also a very special event for us and we'll try to write a new history on Saturday," he said.Ahli coach Igor Arbutina understands the tough job on his hand. Arbutina, who has coached Rayyan in the past, said, “I'm proud of my team and their efforts in the Amir Cup. We'll like to take our every possible chance to make the final difficult for Al Rayyan and maybe we can spring a surprise on Saturday."Both the teams reached the final on the back of 2-0 victories, with Al Ahli beating Qatar SC and Al Rayyan getting the better of Al Arabi. With as many as 12 titles in the kitty and title-winning form on their side, Rayyan are the favourites.Ahli captain Assam Ahmed Mahmoud spoke highly of his players and the coach. “This is the first Amir Cup final for us in 22 years. All the players have contributed immensely and helped us reach the final. Also, coach Igor has prepared all of us well for each match. Congratulations to all for making it to the final.“We've a difficult final against a champion team like Al Rayyan. We want to tell our fans that we're ready and we need their support in the final." Pro players in the both the teams have played a crucial role in their run in the Amir Cup, and what's interesting is that both Tine Urnaut and Earvin N'Gapeth play for the same team — Modena Volley — in Italy.Slovenian star Urnaut, who is playing for Ahli, said it was a “strange situation" for both the players. “It's the first time that we are playing against each other as Modena teammates. It is a really strange situation," said Urnaut, who had played for Rayyan two seasons ago when they had lost the semi-finals to El Jaish.“I'm happy to be playing for Al Ahli and the progress till now has been fantastic. I know that Al Rayyan are the best team in the season, having won everything. We're confident that we'll fight for each ball and point. Also we'll try to do everything that we can and make attempt to win the cup."N'Gapeth, who is playing in Qatar for the first time, said, “I'm happy to be part of the Al Rayyan team and the event. I hope we win the final which will not only be a big achievement for Al Rayyan but also for Qatar volleyball.“The presence of Urnaut and me in the final is also a victory for Modena. I feel that it is going to be a tough final as both teams are playing well."The two teams have clashed thrice in a final of a tournament, with Rayyan winning the 1988-89 Emir Cup and the 1994-95 Heir Apparent Cup, which was changed to Qatar Cup a few season ago.

Tabata’s brace powers Rayyan into Emir Cup Final

DOHA, May 13, 2018 - Rodrigo Tabata's brace powered Al Rayyan to a 3-0 win over Al Gharafa and into the final of the Emir Cup. At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday, Tabata was at the heart of Rayyan's impressive performance as they cruised past Gharafa in the semi-final.Michael Laudrup's men, who lost in the final to Al Sadd last year, face a mighty challenge this time too as they face Al Duhail in the title clash at the Khalifa International Stadium on May 19.Djamel Belmadi's Duhail are unbeaten this year and will be going for a historic domestic treble, having already won the QNB Stars League and Qatar Cup trophies this season.Rayyan were thrashed 1-6 by Gharafa the last time the two sides met in the league. And Rayyan came into the match vowing to prove a point and redeem their season.They had dream start when Tabata put them ahead in just the second minute of the game. Gharafa gifted Rayyan possession in the midfield, allowing Tabata to run into the edge of the box, where he picked up Sebastian Soria on the right flank. Soria, after getting past two Gharafa defenders, relayed it back to Tabata, who fired Rayyan in front.Tabata was the key to his team's every attacking run as the attacking midfielder tormented Gharafa on the night. If not for goalkeeper Qasim Burhan's timely interventions Gharafa would have been at least three goals behind in the first-half.In the 31st minute, Burhan parried away a shot from Soria, who then shot over the bar again two minutes later. Both the chances were set up by Tabata. Burhan was again called into action just before the half-time, when he had to dive to his left to save Yohan Mollo's low shot.Rayyan began the second-half as they did the first-half and doubled their lead in the 47th minute courtesy a clever finish from Koh Myong-jin.The South Korean midfielder received a wonderful pass from Tabata, who played a long ball from the half line. With only goalkeeper to beat, Myong-jin expertly chipped it over Burhan to put Rayyan in the cruise mode.Gharafa immediately raised their game and looked to have pulled a goal back through substitute Ahmed Alaaeldin, but Rayyan keeper Omar Bari was able to stop a powerful shot.Alaaeldin, who had scored the winner in the 88th minute against second division side Mesaimeer in the quarter-finals, once again looked a threat in the match. But his teammates let him down and cut an isolated figure as the match went on.Rayyan players, who had dropped their energy bit, looked a threat in the final ten minutes and had at least three clear chances. In the 86th minute, Tabata hit straight to the keeper after a pass from Mollo, but he wasn't to be denied in the next minute. Tabata put the match to bed with Soria again making the assist.Rayyan coach Laudrup was delighted with the victory. “I was a bit surprised at how we dominated the game. We had a great support from the fans and it helped us to put a good show," he said.Laudrup called on his players to enjoy the final against Duhail. “We have to enjoy playing in the final. We have to be at our best to beat Duhail and win the title," the manager from Denmark said.

