QOC 360 Degree leadership training course kicks off

DOHA, May 7, 2018 - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) throughout its Human Resources and Administrative Services Department organized a productive training course titled “ 360 - Degree Leadership" for heads of sections and units at QOC on Sunday.The course key lecturer Essa Al Muslamani, accredited trainer of psychology at Aspetar has delivered a comprehensive presentation on leadership as one of main administrative functions of any the director.Al Muslamani shed light on the meaning of leadership and how the director transfers the leadership spirit to staff, employees and manpower. He defined the leadership, problem solving process, and leaders deals with conflicts and different between administration and leadership.The three day long training course brings Heads of sections and units at the Qatar Olympic Committee.

Al-Rayyan book place in Emir Volleyball Cup Final

DOHA, May 7, 2018 - Defending champions Al Rayyan Club held off runners-up and 21-time winners Al Arabi in the second thrilling semi-final playoff 3-2 and advanced into the Amir Cup Volleyball Championship final at the QVA Indoor Hall on Sunday. With French star Earvin N'Gapeth rifling his spike into the Al Arabi Club court, Al Rayyan Club pulled off a 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-13 victory in 127 minutes. This is the 26th Amir Cup final for the 12-time champions Al Rayyan Club, who will now meet Al Ahli Club on May 12. Al Rayyan Club coach Carlos Schwanke said after the match:"It was a difficult match as both the teams have quality players. We fought for every ball and that was the best part of the semi-finals. We're very happy to be into another final and hope to win it too." N'Gapeth, who plays for Modena Club in Italy and will face his teammate Tine Urnaut in the final, said,"I'm very happy to win and be in the final. We played two matches against Al Arabi and both were very difficult. I'm delighted for me and the team. I hope we will win this final."I know that big stars keep coming to play in Qatar. I was very happy when I was contacted to play here. I know they have good level here and good volleyball mentality. So I decided to come here and I hope this will not be the last time." Talking about meeting his friend and teammate Urnaut in the final, he said,"We play all the year together but in the final, we will be against each other. In a way, it is a victory for Modena (whosover wins) but I'm looking forward to the final," said N'Gapeth, who has been the best player of the World League twice. In the opening set, both N'Gapeth and Dutch star Nimir Abdel-Aziz treated with power-packed smashes. But with Al Rayyan Club getting crucial support of Bilal Abunabot, Mubarak Dahi Waleed, Marcus and Bairama Faye, they were able to open of three to four points thrice.Though Al Arabi Club managed to recover twice, they were not able to wipe out the deficit once they fell behind 14-17. After an Abdel-Aziz kill (20-21), Ibrahim Mohamed's service into the net proved a little too costly for Al Arabi. A Waleed touch out was followed by Faye's monster block on Abdel-Aziz which set up the first set point for Al Rayyan Club (24-21). N'Gapeth then unleashed a vicious service on libero Abdulrahman was not to be returned and Al Rayyan Club sealed the set to go 1-0 up. The second set, clinched by Al Arabi at 23, was quite tight with neither getting an advantage of more than or two points. For most part, though Al Rayyan Club stayed ahead of the rivals, Al Arabi Club made a decisive move at 23-23. Bassam's smash could not be defended and then Renan Rebeiro pulled off a hard smash. Al Rayyan Club tried to retrieve it but the return hit the antenna. Al Rayyan Club attacked with full resources and intensity in the beginning of the third set. The ploy paid off as the pulled five points clear (9-4(. The difference turned out to be the turning point. Al Arabi Club did try to overcome it but could not. Later, Al Rayyan Club managed to be three set points up (24-21). After giving away one point, Waleed contrived a touch out to secure the set and 2-1 lead for his team.Al Arabi Club caught the opponents unawares in the fourth set and went 5-1 clear. They converted it into a six-point advantage later (15-9) But at this stage, Al Rayyan Club launched a pulsating comeback and equalised at 20-20. Al Rayyan Club got into the position to win the match but Al Arabi Club were rescued by Dutch star Abdel-Aziz, who forced a touch out to set up the set point (26-25). Then Faye was blocked, leaving the match tied at 2-2. In the tie-break set, Al Rayyan Club used different variations and suddenly shot put from 5-5 to 7-5 and then 10-6 to pile immense pressure on Al Arabi Club. But their rally was led by Abdel-Aziz. Ibrahim Mohamed, Jorge, Rebeiro and Bassam added their efforts to bring Al Arabi up. However, N'Gapeth fired a smash to set up the match point (14-11). But he could not finish the game, helping Al Arabi Club come within a point of forcing the extra points (13-14). But he could not be kept in check any longer and he drilled the ball into the Al Arabi Club court to pull off the win. N'Gapeth collected 33 points for Al Rayyan Club, with 26 off the attack game. Marcus added 20, while Bilal and Mubarak Dahi Waleed netted 12 each. For Al Arabi Club, Nimir Abdel-Aziz was the leading scorer with 27. Jorge, who burst into tears after the loss, got 17. Rebeiro had 15, while Bassam notched 12.

