Aspetar collaborates with IOC's Medical & Scientific Commission at 2018 Winter Games

DOHA, February 20, 2018-Aspetar, world leading specialised orthopaedic & sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East, has sent two experienced sports medicine experts to Pyeongchang, South Korea, to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical and Scientific Commission in safeguarding athletes' health during the 2018 Winter Olympics.Physicians Dr. Celeste Geertsema and Dr. Emin Ergen from Aspetar are key members of the IOC's Medical and Scientific Commission Games Group, a team of ten medical professionals from around the world that are working together to provide quality medical services to athletes during the competitions, supported by excellence in research and education. The group is responsible for running both the polyclinic and medical units at various venues during the 2018 Winter Olympics, as well as liaising with National Olympic Committees, International Federations and physicians from the Local Organising Committee medical group. This important collaboration underpins Aspetar's role as as a key member hospital of the IOC's Medical Research Network and highlights its leading status as an IOC Research Centre for the Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health.

Vescovi wins Double Trap gold

DOHA, February 20, 2018-Italians stamped their class over the Double Trap category of the Qatar Open Shotgun Championship, as they dominated the event by making a clean sweep of all the three places.Yesterday, promising youngster Andrea Vescovi led the Italian charge as he beat a star-studded field at the Losail Shooting Range to complete the Italian 1-2-3.The 24-year-old Vescovi, proved that experience does not count but the form of the day matters when he overcame Daniele de Spigno, his practice partner and his 18 year his senior, by four shots (75-71) to win the gold, while their team-mate Aegnazio Tronca came third.Vascovi was just a six-year-old when 42-year-old De Spigno, a four-time Olympic Games veteran, made his debut at the 2000 Games.“It is very good victory for me. This was my first appearance in the event and I am very happy to win the gold beating a very strong field," Vescovi, the 2014 junior world champion, said.Vascovi had stumbled to an indifferent start with a 54 out of 60 in the first two rounds.However, he showed his class with 84 out of 90 in the next three rounds to put himself in the line for the gold.Talking about the condition, the marksman from Città di Castello said: “It was a windy day, but it's an outdoor event and we are prepared to shoot in any conditions," said Vascovi who began practicing shooting in 2004 and took part in his first competition three years later.“The wind was there in the final round, but it was a part of the game. I held my nerves to beat my countrymen and friends for my first title here," he said.Di Spigno was satisfied with his silver medal as he said: I am very happy with my performance as it came against a very competitive field in the very first event of the season. I am also happy with Andrea's victory. He is a very good shooter and a deserving winner today. He is my team-mate and we use to practice together at least twice a week, so it was a friendly competition." The veteran marksman is a regular at the Doha event and he is very impressed with the facilities at the range.“We start our season here every year and I must say the facilities are world class here," the 2016 runner-up said.45-year-old Russian Vasily Mosin, 2012 London Olympic Games bronze medal winner and India Ankur Mittal were the other two shooters who qualified for the final but got trapped in the Italian storm.Asian Shotgun Champion Mittal, who also won silver medal at 2017 ISSF World Shotgun Championship in Moscow, was first to be eliminated from the final as he finished sixth with 24 hits out of 30.The 26-year-old Indian, who had been in irresistible form last year winning the silver in the World Cup in Delhi and following it up with the gold in the World Cup in Acapulco, failed to match his Italians rivals in the first event of the season.Ankur is the member of the Indian shooting team which will take part in the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Gold Coast, Australia, in April.The 2015 World Champion Mosin was next to go as he managed to hit only 30 shots and left the field for the all-Italian affair.The 2016 Rio Games silver medalist and 2017 Qatar champion Marco Innocenti came fourth with a score of 41.Qatar's Hamad al-Marri, who won the silver medal last year came 16th and Abdulbaset Mohsin came 13th. The other Qatar shooters Masoud Ali Al Adbaand and Rashid Ali Al Athbi finished 17th and 19th, respectively.

Al Arabi beat Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in Arab Volleyball Championship

Tunisia, February 20, 2018- Qatar's Al Arabi continued their winning streak at the 36th Arab Club Volleyball Championship beating Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia 3-1 (26-24 25-22 17-25 25-21) on Monday. Al Arabi began their campaign in the championship with a 3-0 victory over Tunisia's etoile Sportive du Sahel. Al Arabi lead the standings of their group (c) with 6 points.

Qatar team prepares for Kish Beach Volleyball Championship

DOHA, February 19, 2018 – The Qatar team is intensifying its training sessions in preparation for the upcoming round of Kish Beach Volleyball Championship 2018.Defending champions, Qatar beach team consists of Ahmed Tijan and Sherriff Younis have resumed their regular sessions to honor the country in this prestigious.It is worth mentioning that Qatar is preparing to host Karata international Beach Volleyball Championship on March 6 in Doha which will bring together 14 teams.

Kvitova beats Muguruza in Qatar final to get back into top 10

DOHA, February 19, 2018 - Petra Kvitova stormed back into the world top 10 for the first time since 2016 by beating Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the Qatar Open final on Sunday for her second title of the season. Coming into the tournament 21st in the WTA rankings, the Czech won 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes to add to her triumph in St Petersburg earlier this month.Kvitova was in trouble as she trailed 5-0 in the first set with fourth seed Muguruza looking to snap the Czech's winning streak at 12 matches. But the double Wimbledon champion dug deep to take the contest into a decider and ground out the victory.Asked how she managed to turn the contest around, Kvitova said: "I have no idea. I just tried... It was a really tough match, a big fight and hopefully the people enjoyed it."Kvitova was forced to take a break from tennis after being attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in 2016. She returned to action after surgery on her playing hand last year but fell short of the top 10, ending the season 11th. "One year ago I could not dream of it. It's a very special feeling to be back (in the top 10)," said an emotional Kvitova, who was seeded 16th.

HH the Emir attends Qatar Total Open final

DOHA, February 19, 2018-HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani attended the final of the Qatar Total Open 2018 between Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Sunday. Kvitova fought back from a set down to win the Golden Falcon, a victory which will take her back into the world's top 10. Kvitova overcame an awful start which saw her lose the first five games to eventually triumph 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.