Qatar’s Haroun races to third in Shanghai meet

SHANGHAI, CHINA, May 13, 2018 - Qatar's Abdalelah Haroun finished in the top three for the second straight Diamond League meet even as Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas raced to a 400m victory yet again on Saturday.Gardiner had raced a world leading 43.87 seconds in Doha earlier this month, beating 21-year-old Team Qatar member Haroun, who ran 44.50, ahead of third-placed Isaac Makwala (44.92) of Botswana.Yesterday, in Shanghai, Commonwealth Games champion Makwala was off the mark in a flash, but Gardiner stayed not too far behind. The World Championship silver medallist picked up speed in the final quarter of the race and posted 43.99 seconds, his second sub-44 timing in as many races this season.Makwala ran 44.23 seconds, while 2017 World Championship bronze medallist Haroun finished a creditable 44.51. “I felt really good today and had some fun. To set a meet record of 43.99 feels so good. I felt I had the race in the last 120m," Gardiner said after the win.Second-placed Motswana athlete added: “Was a good race, not so tough, was fine. I ran a season best, that was my plan, I did and that's good. I also had to win it, but I collapsed a bit on the end. Next race I'll catch him (Gardiner).Meanwhile, Kenya's new 800m ace Wycliffe Kinyamal lit up a muggy night in the Shanghai Stadium. Commonwealth champion Kinyamal went inside 1:44 for the second time in his career to win in a meeting record, world lead and personal best of 1:43.91, finishing 0.04 ahead of Jonathan Kitilit.“A PB and meeting record, the race was fine," said Kinyamal. “We were fighting for the last 100 metres, but I was stronger and I knew it. I come from the same village as (David) Rudisha, he was always my example. Now I take over." Poland's Marcin Lewandowski beat the chase to finish third in 1:45.41.Cheruiyot takes 1,500mAn equally entertaining men's 1,500m saw another Kenyan prosper in a home straight battle. A hot pace was set from the start, Cornelius Kiplangat leading them through 800 metres in 1:53. Young Ethiopian Samuel Tefera found himself at the front after the pacer dropped out, the world indoor champion looking startled before taking up the running.Abdelaati Iguider gave chase as Timothy Cheruiyot, who had been in second, sat in third.The 2017 Diamond League champion Cheruiyot moved through the final bend, and although Tefera still held the lead on the straight, 22-year-old Cheruiyot's long stride saw him go first late to stop the clock in 3:31.48 – the fastest time by anyone this year.Cheruiyot never doubted his kick. “I was sure I was going to win the race," he said. “I needed to run a good time, and this race is good for the Diamond League points." Tefera recorded a personal best of 3:31.63, taking him to eighth on the world U20 all-time list, and finished more than a second ahead of Iguider.Russia's Lasitskene clinches high jumpRussian high jumper Maria Lasitskene clinched the title clearing 1.97 metres. Lasitskene is the winner of the 2017 Diamond League finals. The Shanghai tournament was the 39th competition in a row for the Russian athlete, in which she won gold medals, reported Tass news agency.

