Qatar to Face Saudi Arabia in Asian Handball Main Round

KUWAIT – Defending champions Qatar will begin their main round campaign at the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship with a crucial clash against Saudi Arabia tomorrow, Thursday, as the tournament continues in Kuwait until January 29.The championship also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF World Handball Championship, scheduled to be held in Germany.Team Qatar advanced to the main round after finishing second in Group A. The holders opened their campaign with a convincing 27–15 victory over Oman, before narrowly losing 32–31 to South Korea in their final group match. South Korea topped the group, with both teams securing qualification to the main round.In the main round, Qatar will compete in Group B alongside Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, while Group A features Kuwait, Iraq, Japan, and South Korea.The Qatari side is aiming for a strong start against Saudi Arabia before facing Bahrain on Friday and wrapping up their group fixtures against the UAE on January 25.The top two teams from each main round group will advance to the semifinals and secure direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.Qatar are targeting a seventh consecutive Asian title, having lifted the trophy in the last six editions, and are also chasing their 11th appearance at the World Championship. Their best-ever World Championship finish came in 2015, when they claimed silver on home soil.The Qatari national team claimed the Asian crown in the previous edition, held in Bahrain last year, after defeating Japan 30–24 in the final, and now look to continue their dominance on the continental stage. 

QOC Half Marathon Elevates Sport for Life While Uniting Communities Through Olympic Values

DOHA – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is preparing to stage the second edition of its annual Half Marathon in 2026, scheduled for Tuesday, 10 February, along Lusail Boulevard, coinciding with Qatar National Sport Day. The event reflects the QOC’s continued commitment to spreading sports culture and promoting an active, healthy lifestyle across all segments of society.The race features a wide range of thoughtfully designed categories to ensure broad participation. A 1-kilometre race is dedicated to children aged 6 to 14, while a 5-kilometre race is open to boys and girls aged 15 to 17. Open categories for men and women aged 19 to 39 will compete over distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, alongside similar categories for participants aged 40 and above.The competition also includes dedicated “Team Qatar ” categories for men and women aged 19 to 39, as well as 40 years and above, across the same distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, ensuring inclusive participation and a comprehensive sporting experience for all.The QOC Half Marathon 2026 will also host a Fun Run under the umbrella of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), in cooperation with the Qatar School Sports Federation, aiming to highlight the role of sport within the educational environment and further instill Olympic values among all participants.In this context, Mr. Ahmed Al-Jaber, Head of the Technical Committee of the QOC Half Marathon 2026 Organising Committee, affirmed that the participation of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar School Sports Federation represents a valuable addition that enhances the stature of the event and contributes to its promotion at both continental and international levels, while serving as a practical embodiment of the “Sport for Life” slogan.Mr. Al-Jaber also confirmed that representatives from the Olympic Council of Asia will take part in the Fun Run, in addition to attending National Sport Day activities and visiting Team Village at Al Sa'ad Plaza, which will serve as a vibrant hub for accompanying events and activities.The Half Marathon will be complemented by a diverse programme of sporting and recreational activities at Team Village, organised in collaboration with several national sports federations and supported by a range of partners. Leading partners include Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, the event’s host, ASICS, the renowned Japanese sportswear brand, Doha Bank, alongside the Ministry of Interior and Hamad Medical Corporation, with strong support from dedicated volunteers.The Organising Committee has renewed its invitation to all eligible categories to register via the dedicated link on the Qatar Olympic Committee’s official website, in accordance with approved terms and conditions. This comes as part of its ambition to expand participation, increasing the number of runners from 6,000 in the inaugural edition to 10,000 participants in the second edition, from within Qatar and abroad, further strengthening the event’s international and competitive character.The Organising Committee reaffirmed its determination to deliver a second edition that meets the highest organizational and technical standards, ensuring an outstanding sporting experience for participants, reinforcing a culture of physical activity within Qatari society, and supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 toward building a healthy and active community. 

Qatar U13 table tennis team record positive results at WTT Youth Contender Doha 2026

