Qatar to participate in Arab boxing championship in Sudan

​DOHA, April 2, 2018-Qatar's boxing team finished their preparations ahead of the Arab boxing championship, which will be held in Sudan from today till April 8. A total of 11 teams will participate in the event.Qatar's team will feature three boxers. The participating delegation will leave today to Sudan ahead of the preliminary rounds. President of the Qatar Boxing Federation Yousuf al-Kazim said that the competition will be very strong, due to the high technical levels of the participating players.Al-Kazim expects the three Qatar boxers to give a good account of themselves during the competition. Amir al-Saai, who won silver medal in Poland, will not participate in the Arab championship due to shoulder injury. He will undergo rehabilitation in order to be ready for the Asian games in Indonesia in August.

Qatar to take on Syria in Davis Cup

Hanoi, April 2, 2018-The Qatari Men's Tennis Team will begin their campaign in the 2018 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III with a match against Syria on Monday.The event is held in Hanoi, Vietnam until April 07.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.

FIG delegation inspects Artistic Gymnastics World Championships facilities

DOHA, April 02, 2018 - A senior FIG delegation has concluded a productive visit to Doha to inspect the facilities of Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2018 scheduled to get underway in October in Doha .The visiting delegation comprises , FIG Artistic Gymnastic Sport Directors for both men and women alongside Director of Rights, TV broadcasting, communication and Marketing at FIG.The delegation made a successful tour at Aspire Dome, inspected the event's main hall, entrances, exits, conference halls , medical Centre, anti-doping Centre, dressing rooms and media Centre.The second stop in the delegation tour was a visit to the training halls ( for men and women) in Aspire beside a visit to two additional halls at Qatar Women Sports Committee (QWSC).The FIG delegation highly appreciated the world class facilities available here in Doha and praised Qatar sport infrastructure .

Al Sadd, Al Rayyan eye last-16 in AFC Champions League

​DOHA, April 2, 2018-Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira has expressed confidence in his players as they seek to qualify for the last 16 of the Asian Champions League with a victory against the UAE's Al Wasl today. The match will be played at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium at 7pm.The Wolves stormed to a 4-0 win over Nasaf three weeks ago to maintain their position at the top of the standings with Spanish midfielder Xavi getting his maiden goal in the continental competition and top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah adding his fifth of the campaign.The 2011 champions won 2-1 away at Al Wasl on the opening day of the tournament before the Emirati side went on to lose their three ensuing games and, in doing so, become the first side to exit the 2018 AFC Champions League.Al Wasl go into the match on the back of another defeat, to domestic rivals Al Wahda in the UAE League Cup, while they will also be without the suspended Abdalla al-Naqbi.After missing out on the previous two tournaments, Al Sadd are looking to return to the knockout round for the first time since 2015 although, despite their strong position in the table, they have lost four of their last five games in all competitions.Ferreira said he had the players to deliver what is expected of them.“I have total confidence in my players. They like the big occasion and they know they are capable of beating any team on their day," Ferreira said.“True they have had a hectic season with the QNB Stars League and the Champions League running concurrently but we need to manage the schedule. This cannot be used as an excuse not to win the game."Winger Hamid Ismail also declared that Al Sadd are ready to win.“We are keenly looking forward to qualify for the next round of the tournament. All our top players are fit and ready after returning from the International Friendship Championship.“We are motivated and determined to make our best efforts. As far as our ambition goes, it is limitless," he added.Al Rayyan are the second Qatari team in action today. They play Iran's Estheglal at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran with the winners certain to secure their last 16 spot from Group D.Esteghlal played out a 1-1 draw with Al Ain on their last appearance in Tehran on Matchday Four when 90,000 spectators turned out to see the Iranian giants maintain their unbeaten run and remain on top of the standings.Al Rayyan talisman Rodrigo Tabata scored the decisive goal as the Qatari team defeated Al Hilal 2-1 to claim their first victory of what is also an undefeated campaign and move level on six points with today's opponents.With the sides playing out a 2-2 draw in the opening game of the group stage, three points for either ensures a better head-to-head record and would relieve any pressure going into the final round of fixtures.Esteghlal, who have never lost at home to a Qatari side on the continent, warmed up for the game with a 2-1 league win over Naft Tehran on Thursday while Al Rayyan, who have had a two-week break, welcome Sebastian Soria back into the fold after the striker served a one-match ban.Al Rayyan's Danish coach Michael Laudrup said both teams are capable of making the knockouts. “This game is very important for us, and we hope that we qualify this time. Last year we were very close to qualifying but made errors at crucial times to bow out," said Laudrup whose team have six points from four games, having drawn three of them. On Tuesday, Al Gharafa will host Al Jazira of United Arab Emirates while Al Duhail will shake hands with Zob Ahan of Iran.

Two matches scheduled in HH the Emir Basketball Cup

DOHA, March 31, 2018-Qatar basketball league champions Al Arabi will take on Al Wakra in HH the Emir Basketball Cup in its 19th edition on Saturday.In another match to be staged on Saturday, Qatar will clash against Al Rayyan.In the first round, Qatar suffered a 95-80 defeat at the hands of Al Wakra.The second round will be concluded on Tuesday as Al Sadd will meet Al Sadd and Al Gharafa will shake hands with Al Khor.

Saeed al-Qadi guides Jessico 4 to victory at Hathab Series

Doha, March 31, 2018-The Qatari rider Saeed Nasser al-Qadi piloted his trusted gelding Jessico 4 to victory on the opening day of the 10th leg of the Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour.At the Al Shaqab Indoor arena yesterday, al-Qadi and Jessico 4 combined in splendid fashion to win the Medium Tour class, the feature event of the day. The pair finished their round in 61.39 secs to emerge fastest.A second behind of the winner was Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi, who guided Vivaldi K to runner-up finish. Mohamed Said Haidan came third with Damorano in 73.92 secs, well behind the top two.In the Small Tour, Abdulla Rashid al-Amri emerged triumphant with What A Lady Van De Smis. The pair combined two finish fastest in 33.09 secs.Mohamed al-Ghazali (Casanova SCH) finished second, while Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi (Al Bareq) took the third spot.Today, the dressage events (Level 1 and 2) will be held in the morning and will be followed by the Open Class and Big Tour events later in the afternoon and evening.There are two more rounds of Hathab remaining after the 10th leg. Hathab, meaning 'Canter' in Arabic, is an initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee. The championship is jointly organised by Al Shaqab and Qatar Equestrian Federation.The series, which carries a total prize money of QR1 million, is open for Qatari nationals and also to residents of Qatar. Organisers aim to improve the standard of horse riding among Qatari youths through Hathab, while also encouraging the involvement of private stables and individual horse owners to increase awareness of horsemanship as part of Qatar's history and tradition. Results of the competition will be used in the selection process of riders to represent Qatar in future international competitions. Each leg will carry points, with only top seven results to be counted, and an overall winner to be declared at the end of series.