Al Rayyan win Emir Volleyball Cup Title

DOHA, May 13, 2018 - Al Rayyan defeated Al Ahli in straight sets to win the prestigious Emir Cup, their unprecedented sixth title of the season on Saturday.At the Qatar Volleyball Association Indoor Hall, Carlos Schwanke's boys maintained their domination over their rivals as they won the match 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19) in 74 minutes to lift the prestigious trophy and earn QR500,000 in prize money. Al Ahli, who were playing a final after a gap of 22 years, received QR300,000 as runners-up.Rayyan had opened the season with a Super Cup win over Police, and later continued the domination by grabbing three more domestic titles including the QVA League, the Qatar National Tournament and the Qatar Cup. They also emerged supreme in the Arab Clubs Championship defeating Tunisia's Esperance in Tunis.Yesterday's triumph maintained Rayyan's upper hand over Ahli. Coming into Saturday's final, the two teams had clashed twice in a final of a tournament, with Rayyan winning the 1988-89 Emir Cup and the 1994-95 Heir Apparent Cup, which was changed to Qatar Cup a few season ago.Rayyan suffered only one loss this season – a defeat at the hands of Qatar Sports Club during the Qatar Cup playoffs but bounced back to knock out the rivals 2-1 to enter the final and eventually win it too.“I'm proud of my team and of what we did in the season. I just told them to work hard and the results will follow automatically. The result in the final tonight is proof of that. We won all the tournaments that we played in," Al Rayyan coach Carlos Schwanke said.Rayyan have a chance to win yet another title in July-August in Myanmar this year when they will participate in the Asian Clubs Championship.For Rayyan, French star Earvin N'Gapeth scored a game-high 22 points, including 18 from his attack play. Marcus also played well to collect 13, while captain Mubarak Dahi Waleed added 11.Geraldo Goiano was the best scorer for Al Ahli with 12, while Slovenia star and N'Gapeth's Modena Volley teammate Tine Urnaut scored 10.Schwanke gave credit for the titles to his boys. “These players are amazing. I showed them the dreams, but they put in a great effort. They tried to do better in each session and every match. We did not expect a clean sweep. We took the game to new levels by bringing to matches what we did for hours in training. I am really very happy and proud of my team's performance."However, Rayyan skipper Waleed praised the role of their Brazilian coach in the team's success.“Our coach has done a wonderful job with the team. He and his support staff were very good throughout the season and it reflects in our performance," he said.“We had a memorable time. This is the sixth title of the season. People think that our season has finished. However, we're waiting to go to the Asia Clubs Championship in two months, which is the most important assignment for us. Right now, we're very excited with another Amir Cup trophy," he said.Al Ahli coach Igor Arbutina chose to pick up some positives from the road to the final.“We had a difficult season but we're proud of reaching the final of the most prestigious volleyball event in Qatar. We played the semi-finals without Geraldo. But the entire team played as one unit. I'm really happy about my team. We did well to get past strong rivals like Police in the quarter-finals and then Qatar Sports Club. I'm sure this will prove a big boost for the future."

Al Arabi to face Al Sharjah in GCC Club Basketball Championship Semifinals

​OMAN, May 13, 2018 – Qatar's Al Arabi will lock horns against UAE's Al Sharjah in the last four clash of the prestigious GCC Club Basketball Championship 2018 at Sultan Qaboos sports complex in Oman on Sunday.The championship brings together 7 clubs distributed into two groups, A includes Al-Arabi (Qatar), Al Etihad (KSA), Al Muharraq (Bahrain), while group B includes, Nizwa (Oman), Al Sharjah (UAE) and Manama ( Bahrain).The event is a qualifying tournament to the Asian Champions Cup will take place from 25-30 September, where the winners of the three top places will get spots in this continental event.

El Ezbah wins skeet in Qatar Shooting and Archery Championship

DOHA, May 13, 2018 - Shooter, Rashid Saleh El Ezbah made impressive performance to win the gold medal in the men's skeet at the conclusion of Qatar Shooting and Archery Cup Championship 2018 at Lusail complex on Saturday.In the Archery event, Ahmed Al Abbadi clinched the gold medal , while in rifle mixed event (men), Ahmed Al Ali seized the gold medal.Shahd Al Darweesh sparkled to claim the gold medal in rifle mixed event (women).