*Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation chief upbeat about teams' performance in Jakarta Asian Games

Qatar has great chances to win medals at this year’s Jakarta Asian Games in taekwondo, judo and karate, stated a senior official of the federation concerned, referring to the recent achievements of the respective teams.

“His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani laid the foundations for a comprehensive sports renaissance at all levels in Qatar,” Brigadier Khalid bin Hamad al-Attiyah observed in an interview with the official Qatar News Agency.

The president of Qatar and the Arab Police Sport Federations and president of Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation, underlined that "Without the unlimited support of the wise leadership, we could not have reached this renaissance that is recognised by all countries, especially some 10 years ago, no one imagined that Qatar would become a pioneer in the field of sports at all levels".

“Qatar has unlimited ambitions in various fields, and officials are convinced of the Qatari capabilities and competencies, which contributed to the achievement of success in all domains,” he pointed out.

Al-Attiyah said that the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation has been harnessing all efforts and potentials through international camps and championships in order to raise the level of its players before the Asian Games this year in Jakarta, and the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

The senior official recalled that Qatar’s taekwondo player Othman Boularas won gold in the Taekwondo Beach World Championship in Greece in April, the karate team won bronze in Japan, and the judo team won a gold, two silver and a bronze in the Arab Police Championship in Tunisia.

Al-Attiyah stressed that participation of the Federation in foreign events has not been affected by the illegal siege imposed on Qatar almost a year ago. The Federation is participating in all international tournaments, and in the GCC championships held in Oman and Kuwait.

He regretted the siege countries' use of sport as a political tool, noting that the intervention of governments in sport is prohibited by the International Olympic Committee and all international federations.

“The Police Federation supports Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” asserted al-Attiyah while highlighting the organisation's keenness to support all the sport events that Qatar organises or bids to organise. The Federation held an international conference to support the committee responsible for 2020 Olympics bid .”

He reaffirmed that Qatar will organise an exceptional world cup in light of the capabilities it has to host such an event. He pointed out that the organising committee has completed a large part of the infrastructure that includes stadiums, hotels and different means of transportation.

“The short distances between the stadiums will allow visitors to attend more matches in one day which is an advantage not found in any past editions of the world cup.

“The 2022 FIFA World Cup is an event for the Islamic and Arab world and not only for Qatar, and I am surprised by the shocking stances of some of the Arab countries,” the official added.

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