Stage set for HH Emir Shooting Championship

​DOHA, March 14, 2018 – Qatar's Shooting and Archery Federation (QSAF) announced the program of the prestigious HH Emir Shooting Championship 2018 to be held at Losail Shooting course on Tuesday.The prestigious championship will get underway officially on Friday and will continue until March 24 at the Losail Shooting Arena. Elite Qatari shooters (men and women) are due to compete in Shotgun, rifle and pistol.The event's organizing committee has finalized all managerial and technical arrangements to host the championship.

Stage set for Doha Artistic Gymnastics World Cup

​DOHA, March 14, 2018-The FIG Artistic World Cup, expected to offer a fierce competition, has attracted top-notch gymnasts from 40 countries, including Japanese star Kohei Uchimura.The Doha leg, to be held on March 21 to 24, is being used by the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) as a dress rehearsal for the October World Championships here.QGF President Ali Ahmed al Hitmi said, "The Doha event started 10 years ago and now it has acquired the reputation of being among the best in the world. This was possible due to big support from the Qatar Olympic Committee. I also wish to thank the FIG for having faith in us and giving an opportunity to host the World Championships in Doha."I'd like to thank the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani and QOC President His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani for their support to our bid for the rights to hold the World Championship.""We'll leave no stone unturned and deliver the World Championship in October as a truly memorable event," Hitmi added.The QGF is fielding two gymnasts Ahmed Nabil and Jana Elkeky."We hope the Qatari gymnasts will live upto the hopes and achieve good results to underline the growth of gymnastics in Qatar," Hitmi said.The four-day event will feature some of world's top names including reigning all-around Olympic champion Uchimura. The Japanese great has won six world all-around titles and the last two Olympic all-around titles, the longest streak of dominance in gymnastics history.The finals will be held on March 23 and 24.

Doha Fursan Qatar to participate in Longines Global Champions Tour

​DOHA, March 14, 2018-The new line up of 19 teams to participate in the 2018 season of Longines Global Champions Tour was revealed recently. Doha Fursan Qatar will participate in the event.This year a guaranteed overall season prize purse of €35 million will be paid out to the world's best individual and team riders. This includes €12 million to be shared at the spectacular new GC Prague Play Offs in Prague in December from 13th - 16th.16 action-packed events in the regular season will culminate in the team and individual finals at Doha, Qatar, this November. And this year, the pressure will be more intense than ever in the battle to earn a golden ticket to the GC Prague Play Offs.With 19 teams competing throughout the 2018 season, only 16 will qualify for the GCL Super Cup at the GC Prague Play Offs. And the Czech capital will also see every individual LGCT Grand Prix winner invited to the prestigious Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix - the ultimate showdown starring the season's top performers.The 2018 season will kick off in Mexico City from 22nd - 25th March, where teams will reveal who they'll select to play up front in the crucial first round of the circuit.

Al Sadd defeat Nasaf of Uzbekistan in AFC Champions League

DOHA, March 14, 2018-A four-goal blitz without reply put Al Sadd on the brink of the last 16 stage of the AFC Champions League yesterday as the Qatar giants avenged their defeat to Uzbekistan's Nasaf in sensational style.Last week Nasaf had scored an upset 1-0 win as Al Sadd failed to get together in the southern Uzbek city of Qarshi in a match in which they clearly missed their inspirational captain Xavi who was rested after picking up a back injury.Their troubles didn't seem to end there as they also lost to Umm Salal in a crucial QNB Stars League match to allow Al Duhail to walk away with the title with two rounds remaining.But with the Spanish and Barcelona legend back in action yesterday, their luck changed dramatically as they took the lead with just three minutes on the clock.That the goal came from Xavi himself was the icing on the cake for the team, the skipper turning in a pass from Boaulem Khoukhi to put Al Sadd ahead in front of their home fans at the Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.It was Xavi's first-ever goal in the AFC Champions League and it set the stage for Al Sadd's complete domination of the Uzbeks who rarely had a shot at goal and spent most of the time chasing shadows.Al Sadd doubled their lead in the 16th minute and this time it was a defender who got on the scoresheet. Full-back Abdelkarim Hassan finished off a surging solo run from the halfway line with a fierce strike that left Nasaf keeper Sanjar Kuvvatov with no chance of saving.Baghdad Bounedjah then gave the Qatari side a comfortable 3-0 cushion at half time, with the Algerian netting his fifth goal of the tournament with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 43rd minute.Fellow Algerian Jugurtha Hamroun, who had provided the assist for Bounedjah, got a goal of his own in the 71st minute, smashing in a low shot past Kuuvatov to round off a quick counter-attack.“I have no complaints with the way we played today," said Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira. “Xavi's early goal set the stage and inspired the boys. All in all it was a comprehensive victory for us," he added.The big win sends Al Sadd to the top of Group C with nine points from four games, and leaves them needing four points to qualify for the Round of 16. They host bottom of the group Al Wasl on Matchday Five when Nasaf welcome Persepolis to Uzbekistan.An Al Sadd win coupled with Nasaf failing to beat Persepolis would see the Qatari and Iranian sides advance with a game to spare.Meanwhile, Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz continued their winless run after drawing 1-1 at home with Al Jazira of the UAE.Tractorsazi started brightly and had a number of opportunities to go ahead in the first half, but were denied a goal by some stellar goalkeeping by Al Jazira's Ali Khaseif.While the hosts enjoyed clear domination, it was Al Jazira who opened the scoring against the run of play, in the 44th minute. Brazilian star Romarinho latched on to an aerial pass from defender Musallam Fayez and slotted in the first goal of the match.Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia and Al Gharafa shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw in Group A of the 2018 AFC Champions League yesterday.The result keeps Al Ahli top of Group A with eight points ahead of Matchday Five against Tractorsazi Tabriz while Al Gharafa are on five points, level with Al Jazira who they host next.

