Qatar team to participate in Special Olympics MENA Games

DOHA, March 13, 2018 - Qatar's special Olympics team will leave Doha on Wednesday to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to participate in Middle East North Africa (MENA) Special Olympics Regional Games 2018.The Middle East North Africa (MENA) Special Olympics Regional Games will take place from 14-23 March 2018 in Abu Dhabi, with events being held at the same venues and facilities that will be used during the 2019 World Games.The MENA Region has a strong tradition of hosting Regional Games for its athletes and National Programs and this will be the ninth edition of the Regional Games. The Regional Games are not only a signature event for the MENA Region but also a major Test Event for the 2019 World Games.With more than 1,200 athletes from 27 countries competing in 16 different sports, the Regional Games will provide more excitement, spectacle and inspiration than most sporting events.

Hamad Al-Qadhi leads Hathab Equestrian Series

DOHA, March 13, 2018-The organizing committee of Hathab Equestrian Series announced the general standings of the event on Monday.Hamad Al-Qadhi leads the standings of the event ahead of Nasser Al Ghazali in the second place. Rashed Tuwaim Al-Marri settles in the third place.Saeed Al Qadhi occupies in the first place in juniors event. Mohamad Sultan Al Suwaidi and Mohammad Saeed Haydan settle in the second and the third places respectively.A brainchild of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the 12-leg series is open for Qatari nationals and residents of Qatar.The event is organized jointly by the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation and Al Shaqab. A total of QR1mn in prize money is available for grabbing for the competitors.

Qatar boxing team to participate in 2018 Feliks Stamm Tournament

DOHA, March 12, 2018- The Qatari boxing team arrived in Warsaw, Poland on Sunday to participate in the 2018 Feliks Stamm Tournament to begin on March 12, 2018. The Qatar squad includes Yahya Saleh Al Rafiq, Abdullah Balali, Abdulatif Mohamad Sadiq and Amir Ashraf Al Saei. The Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation President Yousef Al Kazem said that the federation is keen to provide Qatari players with all possible support to make good results in local and international championships.

Doha all set to host FINA Marathon Swim World Series

​DOHA, March 12, 2018-Qatar will host its first-ever FINA HOSA Marathon Swim World Series event on Saturday, 17th March, with the turquoise waters of Doha's iconic Corniche providing a stunning setting for reigning Olympic and World Champions to go head in the 10km open water swim.The public will also have an exclusive opportunity to experience and swim the same course as the elite athletes in an Open Water Challenge competition on Friday, 16th March open to anyone over 11 years of age.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.“We will apply our experience and knowledge from hosting multiple world-class FINA events, including six FINA World Cups and the 2014 World Swimming Championships to organise an event to the highest possible level for everyone involved. We hope that this event will continue to support the growth and development of swimming in Qatar as we build up to the 2023 FINA World Championships, the pinnacle event of the aquatics calendar. We invite everyone to come down to the Corniche on 16 and 17th March, soak up the atmosphere and cheer on the athletes"

China’s Zhendong and Shiwen clinch Qatar Open titles

DOHA, March 12, 2018-Top seed Fan Zhendong of China clinched his maiden title in Doha, while compatriot Liu Shiwen won her third crown at the ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open yesterday.Zhendong had finished runner-up in 2016 and 2017, both times losing to his countryman Ma Long. But there was denying him this time, as he easily dispatched Brazil's Hugo Calderano, the No 13 seed, 13-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 in the final.The triumph in Doha will also put Zhendong on top of the world rankings for the first time in his career. Impressively, Zhendong has now won ten ITTF World Tour title in just 15 final appearances.Yesterday, he justified his favourite status snuffing out any hopes the 21-year-old Calderano had of winning title at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.However, it was Calderano who made the best possible start as he established a 7-2 lead in the opening game. But Zhendong reduced the deficit to 9-8 and then saved one game point at 9-10 before closing out the game.Calderano responded in the second game and went ahead 7-4 bringing out his powerful backhand into play. But Zhendong had his own weapon to rely on, the forehand. The Chinese once again fought back to level at 9-all and as in the first game saved game point at 10-9, as he took a 2-0 lead.It was Zhendong all the way thereafter, as he established an 8-4 lead in third game and never relinquished his grip over the match. In the fourth game, a spirted Calderano saved two match points but Zhendong had opened up a healthy cushion to finish the match.“Hugo has a very strong backhand. I had to change the placement of the ball a great deal. In the first two games I was too cautious, too passive; after winning the second game I played in a more positive manner," said Zhendong.Calderano, meanwhile, Brazilian earned a number of big scalps across the opening three days of the event and gave another good account of himself in the final.In the women's, Liu Shiwen once again emerged champion in Doha after she edged out countrywoman and fourth seed Wang Manyu 8-11, 10-12, 11-9,11- 6,11- 5,11- 6.Earlier, Manyu had won women's doubles title but she was restricted to a silver medal finish once again in the singles. One of China's most exciting young talents, Manyu had also fallen at the final hurdle last year, losing to Chen Meng. This time Manyu had earned revenge by beating world number one Meng in the semi-finals but couldn't get past the experience of Shiwen in the title clash.Yesterday, Manyu looked on course for a better outcome, securing the opening two games to claim the early momentum. But Shiwen, who was required to compete in the two-day qualification tournament ahead of the event, kept a cool head, claiming the next four games in a row to win her 12th singles title on the ITTF World Tour and her third in Qatar.“I have played seven matches in order to win this tournament. I am very happy to win here. I must express my gratitude to Qatar, this is a magnificent venue. I'll be back next year," said a triumphant Shiwen.Chinese players were dominant in all the categories, as they won the men's and women's doubles titles as well. Reigning World Champions Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin proved too strong for opponents Jun Mizutani and Yuya Oshima, the unseeded Japanese duo. The second seeds Zhendong and Xu Xin won 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11.Earlier, Chen Ke and Wang Manyu earned revenge for their defeat against Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha at the opening ITTF World Tour event of the year, by clinching the women's doubles crown.Despite falling a game behind early on in the match, Chen Ke and Wang Manyu won 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4.

Qatar Junior Tennis team return to a warm welcome

DOHA, March 12, 2018-The delegation of Qatar Junior Tennis team, who qualified to the 2018 Asia Oceania Qualifying event of Junior Davis Cup, returned home to a warm welcome on Sunday.The Qatari delegation was received in Doha by Ibrahim Al Khelaifi, Deputy Chairman of National Teams Committee at the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation and Ahmad Batti, Chairman of Public Relations Committee in addition to a large number of administrators and coaches. The Qatari team secured their place in qualifying event after taking the second place in the 2018 Asia Oceania Pre-Qualifying concluded in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday.In the final match, Qatar suffered a 1-2 defeat against hosts Sri Lanka.The Qatari team began their campaign in the event with a 2-1 victory over Pakistan then defeated Philippines 2-1 in the quarterfinals before edging past Malaysia in the semifinals.Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, Rashed Nawaf, Nasser Al Yafei represented the state of Qatar in the event. The Qatari delegation to the event was chaired by Ahmad Al Obaidli. Ibrahim Al Khelaifi, Deputy Chairman of National Teams Committee said, “We are proud of our players and their new achievement as they will participate in Junior Davis Cup for the first time" Al-Khelaifi stressed that the federation will provide the players with all possible support to qualify to the next level. “What was achieved in Sri Lanka will not only motivate the players, but it will also boast the efforts of the federation in its strategy to build strong national teams in all age groups." Al Khelaifi added.