Katara Beach to host FIVB World Tour event

DOHA, February 18, 2018-Fourteen out of top 16 world-ranked pairs will be seen in action at next month's Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2018 to be held at Qatar's scenic Katara Cultural Village, organisers of the event informed yesterday.Katara Beach joins a list of some dazzling world-wide venues which has been hosting the FIVB World Tour.Besides the top prize, the pairs will be vying for valuable ranking points from March 6 to 10 in Doha in run up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.Yesterday, Katara Cultural Village Foundation and Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) signed an agreement for hosting the event.Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, Katara Cultural Village Foundation General Manager and Tournament Director, signed the agreement with QVA President Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari, to organise the tournament, the one of its in the Middle East.Also present during the press conference were Darwish Ahmed Al Shebani, Katara Cultural Foundation Marketing Director, and Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari, QVA Beach Volleyball Commission Vice-President.“We've a vast experience of hosting international events at the Katara and we know that we've been entrusted with a big responsibility by the Qatar Volleyball Association for holding the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2018," Dr Khalid said.“It has attracted top players of the world and it will certainly bring more value and importance to our profile," he added.The hosting agreement is right now for just one year but there is a high probability of extending it another two years or so, he said.“At the moment, we've signed the contract to organise the four-star event for a year, but we are highly optimistic that the Katara Centre would continue to be the venue of this premier event for more years to come," Dr Khalid said.The Tournament Director informed that the Katara Cultural Foundation is also organizing the Halal Qatar Festival (March 2 to 10). We have visitors to it from all over the world and the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup would be a part of the festival, which is aimed at reviving the country's cultural heritage and traditions.“We are holding the Karata Beach Volleyball Cup during the Halal Qatar Festival and we are optimistic that the visitors and sports-loving fans would get a high-class action from the Katara beach volleyball courts to see," he said.QVA President Al Kuwari said: “The QVA is delighted that Qatar is back on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour after a year's gap. The event is very significant for us. 56 pairs from 28 countries would be taking part in the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2018.“In the main draw, world's top 14 out of 16 teams will be contesting for the title, which shows the value of the event. This is the only four-star event the FIVB has allotted in the Middle East for which we really wish to thank the international federation," he added.Kuwari expressed his gratitude to the Katara Cultural Foundation for supporting the event. “We want to thank the Katara Cultural Village Foundation for being partner with us for this prestigious tournament. I am also confident that the Katara would hosting the event for many more years to come."

Perilli and Varga win trap gold in Qatar

DOHA, February 18, 2018-Erik Varga of Slovakia and Alessandra Perilli of San Marino won the men's and women's trap gold medals at the Qatar Open Shotgun yesterday.At the Losail shooting range, Perilli, the 2015 World Cup Finals champion, shrugged off a poor start and went on to beat Lebanon's Ray Bassil 44-42 to grab the gold medal. The winner failed to hit four out of her first five targets in the elimination round. But she reproduced nearly the same consistency as in the qualifying rounds (121 out of 125) and emerged champion in her first appearance in Doha. She was rewarded with a cheque for $7,000.“I had a very bad start but I fought back as the event progressed. I am so happy to have won at this beautiful range and beautiful weather here.“The final was tough and I had to focus hard as I came closer to the title. I am delighted to have got off to a winning start in the season and hopefully, I will have good results in the World Cup in Mexico," the 29-year-old double World Cup champion said.Bassil, the 2016 Nicosia World Cup champion, was awarded $6,000. The third place went to Finland's experienced Satu Makela-Nummela, who managed just 35. Thrice world champion Varga got the better of Jiri Liptak in a pulsating shootoff to win the men's trap gold and $7,000 prize money.On a sunny and windy afternoon, Slovakian Varga, who also bagged two World Cups and one World Cup Finals but has not done as well in the Olympics, was tied at 45-45 with three-time world championship bronze medallist Czech rival Liptak after the final 50 shots were fired.Even the shootoff had the pulses of a big crowd racing and eventually it was Varga who edged Liptak 4-3 to emerge the winner. Liptak had topped the qualifying round with 124, while Varga was involved in a three-way shoot-off before getting into the gold medal match with Liptak, who earned $6,000.The 2010 World Cup winner Mauro de Filippis of Italy claimed the bronze medal and $5,000 with 35 shots in the finals, beating Finland's Mirka Kyyronen. Slovakia's Michal Slamka was fifth, while Kuwait's Abdulrahman Alfaihan was sixth, becoming the first shooter to bow out of the eliminations with 19 in 25.

