QOC Marks International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

DOHA, April 9, 2018 - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on Sunday organized a seminar on "The Positive Impact of Sport on Society" to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.In the seminar attended by HE Secretary General of QOC Jassim Al Buenain, speakers were Dean of Faculty of Education in Qatar University Dr. Ahmed Al Emadi, Head of Sports development department in Qatar Olympic Academy Dr. Ali Al Bakri, Director of Sports Affairs Department of the QOC Khalil Al Jabir and the Corporate Social Responsibility Local & Regional Manager in the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) Mead Al Emadi.Dr. Ahmad Al Emadi discussed the role of sport in promoting development, peace as well as sport as a human right and its role in community health, while Khalil Al Jaber, pointed to Qatar Sports Day and the Olympic School Program and talked about sport and its positive role in development.Dr. Ali Al Bakri underlined the importance of awareness sports in various institutions of the state, and the role of the government in providing places for exercise such as Al-Furjan fields and the Olympic gardens.Mead Al Emadi highlighted the 'Generation Amazing' program sponsored by SC in a number of countries such as Pakistan, Lebanon, India, Nepal and others, shedding light on the great role played by the program in disseminating sport in different communities through the ambassadors of the program as well as holding matches and building grounds for playing football.The seminar concluded with a panel discussion on "Sport and its positive role in development".On August 23, 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations in Resolution 67/296 decided to proclaim on 6 April International Day of the Sport for the Development and the Peace.

Al Shamal and Al Gharafa victorious in Emir Basketball Cup

DOHA, April 9, 2018 - Matthew Bryan-Amaning bagged a double-double as Al Shamal beat Al Khor 81-71 to extend their winning run in the 2018 Emir Cup Basketball Championship at the Al Gharafa Stadium Indoor Hall on Sunday.Al Shamal topped Group 1 and qualified for the best-of-three semi-final playoffs after beating Al Gharafa and Al Sadd in their first two matches.Al Khor suffered a miserable shooting night connecting on just 23 of 68 shots and were also out-rebounded 43-49 by Shamal.Power forward Bryan-Amaning dominated the boards for Al Shamal particularly on the defensive end where he gathered 12 of his 16 rebounds.Mansour Elhadary flirted with a double-double of his own finishing with 14 points and nine assists in 39 minutes. Dominic Davon Jones also finished in double figures with 20 points.Khobi Williamson led all scores for Al Khor with 25 points. The centre also had 10 rebounds but his efforts were in vain in a match where Al Khor only had pride to play for. Dominique Lacy and Isaac Mack were the other double scorers for Al Khor who shot 38 percent from the floor.In the other group match, Al Gharafa beat Al Sadd 88-73. Gharafa took the lead 42-39 in the second quarter and were nine points ahead at the end of the the third.Sammy Monroe Jr. recorded a double-double with 29 points and 11 assists while Travis Franklin came off the bench to bag a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Abdulrahman Saad also finished with 23 points as Gharafa shot 47.3 percent from the floor.Al Sadd had four players in double-digit scores. Moustafa Fouda led with 22 points while Darius Oldham had 19 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort. Babacar Dieng and Nasser al Rayes both finished with 14 points for the Wolves.

