Al Sadd defeat Al Wasl of UAE in AFC Champions League

Doha, April 3, 2018- Al Sadd defeated Al Wasl 2-1 in a Group C match of the AFC Champions League to advance into the knockout stage here on Monday.Baghdad Bounedjah, who has more shots on target than any player this season in the tournament, opened the scoring in the ninth minute.The Algerian added the second in the 53rd to put the contest beyond their opponents, who pulled one back in the second half added time through Caio.The win meant that the 2011-12 champions also remained undefeated in their last eight games against UAE teams in the continental competition, and also have not lost a home game against any Emirati side in the competition.In stark contrast to their performances in the Qatar Stars League, where they lost in their last three games, Sadd returned with another solid performance.But it was Wasl, who have lost five matches in a row, started on a confident note after Ali Saleh's right-footed effort from outside the box missed the target and then a minute later Ronaldo Mendes shot wide after he was put through by Fabio Lima.After Bounedjah scored the opening goal, Sadd outpaced their opponents who, however, made a last ditch effort in the end to equalise.The hosts could have increased the lead in the 29th, but Xavi Hernandez goal was ruled out by the assistant referee after Bounedjah was found to be in offside position.On the other hand, Al Rayyan suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Esteghlal of Iran on Monday.

Al-Khulaifi claims swimming gold & silver medals in Sarajevo

Sarajevo, April 3, 2018-Qatari swimmer Yaqoub Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi won a gold and a silver medal in the Sarajevo International Swimming Championships.The Bosnia and Herzegovina meet is one of the qualifying events for the Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Argentina in October.Al-Khulaifi, who has already qualified in the 100m butterfly for the Youth Olympics in Greece recently, emerged the winner in the 50m butterfly and bagged the silver medal in the 200m freestyle.

QOC building turns blue to mark World Autism Awareness Day

DOHA, April 3, 2018 – The Qatar Olympic Committee building has turned up to blue colour on Monday to mark the country's governing sport body celebration on the World Autism Awareness Day which is corresponding the second day of April.The QOC celebrated the World Autism Awareness Day in the frame of its social responsibility to boost awareness about the disease and supporting medical treatment programs for those suffer the disease.It is worth mentioning that Qatar is a pioneer nation that played major role in raising awareness on autism globally by supporting campaign which called for marking a day for autism, a proposal that has being unanimously adopted by UN General Assembly.Accordingly, the world started marking the event in 2008, so the 2018 celebration came under the logo “ empowering women and girls who suffer Autism".The celebration also aims to focus light on autism's patients in attempt to improve their quality of life and secure their integration into the local communities.

Qatar to participate in Arab Shotgun Championship in Morocco

DOHA, April 3, 2018-The Nasser bin Saleh al Attiyah-led Qatar team left for the Arab Shotgun Championship, which is scheduled to start in Rabat on Tuesday.Attiyah, a former Olympic Games skeet bronze medallist and triple Asia champion, is one of the 14 members representing Qatar.Qatar Shooting and Archery Association Secretary-General Majid al Naimi is the head of the squad and Al Anoud al Naimi is the administration manager.The participating teams are: Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Palestine and hosts Morocco.

Qatar crush Syria 3-0 in Davis Cup in Hanoi

Hanoi, April 3, 2018-Qatar handed a 3-0 defeat to Syria in the opening match of the 2018 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III in Hanoi, Vietnam on Monday.Jabor al Mutawa clinched the opening rubber, crushing Rabee Sleem 6-1, 6-2.Mubarak Shannan Zayid made it 2-0 as he overpowered Yacoub Makzoume in three sets. In the decider, Zayed was dominant and easily completed a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory.The doubles match was a bit tough but the Qatari pair of Issa Shannan al Harrasi and Mousa Shanan Zayed came through, beating Makzoume and Sleem 6-4 7-6 (3).Nine countries are competing in two groups. Cambodia, Pacific Oceania, Malaysia and Vietnam are in Pool A. Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan form Group B.Qatar next play Jordan on Tuesday.

QATAR’S BASKETBALL LEGEND YASEEN ISMAIL INSPIRES SCHOOLCHILDREN

DOHA, April 1, 2018-On Monday 26 March, the Year 7 students at Qatar International School (QIS) were surprised with a visit from Qatar's basketball World Champion Yaseen Ismail. The legend visited the school to share his experiences and advice with the students who have been working hard on an Olympic project in their English class for the past term.Yaseen awarded prizes to the best student projects, before speaking to them about his achievements in basketball, the benefits of participating in sport and what it takes to make it to the top. He then took them outside for a masterclass on how to perfect the basketball shooting technique, with every student having the opportunity to shoot a hoop and gain tips from Yaseen.Speaking to the students, Yaseen said:When I was your age I never played or liked basketball but from the age of 14 I tried and never stopped playing ever since. I would like to see you try the sport as well - come down to the Qatar Basketball Federation where I'm givingbasketball classes. Sport is very important but balancing between studies and exercise is vital to any athletes' success in life. Take advantage of the summer season - do not eat junk food, practice 2 hours a day and who knows you might become a professional player one day!"The students were assigned to work in groups and come up with an advertising campaign for Qatar to host the Olympics. The students were required to use different types of persuasive and descriptive writing for their projects and come up with creative ideas for the Opening Ceremony of the Games. The standard of the projects was incredibly high, with the students encapsulating the true spirit of Qatar and of the Olympics in their campaigns. Yaseen Ismail was a professional basketball player for more than 20 years and helped Team Qatar win multiple World, Asian, Arab and Gulf titles. In 2014, he made history as part of the 3x3 team that became the Middle East's first-ever World Champions. Other titles he owns with the team include Asian Champions, Arab Champions, 8-time Gulf Champions and 8-time Emir Cup Champions. The students were incredibly excited by Yaseen's visit and inspired by his motivational words and basketball coaching and guidance. There were final opportunities for selfies before he left so that the students could have their own memories from the day that a basketball legend came to school.