Doha to host IHF Super Globe 2018

Basel, February 1, 2018-The International Handball Federation (IHF) announced the dates for the 2018 Super Globe to be staged in the state of Qatar. The 2018 edition of the event will take place in Doha, Qatar from 16 to 19 October. Barcelona claimed the title of the last edition held in August 2017 after beating Fuchse Berlin 29-25 in the final match. The tournament featured the participation of 8 teams including; Germany's Fuchse Berlin, Tunisia's Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Iran's Naft & Gaz Gachsaran, Australia's Sydney University, Brazil's EC Pinheiros, Republic of Macedonia's RK Vardar, Spain's Barcelona and Qatar's Al Sadd.

Qatar Circuit No.6 Squash Tournament begins

DOHA, January 31, 2018-Asian Games champions Abdullah al Muzayen of Kuwait and Soheil Shameli of Iran pulled off upsets victories to hog the limelight on the opening day of the Qatar Circuit No.6 Squash Tournament on Tuesday. At the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, qualifier Shameli knocked out third-seeded Enzo Corigliano of France in four games, while Muzayen dumped fifth seed Sean Conroy of Ireland in three games. Muzayen, who has not been struggling to keep his form for some time, won the KSF Open at home as a qualifier, beating Spanish Iker Panares Bernabeu in the final. In the match today, he went on to improve his rhythm and tighten his grip, taking a little over half an hour to send the Irish rival packing at 11-7, 11-6, 11-5. Qualifier Shameli battled in the first two games but managed to win them and led 2-0. Corigliano clinched the third to signal his return into the match. But the Iranian player quickly reeled off points in the fourth to dominate him before scripting a 11-7, 11-9, 7-11 11-5 victory in 40 minutes. Two Qatari youngsters, eighth seed Umair Zaman and Syed Azlan Amjad won their opening rounds at the expense of Iranian rivals. Zaman needed some time to impose himself against Ahmed al Kiremli in the longest match, lasting 48 minutes. After sharing the first two games, Zaman lifted his game and won the next to complete his 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 victory. Amjad also required four games to move into the quarter-finals with an 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 triumph in 40 minutes. Top-seeded Bernabeu, who defeated local player Abdulla al Tamimi to win the Qatar Circuit No. 5 last month, cantered past Australian Joseph White 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 in 28 minutes. Bernabeu, who bagged four titles last year on the PSA Tour, will next clash with sixth seed Robert Downer, the English player who outsted Kuwaiti Mohammad Almasoud in straight games. Second seed Abhay Singh from India was the last man on the court and the British Junior Open runner-up defeated Dutch Tess Jutte in four games after coming back from the first game down. The 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 victory in 40 minutes set up the quarter-final with Zaman.

QTSBF scales up preparations for Qatar Total Open

DOHA, January 31, 2018-The Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) is beefing up its preparations for the 2018 Qatar Total Open, which takes place from February 12-18 at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex with the participation of some of the world's top players.The tournament started in 2001 as the first women's tennis championship in the Middle East, attracting leading players as a Premier 5 event.Top-seeded players have recently confirmed their participation, with the federation announcing that Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, Romanian Simona Halep, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, Czech Karolna Plskova, Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, German Angelique Kerber and France's Kristina Mladenovic.The QTSBF secretary-general Tariq Zainal said the federation aims to organise an excellent edition of the tournament with the participation of the sport's leading players to ensure viewers get maximum dose of strong matches.Zainal added that QTSBF and organising committee president Nasser al-Khelaifi has urged everyone to do their best in order to ensure the annual excellence and success of the event in terms of organisation and viewership by tennis enthusiasts as well as the global coverage.As for preparations at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, tournament director Saad al-Mohannadi said zones for fans, VIP and children are currently being prepared in order to turn the complex into an interactive and entertaining place.The fan and children zones offer entertainment activities for all family members such as dining and the federation's store. The VIP zone, meanwhile, offers fans the opportunity to interact with players and guests in a luxury and relaxed atmosphere where they can enjoy high quality international cuisine choices while they listen to jazz music.Al-Mohannadi said tournament guests can get the event's pamphlet from the VIP reception office and purchase federation goods besides meeting tennis stars and taking photos with them.Al-Mohannadi had previously announced that the tournament will see the participation of Russian player Maria Sharapova, a winner in 2005 and 2008, through wildcard. The same goes for 2012 and 2013 champion Victoria Azarenka who was also invited to the tournament.Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex was opened in 1992 and initially had a capacity of 4,000-seat before it expanded in 2008 to 7,000. In 2008, there were also other expansions including VIP seats besides upper, lower and middle sections of the stadium and zones for VIP and fans as well as a dining area.In 2012, two courts were added, which means that the complex now has one main court, four additional courts, and 20 outdoor courts, making the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex the best venue to host one of the most important sporting events in the world.This year's edition, a Premier 5 event with a $2.3mn prizes, with the participation of the top ten players, making it a top competition.The first edition of the Qatar Total Open was held in 2001 where the top seed Martina Hingis captured the singles title after beating Sandrine Testud in the final. Hingis didn't lose a single set during the tournament. Testud and Roberta Vinci had won the doubles title then.

Al Gharafa qualify to group stage of ACL

DOHA, January 31, 2018-Qatar's Al Gharafa scored twice in the first half before holding on to confirm a place in the 2018 AFC Champions League group stage with a 2-1 win over Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor in the play-off on Tuesday.After a cagey start to the game, the hosts had a chance to take the lead 20 minutes in, when Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi was fouled in the box by Pakhtakor defender Marko Simic.Al Gharafa's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot to give his side the lead.In the 28th minute, Al Gharafa doubled their advantage after Diogo Amado's strike from the edge of the box slipped through the hands of Aleksandr Lobanov. Pakhtakor battled hard for a way back into the game but despite Jasurbek Khakimov's stoppage time goal, Al Gharafa hung on to clinch the win.Al Gharafa will now join the UAE's Al Jazira, Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and Islamic Republic of Iran's Tractor Sazi in Group A, with the Qatari side set to travel to Abu Dhabi for their first match against Al Jazira on February 12.The other Qatar clubs, who are already in other groups of AFC Champions League, include Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al Rayyan.

Qatar ready for opening round of ITTF Premium Junior Circuit

DOHA, January 31, 2018-The Qatari national table tennis team have completed their preparations for the opening round of the ITTF Premium Junior Circuit to be staged in Muscat, Oman in February. The event will feature the participation of 114 players from 18 countries. Khalil Ahmad Al Mohannadi, President of the Qatar Table Tennis Association visited the training camp of the Qatari national team in Ras Abu Aboud. Al Mohannadi stressed that the Association is keen to provide the Qatari players with high quality training facilities to prepare them for the upcoming world events.

Hamad Al-Qadhi leads Hathab Series

DOHA, January 30, 2018-The organizing committee of Hathab Equestrian Series announced the general standings of the event after the seventh leg on Monday.Hamad Al Qadhi leads the standings of the event with 175 points ahead of Nasser Al Ghazali in the second place with 132 points. Mubarak Yousef Al Rumaihi settles in the third place with 129 points. Ghanim Al Qadhi occupies in the first place in juniors event. Mohamad Khalifa Al Baker and Abdulaziz Al Naimi 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.