Al Badi guides Latino 291 to top honours on penultimate day

DOHA, April 28, 2018 - Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi guided his 16-year old gelding Latino 291 to complete a flawless routine as the duo grabbed major honours on the penultimate day of the final leg of the Hathab Equestrian Tour 2018.At the state-of-the-art Al Shaqab Arena yesterday, Al Badi and Latino 291 complete the first round of the Medium Tour in 69.48 seconds to grab the top prize of the day worth QR6,250.Damorano, ridden by Mohammed Said Haidan, completed the same task in 69.95 seconds to grab the second spot on the podium which also offered a prize cheque for QR5,000.Mohammed Khalifa Albaker guided Carport to secure the third place with a ride that lasted 72.41 seconds. He won QR3,750 in prize money.Jazly, ridden by Jaber Rashid Al Amri and Dollar Van De Zuuthoeve, guided by Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser Al Thani, rounded up the top five of the QR25,000 event, and secured prizes worth QR2,500 and QR1,750 respectively.Earlier, in Small Tour, Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi captured double glory when he marked his name among the top three twice.Al Qadi guided Henrico in an errorless run and completed the round in 51.85 to take the lead ahead of today's second round, and later secured the third spot in the same event, this time with Daydreamer EC with a routine that lasted 55.72 seconds.Ghanim won a total of QR6,000 for the two wins. Graffiti De Lully CH, ridden by Saeed Hamad Al Rashdi was second after a routine which he took 55.26 seconds to complete. Today is the last day of the 12th round of the hugely popular Hathab Series.Hathab Series is an initiative of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. The championship is jointly organised by Al Shaqab and Qatar Equestrian Federation.

Qatar in group D at Asian Men’s Junior Handball Championship

DOHA, April 29, 2018 – The draw ceremony of the prestigious 2018 Asian Men's Junior Handball Championship has distributed Qatar team in group D along with Japan, United Arab Emirates and Iran.The participating teams were distributed in four groups, A includes Bahrain, KSA, China, Oman, group B brings together Jordan, Uzbekistan, China Taipei, Palestine, while group C includes South Korea, Iraq, India and Syria and group D includes Qatar, Japan, UAE and Iran.The event will take place from 14-24 September, 2018 in Jordan , also acts a qualifying tournament to the Men's Junior World Handball Championship 2019 scheduled in Macedonia.

Doha set to host IAAF Diamond League on Friday

DOHA, April 29, 2018 - Once again, the Qatari capital city of Doha will host the opening leg of the IAAF Diamond League in its 2018 edition. The event will be held at Qatar Sports Club stadium on May 04 with participation of the world's top athletes.The Qatari athletes have a strong record in the IAAF Diamond League, especially in the 2017 edition as the Qatari icon Mutaz Barshim has had a blockbuster of a season winning all six Diamond League meetings he participated in, including the season opener back home in Doha. Then, he added world title victory at the London World Championships 2017 to his record.A multitude of global champions go head to head in the Women's Pole Vault and Men's Javelin. Caster Semenya will be the headline name in the Women's 1500m, fresh off her 2018 Commonwealth Games 800m/1500m double in the Gold Coast, where she dominated both events.Doha's large Greek community will have plenty to cheer for as reigning Olympic, World, European and Diamond League Champion, Katerina Stefanidi once again leads the field. Stefanidi will face stiff competition from 2018 World Indoor Champion and Olympic and World silver medallist, Sandi Morris of the USA, recently crowned Commonwealth gold and silver medallists, Alysha Newman of Canada and Eliza McCartney of New Zealand respectively, 2017 World Championship bronze medallist and 2013 Under 18 World Champion, Robeilys Peinado of Venezuela, and 2013 European Indoor Champion and British record-holder Holly Bradshaw.Commencing on the 4th of May 2018 in Doha, the ninth season of the IAAF Diamond League comprises the 14 best invitational track and field meetings in the world.The meetings compose the top tier of the IAAF's global one-day meeting competition structure and are spread across Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.Athletes earn points in the first 12 meetings in the road to the final. At the two final meetings, held in Zurich and Brussels on consecutive days, $100,000 will be at stake in each of the 32 Diamond disciplines, including $50,000 for each winner.The 2018 Diamond League meetings will be staged in Doha, Shanghai, Eugene, Rome, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Lausanne, Rabat, Monaco, London, Birmingham, Zurich and Brussels.

