Stage set for Qatar Open Shotgun 2018

DOHA, February 16, 2018-Twenty Olympic and world championship medallists are among 250 shooters who will be contesting in the eighth Qatar Open in Shotgun 2018 at the Losail Ranges.Many shooters have already landed and took part in the Pre-Event Training (PET) for trap at the world-class shooting facility on Thursday ahead of the two-day trap event.Qatar's sporting icon Nasser bin Saleh al Thani, who won the bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics skeet, will lead a strong challenge from a big bunch of local shooters. At the moment he is in Russia for the season-opening Baja rally and expected to be return to Doha on time to contest in the skeet event, which is scheduled on February 22, the final day of the event.Qatar Shooting and Archery Association President Ali Mohammed al Kuwari, during a press conference on Thursday, expressed hopes of a high-class shooting spectacle in Doha."Many of the top shotgun shooters in the world are here to fine-tune themselves before the start of the international season. So we hope to have a quality competition in each of the category. After the end of the Qatar Open on February 22, they will fly out to Mexico to figure in the first World Cup."The $132,000 event will have competitions in Trap, Double Trap and Skeet for both men and women. Junior shooters will also feature in these events with an aim to groom them for the future.The Qatar Open is also quite popular for many of the European shooters because of the cold weather there."We have nice and warm weather here compared to cold and snowy conditions in many parts of the Europe right now. This factor helps us draw a lot of high-profile shooters to our event each year," Kuwari said.The QSAA chief also said,"The stage is set and like the previous years, we're going to witness another edition of close and thrilling shooting here."When asked about the Qatari shooters, he said,"Our shooters are improving each year. I'm optimistic that they are ready to challenge the big names again and will secure medals as well."He also said that the Qatar Open is helping the sport grow in the country."At many places in the world, people are paying to watch the world and Olympic shooters at the ranges. This is a big learning opportunity for our young fans and shooters to get inspired. I hope there will be a big crown present at the Losail Ranges to see them in action and cheer them."Tournament Director Antonella Bartolomei said,"Over the years, this event has grown in stature and popularity. Since it is taking place at the beginning of the shooting season, the world's best wish to come and shoot here before launching their international campaigns."This year again, we've plenty of world and Olympic champions contesting in the 2018 Qatar Open. What makes us very proud of the event is that every year not only those who have shot here before return to contest in various events, new ones also join them," she said.

Halep beats Sevastova, sets up quarters clash with teenage sensation Bellis

​DOHA, February 16, 2018-World No.2 Simona Halep matched majestically into the quarters after overpowering Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets 6-4 6-3 on Thursday. The win was the second straight victory for the former world No. 1 at the Qatar Total Open 2018.The Romanian is now set to face American teenage sensation Catherine (CiCi) Bellis in the last-eight.A sloppy start from the world number two allowed Sevastova to break her serve in the very first game, but Halep soon felt her way into the match and levelled at 2-2.An entertaining opening set turned in Halep's favour at 5-3 and, although Sevastova swiftly hit back, she then brilliantly broke to love to clinch the lead after 32 minutes.The two players continued to trade blows, with Halep again recovering after a series of errors had handed the Latvian the advantage in the second set.Sevastova did not crumble, but Halep's pressure told as she came to the net to belatedly finish the contest in style with her fourth match point, before acknowledging that her class had won out against a tough opponent."[Sevastova] is a great player and I was a little bit nervous," she said on court. "I'm glad that I could play maybe my best tennis."

Hathab 8th leg to begin on Friday

DOHA, February 16, 2018-The eighth competition of the 12-leg Hathab Equestrian Tour National series will take place at the Qatar Equestrian Federation's (QEF) indoor and outdoor arena in New Al Rayyan on Friday and Saturday.The mandatory veterinary check for the horses was done on Thursday followed by riders' warm-up sessions.The competition on Friday will begin with Small Tour and Medium Tour events.On Saturday, dressage events (Level 1 and 2) will be held in the morning, to be followed by the Open Class and Big Tour events later in the afternoon and evening.Hamad Nasser al Qadi is currently leading the Big Tour in showjumping with a tally of 159 points and holds a 27-point lead over Nasser al Ghazali, who has 132 points. Mubarak Yousuf al Rumaihi is third with 129 points.In the Medium Tour, Saeed Nasser al Qadi tops the table with 164 points, much ahead of Mohammed Sultan al Suwaidi at 121 points.The Small Tour is led by Ghanim Nasser al Qadi with 94 points. He is being chased by Mohammed Khalifa al Baker and Abdulaziz Ghanim al Nuaimi (both at 76 points).All top riders of Qatar are participating in the QR1.1 million Hathab National series which was launched last year by Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, and QEF.Best seven results out of the total 12 will be taken into account in deciding the overall national champions.Hathab, meaning"Canter" in Arabic, is an initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.The vision for Hathab is to have a national series of equestrian competition to inspire Qatar's next generation of international champions.