Kvitova to face Muguruza in Qatar Open Final

DOHA, February 18, 2018-Sixteen-seed Petra Kvitova sensationally advanced into the final of the Qatar Total Open 2018 after coming back from a set down to defeat world number one Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 7-6 7-5 in 2 hours and 35 minutes on Saturday. Playing the final in Qatar for the first time in her career, Kvitova will take on Garbine Muguruza, who had a walkover after Simonal Halep's withdrawal from the semis due to foot injury, for a shot at taking home two WTA titles in a row.It will be the Czech's second final this month, after already winning in St Petersburg."I don't know what happened. I just came to play and I was crazy a little bit in my mind and I was playing it everywhere," said a jubilant Kvitova afterwards about her comeback.Last year's finalist Wozniacki came into the matchup having lost her last three hardcourt meetings against Kvitova - a streak dating back to 2015 in New Haven - but coming off a torrid run of form that had seen her notch 12 semifinal victories in a row.The first games of the opening set were closely contested between the two players. Wozniacki initially broke her opponent in the sixth game, before Kvitova promptly broke back a game later. The Danish world number one rallied impressively breaking immediately again and held her serve to take the first set 6-3 in just 30 minutes. Kvitova forced a tie-break in the second set and after falling 3-1 down took the next six points to take the match to a third set which she took 7-5.Doha would have been Wozniacki's third final this season, after Auckland and the Australian Open, but it wasn't meant to be as the Dane, last year's finalist, will now have to wait a little longer for another chance at the elusive Doha title.

Qatar to face Lebanon in Basketball Friendly

DOHA, February 18, 2018 – The Qatari basketball team will shake hands with Lebanese counterparts in a second international friendly match will take place at Al-Gharafa indoor on Sunday.It is worth mentioning that home side suffered 59-87 defeat at the hands of Lebanon on their first friendly last Thursday.Sunday's international friendly comes in the frame of Qatar team preparation for Asian Zone qualification in 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in China.Qatar basketball team will leave for Iran to lock horns against Iraq in group D clash (second round) on February 22 at 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Al-Qahtani triumphs at Hathab

DOHA, February 18, 2018-Awad al-Qahtani stayed in contention in the battle for the Big Tour's top three spots in the National Equestrian Tour as he returned to claim the top place of the class in Hathab 8 competition at the Qatar Equestrian Federation arena yesterday.Al-Qahtani, who had earlier been winning but lost out in past two competitions, rode his trusted great stallion Cassander Van Het Bremhof flawlessly to win the Table A, Competition with winning round, Art. 276.2.1.2.3 (130/140cm) event. Besides the podium finish, al-Qahtani's effort also won him QR7,500.Meanwhile, Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi, who won the Medium Tour on the opening day, continued his fine form to claim the top prize in the Open Class Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 (115/125cm) event.The dressage Level 1 was won by Saeed Hamad al-Rashidi, who combined with Graffiti de Lully CH to put up an impressive show.The 9th leg of the Hathab Tour will be held on March 16th and 17th. The national series Hathab comprises a total of twelve legs with the best seven results forming the basis for the eventual winners.It was launched last year by Al Shaqab and the Qatar Equestrian Federation under the guidance of Qatar Olumpic Committee president His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani.

Qatar basketball team lose to Lebanon in friendly

DOHA, February 16, 2018- Qatar's basketball team suffered a 87-59 defeat at the hands of their Lebanese counterparts in a friendly match in Doha on Thursday.The match comes in light of the preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.The Qatari squad included Mansour Al Hadari, Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Abdulrahman Saad, Mohammad Abdulmoati, Abdulrahman Yahya, Erfan Saeed, Ahmad Darwish, Abdullah Shaher, Mohammad Yousef, Saeed Al Malki, Dadr Mohammad, Malik Saeed, Khalid Adam, Khalid Abdi, Nasser Al Rayes, Mohammad Abdulaziz and Terry Johnson.