Sheikha Asma Al Thani makes history by becoming first Qatari to ski to North Pole

DOHA, April 29, 2018 – Sheikha Asma Al Thani has returned home to Doha after making history for her country by becoming the first Qatari, male or female, to successfully ski across treacherous terrain in perilous conditions to reach the final degree of the North Pole. Sheikha Asma was part of a novice all-female team comprising women from European and Arab countries who completed the expedition to foster greater dialogue and understanding between Western and Arabian cultures.After two years of intensive training and preparation, Sheikha Asma left the heat of the Qatari desert to ski 80km across the moving pack ice of the Arctic Ocean, facing freezing temperatures, open leads of water in the sea ice, and the constant threat of polar bears. After eight gruelling days of skiing up to 12 hours a day, Asma raised the Qatari flag for the first time on the top of the world at the North Pole on 21st April 2018. Asma arrived back at Hamad International Airport on 26th April to a surprise welcome from her friends and family who had turned out to congratulate her on her herculean achievement.Speaking from the North Pole after her incredible accomplishment, an emotional Sheikha Asma said:“I'm finally here! It's been two years and a hard, hard journey. I want to thank everyone for all their support - this would not have been possible without the support of so many people and they really helped to get me through this incredible challenge. I am so happy that I made it.“I hope that this achievement will help everyone believe that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. No challenge is too difficult and no dream is too hard. Go out and make things happen!"The all-female EuroArabian Polar expedition team were led by veteran polar explorer Felicity Aston MBE and comprised women from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Slovenia, Sweden, France, Cyprus, Russia and the UK. The team departed the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard in the early hours of 15th April. From there they flew to the floating ice station known as 'Barneo' and started their ski journey across the Arctic pack ice to the North Pole. Preparations for the expedition have been ongoing for nearly two years, including training expeditions in Iceland and Oman.In 2012, the experienced Felicity Aston became the first person in the world to ski across Antarctica alone and without the aid of kites, machines or dogs – a journey of 1744km that took her 59 days to complete. Speaking about her latest trip, Aston said:“The team have endured the extreme environment and restricted living spaces with great humour and tremendous sense of adventure. They have held on tightly to their reasons for making this trip and each team member has been critical to the success of the expedition.“The world is facing global problems – such as climate change – that can only be tackled with global solutions. We want to send a strong and positive message about gender equality and the need for greater cultural understanding when tackling large problems."After a particularly gruelling last leg of the trip, Sheikha Asma and the team arrived at the North Pole in good spirits. They were met there by their sponsor Eugene Kaspersky who flew out by helicopter to meet and celebrate with them at the top of the world.This is the second incredible feat that Sheikha Asma has accomplished after she became one of the first Qatari females to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2012 in a charitable endeavour to raise QAR 2 million to build schools in Gaza. In addition to the gruelling training schedule and expedition itself, Asma has been juggling her demanding day-job as Director of Marketing & Communications at the Qatar Olympic Committee, as well as the Doha 2019 IAAF World Championships in Athletics.Sheikha Asma and the team participated in two important science experiments during the expedition looking at the effect of the extreme environment on their bodies and on their minds.The expedition was sponsored by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, as well as Engie, Sports Corner, Poseidon Expeditions, OmanTel and I Feel Slovenia.You can find out more about Sheikha Asma's personal journey on her Instagram account @atalthani and through the hashtag #AsmaOnIce. More information about the highs and lows of the expedition can be found on the website www.euroarabianexpedition.com.Notes for editors:• Interviews with team members are possible live from Barneo ice camp via satellite phone. Contact the expedition through [email protected] to book a scheduled satellite phone call with the team.• The team has shared their experience live from the ice on 'phonecasts' available through the expedition website www.euroarabianexpedition.com or contact [email protected] for access.• High resolution images are available• About the expedition's sponsors Kaspersky Lab:Having sponsored two of Aston's previous polar adventures – the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition in 2009, and the Kaspersky ONE Transantarctic Expedition in 2011 – the cybersecurity company was keen to announce its support of her latest endeavour: the first ever all-women Euro-Arabian North Pole expedition.Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky – who will fly to the North Pole to meet and congratulate the women upon their arrival – said the company was proud to continue its support of inspiring female adventurers like Aston and her team.“For me, arctic adventuring isn't just an exciting challenge, it's a powerful motivation. People like Felicity and her team – determined and passionate – genuinely inspire me. They're also role models for the younger generation – they help them to really go after what they want in life."Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2017. Kaspersky Lab's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.

