Students sparkle in SOP football competitions finals

DOHA, April 11, 2018 – Students representing all educational levels and different age groups had showed impressive performance in football finals of the prestigious Schools Olympic Program 2018 held at theAspire Academy.The event was attended by the Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General, HE Jassim Al Boenain, HE Rabia Mohammed Al-Kaabi, the Chairman of Qatar School Sports Association beside senior sport officials.Chairman of the Qatar School Sports Association (QSSA) Rabia Mohammed Al-Kaabi said that Qatar is a pioneer in hosting of the Olympic school programme, which was established 11 years ago. Al-Kaabi was speaking on Tuesday after the conclusion of the football competitions held at Aspire Academy for all school grades.The 11th edition of the programme witnessed a massive response, with 3,000 students representing 192 schools, of which 98% where state schools. Al-Kaabi praised the interaction of schools, students, and parents and said number of talents emerge every year, benefiting clubs and teams.On whether the Organising Committee intends to increase the number of sports in the next edition, Al-Kaabi said: “The committee is in the process of a comprehensive evaluation of this year's edition. The competitions were held in 12 sports and the committee will see whether it is necessary to add new events next year. We will consult with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the federations concerned and then take a decision."In football, Newton school defeated Iqra school in the final of the first level to clinch the title. In the second level, Malik bin Anas defeated Jabir ibn Hayyan school 5-4 via penalties to win the title. In the third level, Yarmouk triumphed after defeating Abu Bakr Assedeeq 3-0 in the final match. For the fourth level title, MES Indian School won 1-0 against Birla Public School.Meanwhile, QSSA Secretary-General Ali al-Hitmi said the football finals achieved their goal in this edition of the programme. He congratulated the winning teams, stressing that the Olympic Program covers all the schools in Qatar.Al-Hitmi said: “The wise leadership of the country believes that investing in human resources and generations through sports is one of the main methods to achieve development goals. Sport is capable of becoming one of the main ways of achieving social and individual development as all the benefits that come from sports are goals for a healthy and developed community as sports plays an important role in developing social and educational systems."QSSA Executive Director Abdulrahman al-Muftah reiterated the success of the 11th edition of the Olympic programme and thanked QOC and all the entities that supported the implementation of the programme in a unique way, which, he said, would undoubtedly benefit the students greatly.Al-Muftah added that the interaction of school and entities confirms that the programme is achieving its required goals which includes finding talent and encouraging students to make sports a way of life due to its importance and benefits. He added that sports also helps them create a personality that benefits the community. Sport has gained great importance in harnessing the efforts of societies to achieve their development goals at the social, economic and cultural levels and paying attention to sport is a characteristic unique to modern societies, and Qatar is one of the first countries to do that, al-Muftah said.Saeed Al-Marri, football competitions manager at Aspire Academy and the Olympic Program's football supervisor, said the 11th edition of the Olympic Program was unique, was crucial in discovering talents. He added that 70 players were chosen to join a three-day programme where all clubs will be invited to recruit players.

Local Squash Championship gets positive response

DOHA, April 11, 2018 – The competitions of Khalifa Complex Squash Open Championship continued successfully at the tennis and squash complex on Tuesday amid highly response from participants and fans.The prestigious local championship brings together players from different age groups, including under 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 year along with players from senior national team.The championship is a significant event in the Agendas of Qatar Squash Federation aims to promote Qatari athlete performance level and popularize the game across the country.

Curtains come down on SOP basketball competitions

DOHA, April 10, 2018 – The basketball competitions for all educational levels at the prestigious 11th Schools Olympic Program 2018 (SOP) were successfully concluded on Monday.HE Rabea Mohammed Al Kaabi, the President of Qatar School Sports Federation and Head of Organizing Committee and Ali Al Hitmi, the Secretary General of Qatar Basketball Federation and senior sport officials honored the winner schools in a festive sport scene.The SOP is held annually as a collaborative effort of Qatar School Sports Federation (QSSF) and Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with hundreds of student athletes competing from all over Qatar.The SOP committee aims to spread a culture of sports throughout Qatar's schools and to engage the entire community in active and healthy lifestyles while retaining local values and traditions.

Qatar’s Thulasi wins bronze medal in 69kg at Arab Boxing Championship

DOHA, Qatar, April 10, 2018- Qatar's boxer Thulasi Tharumalingam confidently claimed the bronze medal in the 69kg event at the 2018 Arab Boxing Championship which concluded in Khartoum, Sudan on Sunday.It is worth mentioning that the boxing team delegation arrived in Doha on Monday where they received a warm welcoming by Khalid Al Mass, the Federation's Assistant Secretary General and Mr. Hassan Abdullah Al Mohammadi, the federation board member.In a press release on Monday , Thulasi Tharumalingam impressed by the bronze medal and voiced his appreciation to the Qatar Boxing Federation for its support during the championship.The prestigious event brought together boxers from 10 Arab nations, including Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Lebanon, Palestine and hosts Sudan.

Al-Attiyah leads Qatar to Team Skeet gold

RABAT, Morocco, April 10, 2018 - Former Olympic bronze medallist Nasser bin Saleh al Attiyah led Qatar to the Men's Team Skeet gold medal at the Arab Shotgun Shooting Championship in Rabat, Morocco on Monday.Besides the title, Qatar also bagged silver medal in the Men's Individual and Women's Team Skeet events as well.Attiyah, who has been thrice Asia champion and 2001 Lonato World Cup silver medallist, Rashid Saleh and Saeed Abusharib represented the men's team which faced a strong competition from Kuwait and the UAE shooters.Former Asia champion Rashid Saleh came second in the individual event, losing the final to a Kuwaiti shooter. The UAE won the bronze medal.Qatar's third medal came in the Women's Skeet Team through Sarah Mohammed, Hajar Mohammed and Reem al Sharshani.With these three medals, Qatar's tally has gone up to five. Attiyah said that the competition was strong and exciting till the final round."We want to thank God that we managed to finish the men's team event on the top. The gold medal was our sole objective and we are happy to achieve it."We all worked hard at the Losail ranges and got a big support from the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association, which played a big role in our victory today," Attiyah added. QSAA Secretary-General Majid al Naimi, also the head of the mission at the championship, commented:"We're delighted to have earned our first gold medal of the championship through the men's skeet.Also it was a good day for us as we bagged two more silver medals. The level of the championship is very high and our shooters performed well till now to bag these medals."The weather has been inconsistent and affected our show a bit. The double trap is still left. We hope to continue our good efforts and add more medals to our tally," he added.

Qatar team to face Iraq in Friendly Futsal match

DOHA, April 10, 2018 – Qatar will lock horns against Iraqi counterparts in Friendly Futsal matches at Al Wakrah SC indoor in Doha on Tuesday and Thursday.The friendly futsal matches come in the frame of national team preparations for the upcoming competitions at both regional and international levels.In a press release on Monday, national team coach, Ahmed Al Manae said that national team will get maximum benefits from such friendly matches technically in preparation for the next stage.