Al Sadd to face Al Ahli in AFC Champion League

DOHA, May 7, 2018 - Al Sadd are back in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2015, and will play host to Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the first leg at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday.The 2011 champions reached this stage of the competition with three home wins to finish second place in Group C, while the Saudi club clinched top spot in Group A to set up one of the ties of the round. They played twice in the group stages of the 2008 edition with each side winning a game apiece.Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreir said:"We have to score goals and not concede. We consider this encounter as one of the most important games of the season for us. We are required to win this game so as to be in a better position before the return leg."The Portuguese tactician stressed the need for his players not to concede on the home ground because it will increase the difficulties when they visit Jeddah."It is a decisive and definitive match. We will work hard to win and qualify for the quarter-finals," Ferreira said. Describing the opponent who were forced to a 1-1 draw in their last visit to Doha against Gharafa in March, Ferreira said:"Ahli is a powerful team with a big history, outstanding achievements and will work hard to achieve a good result.""My appeal to all the fans, not just Al Sadd supporters is to come to the stadium and cheer the players as as they did in Qatar Cup finals." The Al Sadd tactician added that:"Absences of key players will not affect especially when they are few compared to previous games and all players are in high spirits to offer the best in the game."Al Sadd are facing a different competition in this stage, a challenge Ferreira knows all too well. "There is a difference between the last stage and knockout phase. We faced many difficulties during the group matches, such as injuries and absences. This made us deal with the matches at that stage according to our circumstances. But in the current stage, games are like life or death."Al Sadd defender Abdelkarim Hassan said:"I expect a tough showdown as it is a Gulf derby and every team has its history and we will strive to get a convincing a win."The Jeddah club narrowly missed out on the Saudi Pro League title to Al Hilal recently.On current form, the home team is hot as they thrashed Al Khor 4-0 to book a place in the semi-final of the Amir Cup against Al Duhail. Baghdad Boundedjah is the leading scorer of the competition with seven goals. One cannot bet against the Algerian international adding another to his tally.

