Qatar gear up to take on Japan in Suwon

Suwon (South Korea), January 22, 2018-Given their good form, reigning champions Qatar should have a smooth run in the Main Round of the Asian Men's Handball Championship as well which gets under way in Suwon, South Korea, from Monday. Twice champions and 2015 World silver medallists Qatar are placed in Group 2 along with former double champions Japan. Other two teams are Bahrain, who lost the final to Qatar in 2014 and 2016, and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar open the crucial stage against Japan, who won the first two editions of the championship and whose last of five appearances in the final was in 2004 when Doha hosted the championship. Kuwait had beaten them 28-24 to claim the third of four continental titles. In recent years, Japan did make some progress, coming out of the shadow of South Korea. But their efforts have not been able to help them get past the semi-finals. In the last edition in 2016 in Manama, they qualified for the last four stage, but hosts Bahrain knocked them out. However they managed a consolation third-place finish due with an easy victory over Saudi Arabia. As far as Qatar and Japan clashes are concerned, the former have clinched five consecutive meetings since losing to them in 2010 edition. Overall, Qatar lead 7-3 which does point to the domination of the Gulf team but it does not guarantee a win in Monday's game. Qatar have been in hot form, topping the four-team Pool D with a clean slate. They struck as many as 122 goals and allowed only 53, which gives them a healthy +69 goals difference. Japan had only two other teams in the Pool A Uzbekistan and Iran. They finished second behind Iran and entered the second stage with a plus six goals difference (70 64). Their lone win came against Uzbekistan and most of the goals were scored by Adam Baig, Shinnosuke Tokuda and Motoki. Qatar's Anis Zouaoui, Hamad Madadi and Frankis Marzo have been among the goals. Left winger Zouaoui has emerged as the sharpest marksman for the holders, getting 19 strikes to his credit. But it is not only the attack of Qatar that has razor-sharp edge, their defence with experienced Rafael Capote, Betrand Roine, Kamalaldin Mallash and Mahmoud Hasaballa is also solid. Between Bahrain and the UAE, it is the former who have been able to trouble Qatar a bit. In the last 10 clashes since drawing 18-18 in the 2010 Qatar International Championship, Qatar have pulled off seven wins, including the two finals of the Asian championships (2014 and 2016). With the UAE, there was a ding-dong battle initially. However after losing 21-31 in the 2009 Gulf Cup, Qatar have clinched all the six clashes they have had. Qatar coach Valero Rivera has also said after the preliminary stage that his team would not lower its guard, though he is happy with topping the group. "I am very happy how the boys played and topped the group. Without a doubt the second round will be tougher as the eight best teams in the tournament will be involved and keen on qualifying for the 2019 World Championship in Germany and Denmark."Our focus is on qualifying for the World Championship," he added. Later, Qatar will play Bahrain on Jan 23 and UAE on Jan 24 ahead of the knock-out stage.

Qatar get set for a fighting show in the AFC semi-final

​CHANGZHOU, January 22, 2018- Captain Ahmed Moein said he will be relying on the fighting spirit of his players when Qatar take on Vietnam in the semi-finals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup tomorrow.On Friday, Qatar edged Palestine 3-2 to seal their last-four berth after posting three wins in as many matches in the first stage of the 16-team tournament.“It’s a new challenge for us,” Moein said yesterday after a training session. “There are many reasons for us to be in this position and for me the fighting spirit at this championship has done the job for us,” he added.“The understanding and harmony among the players along with the fighting spirit has done us huge favours. We have done so well. I hope we play with the same team spirit against Vietnam also and reach the final,” Moein said.Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez, have beaten Uzbekistan, Oman, China and Palestine on their way to the semi-finals. It is a kind of deja vu for Al Anabi who sailed through the competition at the last edition of the U-23 event before losing to South Korea in the semi-finals in 2016.Moein said the lessons have been learnt after a feisty contest in the quarter-finals.“We have acknowledged and corrected the mistakes we had against the Palestinian side. Those mistakes cost us a lot. We have rectified our mistakes and we will be ready to Vietnam in a way that brings us the advantage and win that we are looking at,” the 21-year-old added.“The clash against the Vietnamese team will not be easy. They played a great game against Iraq (in the quarter-finals). They are one of the best organized teams in this tournament. They have beaten strong teams in the tournament such as Australia,” Moein said.“We will enter the game knowing we have remain focused and play with concentration. We have our instructions from our coach,” he said.Star striker Almoez Ali, meanwhile, has urged his Qatar side to stay focussed in the game against Vietnam.“It is amazing that I was able to score two (more goals), and I want to say congratulations to my team because we played a very good game,” Ali said following the win in which he scored two goals.“Qualifying for the semi-finals is very important for us, and we are very happy to reach this stage (of the tournament). However, I will still tell my team that we must continue working hard if we are to win the title,” he added.The tournament’s leading goal scorer is understandably looking to add to his tally of five goals.“I hope I can continue to keep scoring and get more goals, and that my team keeps on winning until the end of the tournament. I hope we can win the title,” he added.Ali Salat, the team’s media coordinator, said: “We are ready. The Qatar players are confident going into the semi-final. The players are quick to learn and are considered distinguished individuals. We can qualify for the final.”Salat added: “The Qatar squad, led by coach Felix Sanchez, will put together the plan that will help us achieve our goal. We all have a great ambition to reach the final.”The tournament ends on January 27.

