Stage set for World Schools Handball Championship

​DOHA, January 24, 2018- The organizing committee of the 2018 World Schools Handball Championship conducted an inspection tour at Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and the indoor hall of the Qatar Women's Sports Committee, which will host the matches of the event to be staged in February 2018. Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Executive Director of the Qatar School Sport Association said that the organizing committee has completed its arrangements for the event to be held in the state of Qatar for the first time. The draw of the event was held last month as Qatar boys' team will play in group (A) alongside Denmark, Australia, Poland and Morocco. Defending champions Turkey are clubbed with Brazil, Greece, India and Belgium in Group C. France, the tournament's most successful sides with six titles and runners-up in the 2016 edition, are with Croatia, Serbia, Iran and Bulgaria in Group B while Germany, Czech Republic, Romania and Georgia complete Group D.In the girls' competitions, which will be its 23rd edition, defending champions Denmark, France, Croatia, Belgium and Georgia are in Group D.Group A has Turkey, Germany, Romania and Bulgaria while Group B consists of Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Czech Republic and India. Slovenia, Brazil, Sweden and Greece complete Group C.

Stage set for Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship

DOHA, January 23, 2018-The toughest ever field, featuring World No. 377 Romain Langasque and twice former European Tour winner Simon Khan, will take to Doha Golf Club greens for the upcoming Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship.The three-day WAGR-recognised event, organised by the Qatar Golf Association, is scheduled from January 25, with 99 players attempting to claim the title and an automatic qualifying spot for the prestigious Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The 22-year-old French Langasque, who was tied for 65th in the 2015 Open championship and followed it with a joint 39th spot in the Masters Tournament next year, headlines the 11 Pro players list. Twice 25th as his best ranking on the European Order of Merit, the 45-year-old British has had two European Tour wins to his credit - 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open and 2010 BMW PGA Championship. Khan's best in 12 Qatar Masters appearances was a tied sixth spot in the 2013 edition. In the same year, he managed to share the runner-up spot in the BMW PGA Championship with Marc Warren of Scotland behind Italian Matteo Manassero. Though after that he regularly played the game, he could not perform up to his potential due to injuries as a result which, his career kept slumping. Ranked 999th in the world now, Khan, whose last appearance in the Qatar Masters in 2016 when he failed to make the cut, will have another go to get back to his old self. Other professionals in the Qatar Open with world rankings include German Sean Einhaus (1068th), Spanish Carlos Del Moral (1077th), Italian Michele Cea (1553rd) and English Jean Michel Hall (1929th). Also defending champion Pierre Verlaar of the Netherlands will be back to have another shot at the title and the qualifying spot. Due to current political crisis, many players from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have not entered this year. Or the entry list would have had about 125 players easily. At a press conference on Monday, Qatar Golf Association Executive Director Mohamed al Naimi said this was the best-ever field for the Qatar Open. "The standard of the Qatar Open has been rising. This year, we'll have a tough competition not only among the professionals but also among the Qataris for the available spots in the Qatar Masters," he commented.There are about 20 to 25 players with one or better handicaps, which shows the depth of the non-professional and Qatari players. The spotlight will be on Ali al Shahrani, Abdulrahman Abdulla al Shahrani, Saleh al Kaabi, Abdulaziz al Boainin and Jeham al Kuwari who are with the lowest handicaps among the 11 Qatari players. Kuwari has already won a tournament at the Doha Golf Club and is likely to make it tough for Abdulrahman, Saleh and Ali, who have been qualifying for the Qatar Masters for some years. Others present during the press conference included Qatar Golf Association Assistant Secretary-General Mohammed al Muhanadi, Saeed al Hajri, Adil Khaloufi (both from Royal Air Maroc), and representatives of InterContinental Doha Hotel and Al Muftah Rent a Car.Muhanadi welcomed new sponsor Royal Air Maroc, the official airline of Morocco. RAM will sponsor three events this season in Doha, as disclosed by Khaloufi, the Country Manager."We're delighted to be partnering with the QGA for the Doha Open. It is a reputed event and we've signed to sponsor two other events in Qatar as well."The Doha Open and the QGA Cup, the season-ending event for the QGA, are the two events which we will be supporting. Also we've plans to sponsor a series of golf events just as we've been doing in cycling through RAM League. We want to thank the QGA authorities for giving us a chance to be associated with golf," added Khaloufi. Other sponsors and supporters of the Qatar Open are InterContinental Doha, Al Muftah Rent a Car, Alkalive Water, Doha Golf Club, Qatar Olympic Committee and Qatar Golf Association.

Qatar beat Japan in Asian Handball Championship

Suwon, South Korea, January 23, 2018-Qatar thrashed Japan to continue their strong run in the Asian Handball Championship in Suwon, South Korea, on Monday.Qatar's 40-23 victory, in their first match in Group 2 have given them a goal difference of 17 which has put them good stead as they look to progress. The two-time defending champions led 19-9 at halftime.In another match in the group, Bahrain defeated United Arab Emirates28-22.Meanwhile, in Group 1, Saudi Arabia defeated Iran 26-23 and South Korea beat Oman 29-27.Qatar will take on Bahrain in their next match on Tuesday.

Hamad Al-Qadhi leads Hathab Equestrian Series

DOHA, January 23, 2018-The organizing committee of Hathab Equestrian Series announced the general standings of the event on Monday.Hamad Al Qadhi leads the standings of the event with 154 points ahead of Nasser Al Ghazali in the second place with 116 points. Mubarak Yousef Al Rumaihi settles in the third place with 112 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 being conducted jointly by the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation and Al Shaqab.The series is spread across seven months. A total of QR1mn in prize money is available for grabbing for the competitors.

Qatar beat Saudi Arabia in Asian Handball Championship

Suwon, South Korea, January 21, 2018-Qatar defeated Saudi Arabia 30-20 to emerge as Group A leaders at the Asian Handball Championship in Suwon, South Korea, on Saturday.The victory was Qatar's third in the trot and would give a big boost to their hat-trick bid.The two-time defending champions, coached by Valero Rivera, led 21-10 at half-time.Hamza Zouaoui scored eight goals for Qatar while Rafael helped himself with five. Mahmoud Hassaballa also had a good game, scoring four goals.Qatar are now placed in the Group B of the second round, alongside Japan, Bahrain and UAE, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.Qatar take on Japan on Monday.Group A comprises Iran, Oman, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex gets ready for Qatar Total Open

DOHA, January 22, 2018-The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha has started to wear a new look in preparation for the 2018 Qatar Total Open.The prestigious tournament will be held from February 12 to 16, 2018.Ahead of the tournament, necessary branding materials are already being put in place and the courts are getting the required facelifts in readiness for the tournament.Secretary-General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation, Tariq Al Zainal said that the top 10 players who confirmed their participation are Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina, Venus Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Jelena Ostapenko, Caroline Garcia, Johanna Konta, and Coco Vandeweghe. The tournament director Saad Al Mohannadi said that the organizing committee is ready to host one of the strongest tournaments in the region for women's tennis.