Qatar to take on Iraq in historic match in Basra

Basra, March 21, 2018-Qatar will take on Iraq today in the first match of the International Friendship Championship, marking the first time the conflict-hit country will be hosting an international FIFA-approved tournament in several years.The tournament also involves Syria and comes as a result of FIFA lifting the ban on three Iraqi cities – namely Basra, Erbil and Karbala after several months of strenuous efforts put in by Qatar.The Qatar football team arrived to a grand welcome in Basra yesterday.With the QNB Stars League given a three-week break before the final round next month, Qatar have fielded a strong team in the Friendship Championship, which will conclude on March 27. Qatar meet Syria on March 24. “We are very happy to play this tournament and help our Iraqi brothers and sisters enjoy competitive football on their home ground after several years," Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said at his pre-match press conference.“We will be playing our matches in all seriousness despite the fact it is a friendly tournament," the Spaniard added.Sanchez said Qatar would field their best 11 for the match.“We will field our best players. All of them have been involved in the QNB Stars League and several are part of the Asian Champions League. Therefore they are not short of match fitness."He added that Iraq are a strong team and will surely try to impress their fans with a victory.'They will come out strongly against Qatar. We will have to be at our best, both physically and technically," he said.This is the first engagement for the national side after the Gulf Cup in January which was won by Oman.Qatar had a three-day preparatory camp in Doha before flying to Basra yesterday where they were received warmly by Iraqi football officials and fans.Later they trained under the guidance of Sanchez with the focus on technical skills. Qatar squad: Saad al-Dosari, Hassan al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Pedro Miguel, Salem al-Hajri, Abdulkarim Hassan, Almoez Ali, Karim Boudiaf, Ismail Mohamed, Bassam al-Rawi, Sultan al-Barek, Abdulaziz Hatem, Youssef Hassan, Asim Madibo, Ahmed Alaa, Moayad Hassan, Mohamed Alaa, Mohamed al-Bakri, Ahmad Fathi, Ahmed Moin and Tariq Sulaiman.

Qatar open Friendship Football Tournament with victory

DOHA, March 22, 2018 – Qatar's senior football team opened its campaign in the International Friendship Tournament on high note , defeating hosts Iraq 3-2 in Basra city on Wednesday.Qatar's Akram Afifi scored double in the 45th and 63th minutes , while Ahmed Yasin and Hussain Al Saidee scored for Iraq in the 31st and 66th minutes.Qatar will play its second game in the tournament against Syrian counterparts on Saturday and Iraq will shake hands with Syria in the last Game on Tuesday.This tournament is a first football activity taking place in one of three Iraqi cities since being banned by FIFA not to host official matches of Iraqi teams and clubs.It is worth mentioning that the prestigious tournament is bringing together three Arab nations, Qatar, Syria and hosts Iraq.

FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup gets underway

​Doha, March 22, 2018-All eyes were on Kohei Uchimura, Japan's six-time all-around world and reigning Olympic champion.But the 28-year-old had a disappointing outing at the Aspire Dome on Wednesday evening when he failed to qualify in the men's pommel horse and rings of the 11th FIG Artistic Individual Apparatus World Cup.A disappointing 19th-place finish wasn't the kind of performance he was looking for in the Doha-leg of FIG World Cup Series, but the legend just couldn't live up to his billing.Uchimura accumulated 13.233 on the list, which was topped by Chinese Taipei's Lee Chih Kai (15.200) followed by China's Zou Jingyuan (15.066) and Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan (14.700).Eight top qualifiers would contest in the finals on Friday and Saturday.Uchimura, who was on the verge of winning seven consecutive world all-around titles in Montreal, Canada, due to injury, performed a shade better on the rings where he finished 10th with 14.366 points.“My landing was good, but somehow I couldn't perform to my ability. Last year's injury scare played on my mind. I was a bit cautious," said Uchimura, who will be seen in action on the horizontal bar qualifiers on Thursday.Ukraine's Igor Radivilov (15.066), China's Zou Jingyuan (14.866), Romania's Andrei Muntean (14.766), Turkey's Ibrahim Colak (14.766), Italy's Marco Lodadio (14.633), Belgium's Dennis Goossens (14.533), Japan's Yuya Kamoto (14.466) and USA's Marvin Kimble (14.466) qualified for the finals.In the men's floor exercise, Takumi Sato (Japan), Dmitri Lankin (Russia), Chih Kai Lee (Chinese Taipei) and five others made it to the finals.In the women's competition, Uzbekistan's 42-year-old Oksana Chusovitina was at her level best on the vault when she finished ahead of ahead of her seven young qualifiers.Chusovitina, who is targeting her eighth Olympics in 2020 Tokyo Games, will be a firm favourite to retain the title she won here last year.Nina Derwael, bronze medallist at the Montreal Worlds, lived up to her reputation by topping the uneven bar list with 15.233 points.

HH the Emir Chairs Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Meeting

DOHA, March 22, 2018-HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani chaired the first meeting of the board of directors of Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) for 2018. The meeting was held on Wednesday at Al Bahr Palace.The meeting was attended by HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani.The meeting was also attended by HH Personal Representative of HH the Emir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Vice Chairman of the board.Board member, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani also attended the meeting, as well as the rest of the members.The meeting reviewed the latest developments of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 projects and what has been completed during the last period.

Al Shamari wins gold medal in HH Emir Shooting Cup

DOHA, March 22, 2018 – Qatar's Ahmed Al Shamari claimed the gold medal in Men's pistol 10m event in the prestigious HH the Emir Shooting Cup Championship 2018 held at the Losail Shooting complex on Wednesday.Al Shamari won the pistol gold medal after defeating Rabea Al Kuwari who managed in the runner-up position, while the bronze went to Osama Al Sheeb.In the pistol 10m event for juniors, Fahad Ahmed took the gold medal, Saleh Al Hakeem seized the silver medal and Mohammed Al Shamari clinched the bronze medal.On the same track of victory, Mohammed Al Maadeed claimed the gold medal in pistol 10m event for beginners, Abdullah Al Hagiri seized the silver medal and the bronze medal went to Ibraheem Al Mohannadi.

Curtains come down on SOP Taekwondo Competitions

DOHA, March 22, 2018- The competitions of Taekwondo at the 11th edition of the Schools Olympic Program were concluded on Wednesday.Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Executive Director of the Qatar School Sport Association and Adel Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of the Qatar Taekwondo, Karate and Judo Federation attended the medal ceremony.Zahu Young from Edison Academy took the gold medal of 21 kg event. Ali Hassan from Awfaz School finished second ahead of Washwan from Birla School in the third place.In 25kg event, Ahmad Zahran from French School claimed the gold medal. Ghassan Al Abdoudi from Al Manar School and Mohammad Al Diraidi from Tunisian School occupied the second and the third places respectively.Waleed Al Hassan from the American School emerged victorious in 29 kg event. Mohammad Yaseen from Tunisian School and Yaseen Mohammad from Edison Academy took the second and third places respectively.Omar bin Ahmad grabbed the gold medal of 33kg event. Ali Ashraf from Ebla School finished second ahead of Yousef Al Naimi from British School in the third place.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 lifestyle while retaining local values and traditions.