Qatar’s Bassem claims second spot behind Tops-Alexander

DOHA, April 9, 2018 - Qatar's Bassem Mohamed finished second with his 12-year-old gelding Gunder at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Miami Beach in Florida on Saturday. The Olympic rider finished behind Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander, who reigned supreme, triggering the prospect of a thrilling contest with current ranking leader Scott Brash for a record third championship title.The ever-consistent Bassem Mohamed and Gunder put in the first clear of the jump-off, making absolutely sure every rail stayed up. It was a cautious, tactically ridden round that did the job and put him at the head of affairs with only one rider left to jump. But it wasn't pedal to the metal — as that one rider was the formidable Tops-Alexander, who had the advantage of complete intel about the course as the last to jump.Her round on the 11-year-old Esprit mare California shaved more than three seconds off Bassem's time, handing her victory and €100,000, the lion's share of the class's €300,000 prize-fund. Other than Tops-Alexander, Bassem was the only other rider who pulled off a double clear. He was richer by €40,000. Ireland's Darragh Kenny rounded out the podium after an unlucky fence down with Cassini Z.The overall LGCT Ranking battle is already an intense affair, with Britain's Brash leading the charge for the 2018 season. Tops-Alexander is the second rider — after Mexico City Grand Prix winner Brash — to qualify for the Super Grand Prix which will take place at the GC Prague Play Offs this December.Victory was by no means assured for the Australian rider. “I didn't even know until 11am that I was going to ride her today. We all work hard and sometimes is pays off. You have to believe in yourself," said Tops-Alexander, who missed the majority of last year's Tour as she was pregnant and took a break from riding until September 2017.“I watched some of Bassem's round on the screen (in the warm-up) and I knew he could have gone faster," added Tops-Alexander, who has partnered California since taking over the ride from Egypt's Abdel Said in 2016. “Still, I didn't think I'd won or that I was going that fast and I kept looking at the screen to check."Meanwhile in the team event, Global Champions League, Sheikh Ali al-Thani and Bassem Mohammed led Doha Fursan Qatar to a creditable sixth place finish in Miami.

Qatar book place in Davis Cup Semifinals

HANOI , April 7, 2018 - The Qatari Men's Tennis team confidently booked place in the last four stage of 2018 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone taking place in Hanoi, Vietnam after defeating KSA (Saudi Arabia team ) 3-0 on Friday.The Qatari side displayed impressive performance, where Jabor Al Mutawa thrashed Saudi counterpart Saoud Al Haqbani 6-4 and 6-2. Meanwhile in the second clash, Qatar's Mubarak Shanan secured 6-2 and 6-1 victory over KSA opponent Fahand Al Saieed.The Qatari delegation to the event includes Mousa Shanan, Mubarak Shanan, Essa Shanan, Jabor Al Mutawa, the team captain Mohammad Khenji and the Head coach Younes Al Aynoui.The 2018 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group brings together nine countries including Qatar, Malaysia, Kuwait, Cambodia, Jordan, Oceania, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Vietnam.

Qatar ladies team shine in Arab Shotgun Championship

RABAT, Morocco, April 7, 2018 - Qatar's Shooting team won the silver medal in Trap team event (women) at the prestigious 14th Arab Shotgun Championship 2018 in Rabat, Morocco on Friday.Qatar women team consisting of ( Amna Al Abdullah, Khloud Khalf and Bana Ali) clinched the silver medal after finished second behind the Moroccan team, while the bronze medal went to Kuwaiti side.On the same track of victory, Qatar's Bana Ali impressively claimed the silver medal in the women's individual event.Qatar team is represented by elite shooters in all categories, including Naser Al Homaidi, Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Khloud Al Khalf, Bina Ali and Amna Al Abdullah.The event is bringing together shooters from Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Qatar, Palestine and hosts Morocco.

Qatar win two gold medals in GCC Youth Athletics Championship

KUWAIT, April 7, 201 – Qatar athletics team raised its medals tally to three gold medals at the prestigious GCC Youth Athletics Championship which will be concluded in Kuwait on Saturday.In Friday's competitions, Qatar's Mohanad Khamis made impressive performance to claim the 3000m gold ahead of Mohammed Al Suleimani (Oman) and Faiz Al Subaie (KSA).In the discus throw event , Muaz Ibraheem Sabir clinched the second gold for Qatar after defeating KSA's Mostafa Abo Shaheen while the bronze medal went to another Qatari Ahmed Faraj.Qatar Olympic Committee, Second Deputy President, Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari appreciated young athlete performance , praised their achievements and urged them to redouble effort.