Ghazali edges Al Qadi to emerge as the Hathab national champion

DOHA, April 29, 2018 -In the end, the competition came to a boil and it was about controlling one's nerves and coming up with the perfect combine of the rider and his mount.Nasser al Ghazali showed all of this as the 22-year-old galloped with aplomb and authority on his horse Quel Homme to collect 30 valuable points in the 12th and final round of the national equestrian series Hathab which concluded at the brilliantly lit indoor arena of Al Shaqab on Saturday.Nasser, who missed the first two legs of the series which began in October 2017, has had been consistent in the last ten legs. He, however, reserved his best for the finale as he garnered the most points and in the process quelled the challenge of Hamad Nasser al Qadi, also aged 22, by three points to emerge as the Big Tour national equestrian champion.On what was a nicely laid out course but seemingly fast, Nasser showjumped on Quel Homme with swiftness and caution alike ensuring there was no single fault clocking 76.13secs in the Table A, Two rounds with jump off (2nd Round), Art. 273.3.4.1+ 4.4+2.2 (130/140cm) class.Hamad astride St. Lucia tried the same but clipped the obstacles twice to carry eight fault points despite a better time of 72.71secs. Haste somewhat spoiled his case.So keen was the fight between these two riders that they were separated only by three points. While Nasser finished the final leg with 30 points, Hamad had collected 27.The overall tally being 177 points for Nasser and 174 for Hamad. The overall third place was clinched by 24-year-old Rashid Towain al Marri, who finished 6th on Beyonce. He had a total of 171 points and 21 from the final round.In the Medium Tour, Ahmed Mohammed al Badi on Wadi Rum D D H claimed the top spot on the podium clocking 36.44secs in the jump off, ahead of Jaber Rashid al Amri on Jazly 41.95secs. However, the national champion in this category was 25-year-old Saeed Nasser al Qadi, who withdrew from the final leg, but had excelled throughout the series bagging 187 points.Mohammed Said Haidan, who came 4th on Applebee, was the overall runner-up with 150 points, and Mohammed Sultan al Suwaidi third with a tally of 145 points.In the Small Tour section, 15-year-old Ghanim Nasser al Qadi claimed his rightful place as the champion bagging 27 points from the final round for an impressive overall tally of 166 points. Ghanim riding Daydreamer EC, however finished as the runner-up in the final leg.Mohammed al Ghazali who won the final leg, however had to be contend with overall second place with 132 points. Khalifa Abdullah al Khaldi, who rode Dusty and was placed fourth, ended up as the overall third with 131 points.Hathab, meaning"Canter" in Arabic, is an initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. Hamad bin Abdulrahman al Attiyah, President of the Asian and Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF), termed the first edition of Qatar's national equestrian championship Hathab -- as a resounding success.He pointed out that the"championship has achieved its goal and will be developed for the better in the next edition. "The success has been due to the efforts of all and thanks to those who contributed to the championship including the volunteers, organisers and the media. Everyone played a role in excellence of the championship, which eventually culminated in the the 12th and final tour being very close and competitive."We are keen that the end of the tournament in its first edition is a conclusion which is consistent with its value and its success. There will be a tribute to the riders and all those who contributed to the success, and this is the least that can be offered to all," he said.On the experience of the 11th round which was held at the western square of Souq Waqif, Attiyah said,"It was a great experience that achieved a great public follow-up to the championship and the establishment of one of the tours in the second edition in one of the outstanding places in Qatar."The Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab equestrian centre forged a new alliance to conduct the Hathab series which carried a total prize-money of QR1 million had begun in October 2017. The best seven results out of twelve were taken into account to decide the winners.

Al Khor, Umm Salal book spots in HH the Emir Football Cup quart-finals

DOHA, April 29, 2018 - Al Khor knocked out Al Markhiya in the Emir Cup with a 10-9 penalty win after both teams played out an exciting 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday.Cameroon striker Ariel Ngueukam scores the opener in the ninth minute with a flying header from close range to give Khor the lead in the E. Saleh al Yazidi, on loan from Al Sadd restored parity in the ninth minute of the second half.Al Khor will now meet Al Sadd in round three of Qatar's most prestigious cup competition. With 18 kicks taken and all converted, Markhiya goalkeeper Mohammed Montasser was next in line against Khalifa Ndiaye. But Montasser was unlucky as his shot was agonisingly wide.Khalifa did not make mistake as he calmly slotted the ball past the Qatari to give Al Khor a sensational win. The match lived up to its billing as both teams gave their all to clinch a berth against Al Sadd. It was Al Khor who dominated the early exchanges and was rewarded a goal when Soroush Rafiel shot was blocked by Montasser and striker Ariel pounced on the lose ball with a perfect header from close range to give the Knights a perfect start.Adan Quilnela was Markhiya's liveliest player until he was red carded in the second half. His all-round contribution pushed the team forward from his left flank position. But his inadequacy was his inability to put the ball into the box from several attempts. Eric de Oliveira couldn't replicate his goal-scoring form in their last round match as the striker missed a chance to equalise in the 40th minute. He miscued the ball with the keeper at his mercy after an opponent intended pass to his keeper fell to his path.On second half resumption, Markhiya playing more purposeful and coordinated leveled the tie from Saleh's cool finish inside the box in the 56th minute. He collected a through pass and raced into the heart of the Al Khor defence before unleashing a low shot to beat Khalifa. Bilal Mohammed was denied a goal when Khalifa saved his canon header just after the hour mark.Aden Ali Quenella was red carded for a second bookable offense. After raising his feet high to Khalifa's chest in a commotion. In the day's other game, Umm Salal proved too hot for Al Kharaitiyat with a 5-0 rout. Oussama Darragi broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Mahmoud al Mawas' through ball opened space for him to shoot past the opponent's keeper.Baba Malick made a double save to deny Ahmed al Sadah and Abdullah al Enezi to maintain Umm Salal's lead in the 17th minute. Darragi should have scored his second goal but his effort was cleared near the touchline just after the half-hor mark. Kharaitiyat conceded a penalty just a minute before the break when Sanzhar Tursunov handled the ball inside the box. The resultant was neatly dispatched Sagbo.Mawas made it 4-0 with a fine finish staving off the challenge of Saoud Nasser. Kharaititiyat conceded another penalty and Sagbo scored his second of the game to make it 5-0. Umm Salal has a date with league defending Al Duhail in their fourth round fixture scheduled to hold on Friday.