Qatar drawn with N Korea, Lebanon at Asian Cup

United Arab Emirates , May 24, 2018 - Qatar have been placed in Group E along with North Korea, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia for the next year's AFC Asian Cup to be held at the United Arab Emirates. The draw was held on Friday in Dubai. The tournament will kick off on January 5 with the final to be played in Abu Dhabi on February 1. Qatar will appear in their sixth successive Asian Cup and had reached the quarter-finals as hosts in 2011.Defending champions Australia will renew their rivalry with Syria after being drawn alongside the Middle Eastern nation. The two nations faced off in a tense World Cup playoff in September, with the Australians narrowly advancing, and both will also meet Palestine and 2004 and 2011 quarter-finalists Jordan in Group B at the 2019 event.Continent powerhouses and 2015 finalists Korea Republic, who are on the hunt for their first title since 1960, were drawn in Group C with two-time runners-up China PR as well as two debutants in the UAE 2019 – Kyrgyz Republic and Philippines. Asia's best ranked side, Iran who are looking to secure their fourth title and their first since 1976, were drawn in Group D alongside 2007 winners Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen, who will be appearing in their first tournament since their unification.The tournament's most successful side with four titles, Japan are in Group F and will face Uzbekistan, who have progressed past the group stage for the last four editions of the competition as well as Oman and Turkmenistan.Hosts the United Arab Emirates, coached by Alberto Zaccheroni, were drawn to take on Thailand, India and Bahrain in Group A. The Asian Football Confederation has introduced a prize fund of $15 million for the tournament, with the champions picking up $5 million and the runners-up earning $3 million.The Zayed Sports City Stadium will also host the final on February 1, 2019 after 28 days of enthralling action with the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium hosting the remaining matches in Abu Dhabi.Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium will host the matches in Al Ain and Sharjah Stadium in the Emirate of Sharjah. Al Maktoum Stadium and Al Rashid Stadium are the two venues in Dubai. Meanwhile, the new trophy was unveiled by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah yesterday. Designed and made by world renowned silversmiths Thomas Lyte of London, the new trophy eloquently communicates the powerful spirit of football's second oldest continental football competition.Thomas Lyte craftsmen have designed and made globally some of the most iconic sporting trophies and the new AFC Asian Cup took these makers over 450 hours to craft, passing through the hands of 12 different craftsmen.AFC President Shaikh Salman said: “Since 1956 we have had the same trophy and in keeping with the new and exciting future of the competition, the AFC decided to commission a new trophy, one that captures the excitement and drama of the tournament ahead.“The AFC has trusted Thomas Lyte for all of our trophy designs since 1997 and I am happy to see this relationship flourish with this magnificent trophy which is fitting of the crowning jewel of the AFC's competitions." The new trophy is revolutionary in design and stands at an impressive 78cm high and 42cm wide and is crafted from 15 kilogrammes of Hallmarked Sterling Silver bullion. When the trophy is finally uplifted the trophy plinth separates and contains the rich legacy of previous winners.Kevin Baker, CEO and Founder of Thomas Lyte, said: “We were honoured to design and craft such a landmark trophy in sport and football. The new trophy depicts the five regions of the AFC organically entwined in harmony and competition.“While new craft techniques were developed, this modernist new design employed traditional silversmithing skills, including 230 hours of hammering flat sheets of silver into this organic shape."

Revamped, exciting schedule for 2019 Doha Worlds