QGA to hold Press Conference on Qatar Amateur Golf C’ship

DOHA, January 22, 2018 - Qatar Golf Association (QGA) will hold a press conference on Monday at the QGA conference hall to announce the details of the upcoming 32nd Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship 2018.The prestigious championship will take place from 25-27 January and bring together 120 golfers representing 30 countries from across the world.The three –day event will be the first major annually organized under the sponsorship of the Qatar Olympic Committee ahead of Qatar Masters.

Al-Qahtani reigns supreme again

DOHA, January 21, 2018-Awad al-Qahtani once again showed his quality as the young rider galloped his way to third consecutive title in the Big Tour event of the Hathab – the sixth leg of the national equestrian series yesterday.At Al Shaqab's indoor arena, al-Qahtani held on to his seventh position before the start of sixth leg in the overall standings after his victory on the 130-140cm class. The Qatari rider was back on 16-year-old grey stallion Cassander van het Bremhof in the final of the feature event once again to claim the top place with a faultless show. The pair came home in 35.62 to pick the purse of QR7,500 besides valuable points.The rider had 65 points at the start of this competition and will now move up the ladder in an attempt to catch up with the leader Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (134 points), who incidentally finished 7th this time committing four faults in the jump off. Remarkably, Qahtani returned to the course on Gerenice of Colors too and clocked 36.29secs in the jump off to claim the third prize (QR4,500) as well.Five more legs of Hathab are still to be held and the best seven results will be taken into account in deciding the overall champions.In the Medium Tour, Mohamed Khalid al-Qashouti piloted the 15-year-old bay mare Goldan to win the 120/130cm class. He had no faults and was fastest to finish the routine in 67.75secs to win the prize of QR5,000. Qashuti thanked Al Shaqab and the Equestrian Federation for organising Hathab which is a great learning curve for all upcoming riders.The dressage events held in morning saw QEF's Saeed Hamad al-Rashdi excel on Graffiti De Lully CH to amass a score of 71.667points and win the top prize of QR2,750 in Level 1 event. The dressage Level 2 was won by Saoud Ahmed al Boinin on Champion's Prince with a total score of 67.778 points (QR1,650). The 7th competition of the Hathab series will be take place from January 26 and 27 at the Qatar Equestrian Federation's outdoor arena.

Qatar to face Vietnam in AFC U-23 Championship Semifinals

CHANGZHOU, China , January 21, 2018 – Qatar's Olympic football team will perform a training sessions on Sunday in preparation to shake hands with Vietnam in the semifinals clash of the prestigious AFC U23 Championship on Tuesday.It is worth mentioning that Qatar side reached the last four stage , following a hard fought 3-2 victory over Palestinian counterparts. In a total, 16 teams are vying in the prestigious championship aspire to claim the title won by Japan two years ago in Qatar.

Qatar tennis team to participate in Turkey F2 Futures

DOHA, January 21, 2018-The Qatari tennis team will participate in Turkey F2 Futures Tournament to begin in Antalya, Turkey on Monday. The Qatari squad includes Mubarak Shanan, Mousa Shanan and Jabor Al Mutawa. The Qatari players also participated in Turkey F1 Futures Tournament held in Antalya last week. Khalid Al Khelaifi, Board Member of the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation and Head of National Teams Committee said, “The participation of the Qatar national team in Turkey Futures tournaments comes in light of the preparations for the Davis Cup to be held in April 2018."