Qatar team prepare for Asian Athletics Championships

DOHA, January 19, 2018 – Qatar athletics team is preparing to participate in the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships will take place from 1-4 February, 2018 in Tehran, Iran.In a pre-event press release on Thursday , Mr. Mohammed Essa Al Fadalah, the Secretary General of Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) has confirmed that Qatar will participate with a big delegation in this prestigious event.Around 13 Qatari athletes are due to compete in the event including Olympian champion and World Athlete of the Year, Mutaz Barshim.The Qatar athletes team delegation will leave Doha to Tehran by the end of the month.

Qatar to face Palestine in AFC Under-23 Championship quarterfinals

CHANGZHOU, China, January 19, 2018 - Qatar coach Felix Sanchez believes his side's perfect record in the AFC Under-23 Championship group stage will have little bearing on Friday's quarter-final showdown with Palestine at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in China.Qatar registered successive wins over Uzbekistan, Oman and hosts China to finish top of Group A with a maximum nine points from the opening phase of the competition. However, despite Palestine only finishing as runners-up in Group B with four points to their name, Sanchez is under no illusion as to the size of the task that awaits his team."We are happy that we qualified from the group stage but obviously that does not count for the next game," explained the Spaniard, who guided Qatar to fourth place at the tournament's 2016 edition in Qatar. "It really does not matter if you have got nine or six points from the group stage, because it is just one (knockout) game. What matters is now."We know that from now on, each game could well be our last." With the likes of Akram Afif and hotshot striker Almoez Ali hitting form just when it matters, confidence is clearly high in a Qatar camp which faced the Palestinians in a friendly before both teams travelled to China.Nevertheless, Sanchez believes he saw enough in Palestine's 5-1 thumping of Thailand on Matchday Three to suggest that Ayman Sandouqa's side will push his young charges all the way. "We are going to face a very strong team who had a very good group stage, especially in their last match (against Thailand)," he said."We have every confidence in our ability though, and we will try to play a good game as that is the only way we can get a result." Palestine, meanwhile, qualified for the last eight thanks to a win and a draw to seal second place in Group B, with their last outing against Thailand a sign, according to Sandouqa, that they are improving match by match."Of course, this match against Qatar is going to be a difficult one for us," declared the former Palestine Under-16 and Under-19 coach. "We have been working hard in the group stage to succeed and we have reached a point where we have been getting better and better. "We are going to go into the game in a positive frame of mind and we are looking to get the win and go through. "We have been taking baby steps to reach this point. The match is going to be a difficult one for both teams. There is not only going to be pressure on Qatar as we are satisfied with what we have done so far, and are looking to progress even further."

Qatar opens Asian Handball Championship with victory

SUWON, South Korea, January 19, 2018 – Defending Champions, Qatar opened its campaign in the 18th Asian Handball Championship on high note, defeating New Zealand in group D preliminary match took place in Suwon city, South Korea on Thursday.Qatar handball team made impressive performance to defeat opponents New Zealand 58-14 and leading group D.Qatar team will lock horns against China in the group D second match will take place on Friday.The prestigious championship is hosted at Suwon city, South Korea from 18 to 28 January, 2018 . It acts as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Men's Handball Championship.

Shooting and Archery Federation General Assembly Meeting held

DOHA, January 19, 2018 – Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation (QSAF) held its Annual General Assembly meeting at the QSAF buildings in Lusail shooting Complex last week .The GA meeting was chaired by Ali Mohammed Al El Sheikh, the QSAF President with attendance of Mr. Majid Ahmed Al Nuaimi, the Secretary General, Hussain Al Sadah, the Assistant Secretary General along with QSAF board members.The meeting discussed vital topics including the importance of developing the game standards and building a solid base of young shooters. The attendees also set a productive plan for national teams to participate in the upcoming Arab Championship in Doha and Asian Championship in Indonesia.Finally, the GA members have unanimously approved the minutes of 2017 GA meeting and exhaustively reviewed the QSAF financial budget.