DOHA, May 5, 2018 - Being the first ever hosts of the IAAF World Championships in the Middle East wasn't always going to be enough. Innovation, legacy have often been taken into consideration by organisers in Qatar, and so next year's IAAF World Championships, which will be hosted at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium between September 28 and October 6, will see many firsts, including midnight marathon, 4x400m mixed relay and scrapping of morning sessions, among others.The evening session will also be split into two, with an hour-long interval allowing local communities to get involved in competition in front of actual athletics fans but also for entertainment.“It is our ambition to organise an innovative, creative and exciting event that inspires and engages new fans, new athletes and new audiences and maximises the full potential of our region's first-ever IAAF World Championships," IAAF vice-president and Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee vice-chairman Dahlan al-Hamad told a press conference on Friday.“The new competition schedule, night marathon format, it will enable us to showcase the sport like never seen before, capturing the attention of young people in Qatar and around the world, and connecting them to the contagious excitement of athletics."Talking about the revamped format, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe said, “The first 4x400m mixed relay will have its global debut ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the first midnight marathon, the evening sessions with semi-finals and finals only and dedicated slots in the timetable for the final stages of field events allowing full focus on the decisive and most thrilling moments and attempts. We are looking forward to seeing how these firsts and the engagement format will come together next year to deliver a World Championships that will look and feel different.“It is exciting to see the way the World Championships are being developed and adapted to the host country and region mixing world class competition with an ambitious entertainment and engagement plan that we hope will delight athletes, spectators and viewers around the world."The decathlon and heptathlon will also be run concurrently — a first for the world championships — with their respective event-ending 1500m and 800m finals both starting after midnight.“The adaptations here are in line with many of the innovations we have talked about in the last few years, including the evening sessions that focus more on semis and finals, the ability to showcase field events and get them into the body of television production," Coe told Gulf Times.“We don't always showcase to best effect the cities we are in, so having a midnight marathon under floodlights on the Corniche with breath-taking view that is behind that, across the bay, is a great way of showcasing a city. These are all very good innovations. Yes, of course the midnight marathon, when you have athlete welfare at heart, is going to be kinder conditions for those athletes and that's good for them too."An increased focus on field events was something the likes of high jump world champion Mutaz Barshim, javelin Olympic champion Thomas Rohler and pole vault Olympic, world and Diamond League champion Katerina Stefanidi, spoke of the day before during the pre-event press conference, which was organised at Doha's City Centre Mall.“Few years ago the focus was more on track, especially with Usain Bolt in action. But I am glad to have been part of this revolution, I would say, for the field events," Barshim had said on Thursday.“First, these three athletes are extraordinary. So when you have that status, that's a good place for field events to be in. But I do think that there are things we can do to help field events get a better share of television production, the time they need to be in the limelight, and that's what we have achieved here, and that's very important. You know actually it is quite easy for a field event, in a dramatic moment, to get lost because there is so much else happening in the stadium. So to be able to showcase big decisive moments in those particular attempts in those competitions is a great opportunity," Coe said on Friday.Qatar already has experience hosting a night MotoGP race, a first in the motorcycling championship's history when Losail International Circuit hosted the first edition under floodlights in 2008.Doha 2019 is expected to be pivotal in the continued growth of women's athletics across the region. Commenting on the opportunity, Sheikha Asma al-Thani, Marketing and Communications Director of Doha 2019, said, “It is our ambition that the World Championships in Doha will help to inspire more young girls from across the region to see that anything is possible and that they can achieve their dreams. We want to break down barriers and change perceptions of Arab women in sport, and inspire and empower more and more girls to participate in sport at any level."