Canadian team arrive in Doha to participate in FINA Marathon Swim World Series

DOHA, March 13, 2018-The Canadian swimming team arrived in Doha on Monday to participate in the opening round of the 2018 FINA Marathon Swim World Series to be staged in Doha on Friday and Saturday.Doha will open the FINA Marathon Swim World Series 2018, which features nine meetings taking place in some of the world's most scenic waterways, including the Seychelles, Portugal, Canada and China.Over 350 athletes from over 50 national federations all over the world will compete in the one-day competition programme from March until November, with a total of $30,000 prize money available per event.Speaking ahead of the event, President of the Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) and FINA Bureau Member, Khalil al-Jabir said, “It is an honour for Qatar to host another prestigious FINA event and welcome the world's best open water swimmers to kick off their World Series campaigns in Doha.

Duhail advance as Rayyan put it across Saudi’s Al Hilal

DOHA, March 13, 2018 - A dramatic injury time brace from Youssef El Arabi saw Qatar's Al Duhail snatch a stunning 2-1 win over Lokomotiv Tashkent in their 2018 AFC Champions League yesterday, the top Qatari side becoming the first team to qualify for the knockout stages.After spurning a number of opportunities early on, Uzbekistan international Sardor Rashidov gave Lokomotiv the lead in the 35th minute, slotting home Shukhrat Mukhammadiev's cutback to score his second goal of the tournament.The hosts went on to end the half with a 1-0 lead and could have been further ahead had it not been for the heroics of Al Duhail keeper Amine Lecomte. In the second half, Al Duhail went on the offensive in search of an equaliser but were reduced to just a single shot on target in the face of a defiant defensive display from Lokomotiv.However, just as the Central Asians thought they had the three points in the bag, Al Duhail were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute after Almoez Ali was felled in the box by Salim Mustafoev. El Arabi stepped up and duly dispatched the spot-kick to net his fifth goal of the campaign.And there was still time for a dramatic conclusion as in the fourth minute of stoppage time, El Arabi showed great composure to deceive his marker and finish past Ignatiy Nesterov to complete his side's comeback in dramatic fashion.The result means that Al Duhail have ensured a spot in the Round of 16 after a fourth successive win in Group B. Both teams have away fixtures coming up on Matchday Five, with Al Duhail facing Zobahan in Isfahan while Lokomotiv travel to Abu Dhabi to take on Al Wahda.Meanwhile in Doha, last year's runners-up Al Hilal's chances of qualifying for the last 16 stage of the AFC Champions League suffered a huge blow when they were beaten by Qatar's Al Rayyan.Saudi giants Al Hilal, who were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds in the two-legged finals last November, were clearly off colour as Michael Laudrup's Al Rayyan dominated play and created more chances at the Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.The teams had played a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, but yesterday Abdelrazzaq Hamdallah played a starring role for Al Rayyan to give them their first victory after three consecutive draws.The Moroccan first struck from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after he was brought down by Abdulla al-Zori and then produced a delectable backheel pass inside the box to allow captain Rodrigo Tabata to consolidate in the 66th minute.Yasser al-Qahtani pulled one back for Al Hilal in the 90th minute courtesy of a penalty but that was little consolation as they stayed bottom of Group D with just two points from four matches, leaving them in serious danger of missing the knockout stages of the tournament.Meanwhile, Tsukasa Shiotani's late goal earned Al Ain a 1-1 away draw against Group D rivals Esteghlal.Al Ain tried to open the scoring early in the game, but Rayan Yaslam's left footed effort missed the target by a narrow margin 12 minutes in. Omar Abdulrahman tested the goalkeeper from outside the box but Seyed Hosseini was alert and made the save in the 24th minute. Three minutes before the half time whistle, Mame Thiam's third goal of the competition restored parity from the spot after Farshid Esmaeili was brought down inside the box.Six minutes after the restart, Al Ain's Marcus Berg's shot was saved following a headed pass from Abdulrahman. Al Ain continued to dominate and push for an equaliser, and they were finally rewarded in the 78th minute when Shiotani unleashed a powerful shot that left the Iranian goalkeeper helpless.