Qatar defeat China in Asian Men’s Handball Championships

SEOUL, South Korea, January 20, 2018 - Qatar's handball team on Friday recorded their second straight win at the eighth Asian Men's Handball Championships defeating China 34-19. Qatar led 16-8 at half time.It was a superb show from the Qatari men, who on Thursday had got the better of New Zealand in the preliminary Group D clash. The championship, being held in Suwon, is also seeing Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh participate as it acts as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Men's Championship to be held in Denmark and Germany. The win saw Qatar's tally go up to four points. They lead the group, ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference. The Saudi team defeated New Zealand 42-12 (HT 20-6) in a match played at the Seo-Suwon Chilbo Gymnasium in Suwon. The match between the two group leaders on Saturday will determine the group winner, as both have guaranteed their qualification into the next round. Member of the Qatari delegation, Adel Al Enzi, said the players are giving their best so far. He added that the match against China was relatively more challenging than against New Zealand, but the Qatari team had enough experience to overcome the challenges.He added that the team was taking the first round seriously, as a team's performance determines their path towards the final. He maintained that every player is taking it one step at a time rather than looking forward to playing in the latter stages. Last year in July, Qatar defeated China 84-72 in the Third Atlas Challenge in Suzhou, China as part of their preparation for FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut. "We've selected the players based on their performances. The boys are young, but motivated. "The performance helped us to prepare well ahead of the Asian tournament," Qatar coach Kusay Hatem had said then.

Qatar book place in AFC U-23 Championship semifinals

CHANGZHOU, China, January 20, 2018 - Almoez Ali continued his rich vein of form at the AFC U23 Championship 2018 as his brace and Hisham Ali's second half strike helped Qatar survive a late Palestine revival to seal a place in the competition's semi-finals courtesy of an eventful 3-2 win.The Al Duhail forward starred throughout an intriguing encounter to guide Qatar, who finished fourth at the competition's 2016 edition, into the next phase and break Palestinian hearts after they had forced their way back into the game late on. Qatar are now scheduled to meet either Iraq or Vietnam in the last four on Tuesday.On a foggy night in Jiangsu province, it was tournament debutants Palestine who raced out of the blocks at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, striker Oday Dabbagh making the most of hesitancy in the Qatar defence to fizz a shot narrowly wide of the left-hand upright with only 40 seconds played.Group A winners Qatar responded quickly however, and Felix Sanchez's charges came close to taking the lead on seven minutes when Sultan Al Brake's lobbed attempt from a quick Akram Afif free-kick landed on the roof with Palestine goalkeeper Ramzi Fahkouri beaten.Qatar continued to press their opponents, and after seeing Fakhouri make a fine save from his drilled shot, Almoez Ali finally broke the deadlock on 32 minutes, the livewire striker connecting with Bassam Al Rawi's pinpoint pass to steer the ball home with an outstretched leg and claim his fourth goal of a memorable campaign.With Qatar in the ascendancy, the irrepressible Almoez Ali was on hand once again to double his side's lead just three minutes later, this time making no mistake from close-range following a fine Al Brake cross from the left. Hisham Ali then forced Fakhouri into another fine stop shortly after the break, before the diminutive midfielder latched onto Salem Al Hajri's pass to fire home from six yards and extend Qatar's advantage.To their credit, Palestine refused to buckle, and they duly reduced the deficit on the hour mark, Dabbagh converting Mahmoud Abuwarda's cross with aplomb to give his team a glimmer of hope. The goal clearly revitalised Palestine, as first Dabbagh blasted over the bar when well placed, and then Abuwarda had a shot deflected onto the bar by Qatar custodian Mohammed Al Bakri in the 76th minute.Despite having Mohammed Bassim dismissed for a second bookable offence, Palestine continued to grow in confidence, and they ensured a nail-biting finale when Mohamed Darwish beat Al Bakri at his near post with a delightful free-kick on 87 minutes. It was not to be for Palestine however, as Qatar dug deep to preserve their lead in the game's final moments and confirm their place in the semi-finals. Qatar's coach Felix Sanchez was in a jubilant mood after the match and was feeling proud of the team's performances yesterday.“We are very proud to have reached the last four of this very important tournament. My players have made a huge effort to reach this position and they gave everything (tonight) not just as individuals but as a team. I think Palestine showed great spirit and they tried until the very last minute, but over the course of 90 minutes, I believe we deserved the win," Sanchez said. Ayman Sandouqa, Palestine's head coach said: “We had a great second half, but just could not find the equaliser. This is certainly not the end for this team. We have a lot of young players who will be able to play at the next U23 Championship, and we will come back and do better next time. What we have done throughout the tournament has made me very proud of the team and what we have achieved here."