Home delight as Barshim and Samba pick up dazzling wins

DOHA, May 5, 2018 – Under the patronage and attendance of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of Qatar Olympic Committee curtains came down at the opening round of IAAF Diamond League 2018 – Doha at Suhaim bin Hamad stadium of Qatar sport club on Friday.Local heroes Mutaz Barshim and Abderrahman Samba lit up the Qatar Sports Club stadium with their scintillating performances during the Diamond League season-opening meet in Doha yesterday after Abdalellah Haroun had begun the day for the hosts with an impressive runner-up finish.With his family in the audience at the packed venue, Barshim, reigning world champion and IAAF Athlete of the Year, had bagged the win at 2.36m after Syria's Majd Eddin Ghazal faulted all his three attempts at the height. Donald Thomas of the Bahamas was third with 2.30m.However, the 26-year-old made another attempt, at 2.40m, and cleared it on his first attempt to a raucous applause. Even though his efforts at 2.42m, an attempt to break Ivan Ukhov's 2014 meet record of 2.41m, were not successful, it was the sixth straight year that Barshim had cleared 2.40m, extending his record.“My mother is here, she's cheering for me. I'm really blessed," the two-time Olympic medallist said. “I made some mistakes, but very happy with the result and proud. I feel so great, winning. I was not fit to succeed in all the jumps, but still extremely happy at the end. I wanted to break a record today, but still very ambitious for the rest of the season.“Being here with so many great Qatari athletes, such as Haroun and Samba, is just amazing. It's a testament to the fact that Qatar really has some great talent." Samba retained the 400m hurdles crown in scintillating fashion bettering his earlier world leading time with a 47.57sec finish, also setting a Diamond League record in the process.Samba, who had missed out on a 2017 World Championship medal after clipping the last hurdle on the way to the finish in August last year, had come into yesterday's meet in great form on the back of a world leading 47.90 effort in Potchefstroom in South Africa last month.Yesterday, he beat the rest of the field, that also included the Diamond League champion Kyron McMaster and Olympic champion Kerron Clement, by one and a half seconds. Bershawn Jackson of the US ran a season's best 49.08sec for a runner-up spot, while McMaster ran 49.46sec for his third place finish.“I've defended my title, YES!" a palpably ecstatic Samba said after the win. “I'm very happy for me and for Qatar. Winning at home is an amazing feeling, especially to break not only my record and the national record, but the Diamond League record as well. I have a feeling this will be a great season for me, and all I want to do is run even faster. The audience was so welcoming and I want to also thank everyone for being here today."Qatar's first top three finish of the day was 400m world bronze medallist Abdallelah Haroun, who finished behind world silver medallist Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas yesterday. With South African world champion Wayde van Niekerk absent due to a knee injury, it was always going to be a strong race with the reigning Diamond League champion Isaac Makwala also in the mix.Gardiner ran a meet record of 43.87secs, beating LaShawn Merritt's 2012 time of 44.19, while Haroun finished with 44.50, ahead of Makwala in 44.92. “I'm proud of what I achieved tonight, but before even looking toward the World Record, I'm focusing on the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2019 right here in Doha," Haroun said after earning seven qualification points for his second place.There was no stopping South Africa's Caster Semenya who ran a personal best 3:59.92 to win the women's 1500m event. Semenya has been at the centre of a debate stemming from a recent IAAF rule on women's testosterone but brushed any of those distractions by storming to a victory in a world leading time.“It's always been a dream to set the NR and continue to push beyond my PB, and I think we definitely achieved what we came here for," Semenya said. When she was asked about why she hadn't commented on the IAAF rules to counteract higher levels of testosterone in women, she was quoted as saying by AFP, “I don't talk about nonsense."Kenya's Nelly Jepkosgei and Ethiopia's Habitam Alemu were second and third in 4:00.99 and 4:01.41 respectively. Two-time Olympic champion Christian Taylor had to settle for the second place yet again three years after Cuba's Pablo Pichardo had beaten him in the men's triple jump event.In the 2015 edition, both the men had jumped 18m plus with Pichardo winning by a margin of 2cm. Yesterday, both their best efforts were in their third attempts, with Pichardo topping the event with 17.95m and Taylor jumping 17.81m. Azerbaijan's Alexis Copello was third with 17.21m.“I feel wonderful. I'm very surprised by the result, but will take it as a chance to learn from the experience, and the guys I competed against. I'm happy I finished the competition healthy, and will always keep smiling," Taylor, the six-time Diamond League champion, said. “I've trained so hard to break my own record, and the WR as well. I'm going to Shanghai next week, so who knows?".Sandi Morris of the US carried her winning form from Indoor Worlds in Birmingham earlier this year, to win the first Diamond League meet of the season with 4.84m effort.Britain's Holly Bradshaw and Katie Nageotte of the US, both jumped 4.64m with the former taking the second place on countback.Greek pole vault star Katerina Stefanidi, who is also the reigning world, Olympic, European and Diamond League champion, also jumped 4.64m but had to settle for a tied fourth along with compatriot Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou.There was a German sweep in javelin with Olympic champion Thomas Rohler retaining his Doha crown with 91.78m effort. Compatriot and world champion Johannes Vetter definitely started big with 91.56m on his first attempt, but couldn't improve thereafter to settle for second place.Andreas Hofmann also cleared 90.08m for his third place, pushing India's 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Neeraj Chopra (87.43m) to fourth.“Today was great, but it wasn't easy. There's always room for improvement. My teammates and I travel together and train together, which motivates me always. I've been preparing and knew I could throw that far. I was even able to take some risks today, and know that I'm in good physical shape," Rohler said.Noah Lyles of the US ran a meet record 19.83sec in the men's 200m to win ahead of world bronze medallist Jereem Richards (19.99) and world champion Ramil Guilyev (20.11) of Turkey. Reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson had to settle for third in the women's 100m after the 2017 world silver medallist Marie Josee Tao Lou of the Ivory Coast ran a personal best 10.85 for a win. Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor of Nigeria was second in 10.90sec, with 200m world champion Dafne Schippers was sixth.Earlier in the evening, Croatia's Sandra Perkovic continued her stranglehold on women's discus throw event as the reigning world, Olympic, European and Diamond League champion smashed her own meet record with a 71.38m effort on her third attempt.Cuba's Yaime Perez was second with 66.82m, while compatriot Denia Caballero's only legal effort of 63.80 placed her third in the competition.“I was so close to my personal best, I really think Doha Diamond League is my lucky place," Perkovic, who came within 3cm of her personal best yesterday, said.“The environment here is amazing, and the conditions set me up for the year, with the season just beginning. This is perfect as we look to competing in the European Championships this year, and Doha has made me ready to make my mark there."