National football team to resume training session

DOHA, March 18, 2018 – Qatar's senior football team will begin its regular training sessions in preparations for the upcoming International Friendship Tournament will take place from 21-27 March in Iraq's city of Basra.On Saturday, team head coach Felix Sanchez announced the team list comprises 21 players due to travel to Basra city of Iraq.It is worth mentioning that the prestigious tournament will bring together three Arab nations, Qatar, Syria and hosts Iraq.

SOP competitions for Students with special needs held

DOHA, March 16, 2018 – The Schools Olympic Program (SOP) in collaboration with the Qatar Paralympics Committee held the SOP Special Day competitions for students with special needs (boys) at Qatar sport club headquarters on Thursday.The prestigious event brought together 375 male students from government and private schools across the country to compete in multiple sport events at the indoor and outdoor playgrounds.Senior officials from SOP Organizing Committee , Qatar's Paralympics Committee (QPC) and Qatar School Sports Federation (QSSF) attended the competitions.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.

Top distance swimmers set for Doha marathon test

DOHA, March 16, 2018 The pristine waters of the Doha Corniche are set to host the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018 on Saturday. The competition programme will include a 10km swim race for men and women.The 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup is a series of 10-kilometre, open water swimming races held annually since 2007. Before 2007, 10K races were held as part of the FINA's Open Water Grand Prix series. After the split, the series is now for races over 10 kilometres.Prizes and points are awarded for each race in the series, with the points being added together for an overall point standing and awards. The series involve nine races over nine months across Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. The last race is scheduled for November in Abu Dhabi.This is the first time that Qatar will stage this event and the Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) revealed the event hosting rights have been agreed for the next four years. Doha will also host the 2023 FINA World Aquatic Championships. Qatar's Mohammed Abdelrahman will fly the country's flag in the event. Italian duo and defending champions in the men's and women's categories Simone Ruffini and Ariana Bridi are also gunning for a good start this season's series.Speaking at a press conference by the 'Orry the Oryx' in the Corniche, QSA President Khaleel al Jabir said,"I'm happy and proud to have you here in Doha, I welcome Sam and the delegation of FINA to be here with us, to assist us in this competition. I would like to welcome the the athletes to Doha. This is the first marathon to be hosted in Doha and we have signed on for the next four years until 2021. Doha will also host the aquatic championship in 2023, so hosting this event is important for us."I know it is warm right now as most of you are from really cold places. So enjoy the weather and good-luck for the race," he added. Also commenting on the event, FINA technical representative Samuel Greeton, said,"I always look forward to coming to Doha and I'm sure this event is a good foundation for both parties.From our perspective, we want to use this as the jewel in our crown. "The communication between me and the organisers has been good, so I hope the competition lives up to the hype. The water is good and some of the best athletes are here. Hope it is a good competition and next year it becomes perfect." Dutch Rio Olympics gold medalist and one of the favourites in the men's race Ferry Weertman, praised the water conditions after taking a dip."It's my first time here and it looks nice. The water is great, it's not too hot, so I'm ready to race. I have been training hard over the past weeks so I can't wait to see what the race holds for me." Three-time women's 10k winner Ana Marcela Cunha said the participation of some of the best distance swimmers will make for an interesting race."The race is packed with really good swimmers, so I don't even know if I will get a medal. My last visit to Doha was in 2014 for the FINA gala, so it's good to be back here," she said.Ferry who is yet to win on this stage could not hide his attraction for the Doha skyline."The venue here looks great and also the city, we don't have a lot of these tall buildings in Holland, so it's exciting to see for me." On his chances, the 25-year-old said,"The race is packed with a lot of good swimmers so it's not going to be easy for me to win or to even get a medal, I've never won a World Cup before but I would like this one to be my first."

Qatar’s Elsaey reaches Feliks Stamm Tournament Final

POLAND , March 16 , 2018- The Qatari boxing star Amir Elsaey has confidently booked place in the final of the prestigious Feliks Stamm Tournament 2018, after defeating Turkmenistan's Tuijif Paki ( 4-1) in the semi-finals clash for 91+ event held in Poland on Thursday.Elsaey displayed impressive performance , showed his high tactical plans and controlled the match despite the strength of his opponent.Qatar's Elsaey will lock horns against Russian Magomed Umarov in the final of 91+ kg on Friday , equipped by determination to secure a medal for Qatar in this championship.The Qatar squad includes Yahya Saleh Al Rafiq, Abdullah Balali, Abdulateef Mohamad Sadiq and Amir Elsaey.

Hathab Equestrian Series to begin on Friday

DOHA, March 16, 2018 – The nine round competitions of the prestigious Hathab Equestrian Series will get underway at Al Shaqab internal court on Friday and Saturday respectively .Two matches are scheduled for this round in show jumping where riders will compete in 100/115 m height event with total prize money QR 10,000 and in 120/130 m event with total prize money QR 20,000.The event is organized jointly by the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation and Al Shaqab.

QGF all set to host 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup

DOHA, March 16, 2018 – The Organizing Committee of 2018 FIG Artistic World Cup will hold a press conference at InterContinental hotel Doha on Saturday to unveil the technical and managerial arrangements of the prestigious event.Mr. Ali Al Hitmi, the QGF President and senior organizer along with QGF board members and media representatives will attend the press conference.The event is expected to offer a fierce competition as it has attracted top-notch gymnasts from 40 countries.The Doha leg, to be held on March 21 to 24, is being used by the (QGF) as a dress rehearsal for the October World Championships here.