Halep, Wozniacki qualify to third round of Qatar Total Open

DOHA, February 15, 2018-World number two Simona Halep made light work of her niggling ankle injury as she easily overcame Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets 6-3, 6-0 while newly-crowned Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, the world No. 1, trounced Germany's Carina Witthoeft 6-2, 6-0 on Wednesday.A very intense and aggressive display saw the World No.1 Dane dismantled the 22-year-old German in just 57 minutes at end of the Centre Court clash. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Halep who was making a return to competitive action since losing the Australian Open final, needed only 71 minutes to book her place in the third round of the tournament which ends on February 18.The No. 2 seed Romanian, like all the other top-eight seeds, received a bye in the first round.Halep, who was the most clicked player on WTATennis.com for two consecutive years (2014–2015), raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set before Makarova, the world number 36, showed some defiance by breaking her serve and threatening a comeback.The 2013 WTA's Most Improved Player, Halep, who hit 13 winners, rallied and then stormed through the second set without losing a game.“It's a wonderful feeling playing again and winning. Everything worked just fine today and I'm happy that I won. I hope to go as far as possible at this tournament and hopefully I will be victorious in the end," Halep said.The 26 year-old right-handed player has the possibility of reclaiming the world's top ranking this week if she reaches at least the quarter-finals and goes one round further than Wozniacki.

QWSC celebrates National Sport Day

DOHA, February 15, 2018 – The Qatar Women Sport Committee (QWSC) chaired by Ms. Lulwa Al Marri organized multiple sport and entertainment events on the occasion of the Country's National Sport Day on Tuesday.A big number of QWSC athletes, staff as well as their families marked the prestigious event in a festive sport environment at Aspire Park.QWSC family participated in several events, including football, volleyball, gymnastics, table tennis, athletics, entertainment and walking.The QWSC events on National Sport Day were organized in collaboration with the Qatar 's sport federations where participants affiliated from several age groups were involved.Ms. Lulwa Al Marri, was delighted by the success of the QWSC's activities to mark the National Sport Day and stressed that the QWSC aims at promoting women's sport in the state of Qatar.Al Marri added that the national sport day share and celebrate Qatar's passion for sport and promote the importance of sport being an integral part of everyday life.

Tamimi shocks top seed, makes it to Canadian Open semifinals

​TORONTO, February 15, 2018-Qatar's Abdullah al Tamimi qualified for the semi-finals of the Canadian Open Squash Open Championship in Toronto.Seventh-seeded Tamimi shocked top seed Diego Elias of Peru 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-3 in a quarter-final clash on Tuesday.He will face sixth seed Max Lee of Hong Kong. Lee also upset third-seeded Mexican Cesar Salazar in straight games.The world No. 34 was off to a strong start wrong-footing his rival and not letting him settle early in the match. As a result, he raced to a 1-0 lead. Also known as Abdo, the Qatari lost some of his momentum in the Game 2 and Elias won it after hitting quality shots.Abdo pushed him back in the third in which Elias hit five winners in a rally. But Abdo somehow sneaked out of the tough points after making Elias work hard. There were some glimpes of pain from the Peruvian but he continued to play. Abdo however proved too strong and closed out the match, winning thrid and fourth."I am very happy with this precious win, which gave me a great boost to continue my remaining tour of the tournament in the same way," said Tamimi."I was not an easy match but I insisted on winning and thank God, I achieved the result I came for.""The tournament has not yet been decided, and I still have one game left to play, so I will try my best to show my best performance."Khalid al Khulaifi, Chairman of the National Team Committee at the Qatari Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation congratulated Tamimi for this win.He stressed that all members of the federation are behind the Qatari player and support him to achieve more achievements that would enhance his professional career and the status of the Qatar sports at the regional and international levels.