DOHA: Qatar’s Under-13 table tennis team recorded encouraging results at the WTT Youth Contender Doha 2026, currently taking place at Lusail Sports Hall and running until January 22.Qatar’s Rasha Laghraibi claimed second place in the Under-13 category after losing the final to Egypt’s Malak Zaki 3–0. Laghraibi had earlier secured a 3–0 victory in the semifinals against fellow Qatari player Alia Al-Baz, who finished third.In the boys’ Under-13 competition, Qatar’s Rabia Al-Kuwari earned third place after suffering a 3–1 defeat in the semifinals to Uganda’s Joseph Ssebatindira.In other results, Chinese Taipei’s Wu Wing won the Girls’ Under-17 title after defeating India’s Devyanshi 3–2, while Iran’s Benjamin Faraji claimed first place in the Under-17 category with a 3–0 victory over Hong Kong champion Man Long.Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, a board member of the Qatar Table Tennis Federation, praised the performances of Qatar’s national team players at the Youth Contender Championship.Al-Rumaihi said that the Qatari players were well prepared for the tournament through appropriate training camps, which had a positive impact on their results. He added that participation in this level of competition helps refine players’ skills and experience through exposure to athletes from different nationalities and playing schools, commending the high standards shown across all categories.Matches of the Youth Contender Championship will continue on Wednesday, with the competition concluding on Thursday, followed by the start of the Star Youth Contender tournament.The championship is part of the Qatar International Table Tennis Series, which includes five tournaments: the WTT Champions Qatar, Star Contender, Youth Contender, Youth Star Contender, and concludes with the Feeder Tournament, scheduled to take place from January 27 to 31. 

Qatar shooters clinch team trap silver at Asian Shotgun Championship

Doha: Qatar shooters won the silver medal in the men’s team trap competition on the penultimate day of the Asian Shotgun Championship at the Lusail Shooting Complex on Tuesday.The Qatari trio of Saeed Abu Sharib, Mohammed Al Rumaihi and Angelo Scalzone finished second with a total of 352 targets across five rounds. Kuwait claimed the gold medal as Abdulrahman Al Faihan, Nasser Al Muqallad and Khaled Al Mudhaf topped the standings with 354 targets, while the UAE trio of Yahya Al Muhairi, Waleed Al Aryani and Mohammed Al Maktoum secured bronze with 351.In the men’s individual trap event, Pakistan’s Muhammad Farooq Nadeem won the gold medal after setting new Asian and world records with a score of 27 out of 30 targets. Kazakhstan’s Maxim Beidarov took silver with 26, while Kuwait’s Al Faihan claimed bronze with 20.Chinese Taipei’s Wan-Yu Liu captured the gold medal in the women’s individual trap competition, also setting new Asian and world records with 24 out of 30 targets. Kazakhstan’s Ibragimova Ilyinova finished second with 23, while China’s Shen-Yu Fan secured the bronze with 17.In the women’s team trap event, Kazakhstan won the gold medal after accumulating 235 points over five rounds. Chinese Taipei finished second to take silver with 316 points, while Kuwait claimed the bronze with 315.At the conclusion of the competitions, the winners were crowned by Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Roshan Starakhan Azard, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Jassim Shaheen Al Sulaiti, Secretary General of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association, and Obaid Manahi Al Osaimi, Secretary General of the Kuwaiti and Arab Shooting Federations. 

Team Qatar edge past group stage despite tight defeat to South Korea at Asian Men Handball Championship

KUWAIT – Qatar’s national handball team, defending champions, suffered a narrow 32–31 defeat against South Korea Monday in their final Group A match of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, currently underway in Kuwait and running until January 29. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF World Championship in Germany.Despite the loss, both teams secured qualification for the main round. Qatar finished second in Group A with two points after opening their campaign with a convincing 27–15 victory over Oman. South Korea topped the group with four points, having defeated Oman 29–24 before edging past Qatar, while Oman exited the competition.The top two teams from each group advance to the main round, which features eight teams divided into two groups playing a round-robin format. The top two teams from each main-round group will progress to the semi-finals and also earn direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.In the main round, Qatar will compete in Group B alongside Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Group A includes Kuwait, Iraq, Japan, and South Korea.Qatar will begin their main-round campaign against Saudi Arabia on January 22, face Bahrain the following day, and conclude their matches against UAE on January 25.Qatar are aiming to defend their Asian title, which they have won in the last six editions, and to qualify for the World Championship for the 11th time in their history. Their best-ever World Championship finish remains second place at Qatar 2015.The Qatari team were crowned champions of the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship, held in Bahrain last year, after defeating Japan 30–24 in the final 

Team Qatar set to Face South Korea in Asian Handball Championship Clash

KUWAIT -  Qatar’s national handball team will take on South Korea on Tuesday in a key Group A encounter at the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, currently underway in Kuwait and running until January 26.The continental tournament also serves as a qualifying event for the 2027 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship, which will be held in Germany.Both sides arrive with confidence after booking their places in the main round. Qatar opened their campaign with an emphatic 27–15 victory over Oman, while South Korea secured a 29–24 win against Oman.Qatar will be aiming to continue their strong start and secure a win over South Korea to finish the group stage at the top of Group A.The draw placed Qatar in Group A alongside South Korea and Oman. Group B features Bahrain, Iraq, China, and Jordan; Group C includes Kuwait, the UAE, Hong Kong, and India; while Group D comprises Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.