Qatar’s Hamad al-Mansouri achieved a landmark success for the country in professional yoyoing after securing three podium finishes at the European YoYo Championship (EYYC) 2026, held from May 2 to 3 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The championship, hosted at Kamel klub - Karloveské centrum kultúry, brought together around 250 competitors from across the world, with al-Mansouri competing in three separate divisions and reaching the podium in all of them.
Al-Mansouri captured the title in the Royal division, an elite category reserved for players with at least 15 years of experience. Having started playing yoyo in 2008, the Qatari competitor qualified with 18 years in the sport and emerged victorious against some of the most experienced players in the competition.
He also delivered a strong performance in the 4A division, known as the off-string category, in which the string is detached from the yoyo during routines. Al-Mansouri finished second with a score of 84.9 out of 100, narrowly missing the top spot by just 0.5 points.
In the International division — an open category for non-European players competing for the European open title — al-Mansouri secured third place, completing a remarkable clean sweep of podium finishes across all three events he entered.
Describing the achievement as “the beginning,” al-Mansouri said the victory carries significance not only for him personally but also for Qatar and the wider Arab region.
“Now the first title of Qatar in yoyo is back with me. It will inspire me and others to bring home more medals and trophies in the name of Qatar,” he said.
Al-Mansouri said the achievement represented the culmination of nearly two decades of dedication to the sport.
“After playing yoyo for 18 years, I am finally reaping the rewards of my hard work. It gives me confidence to continue competing and putting Qatar’s name on the map,” he said.
He added that the accomplishment demonstrates Qatari youth's ability to excel in various fields when supported by the country’s vision of empowering young people and promoting sports internationally.
“I am proud to be the first person from Qatar to represent and win in the sport of yoyo,” he said, adding that he now aims to compete successfully at Asian and world championship levels.
Al-Mansouri noted that he has represented Qatar and the Arab world professionally since 2023 and has participated in three world championships, experiences he said helped him better understand the international competitive scene and further develop his skills.
He also described himself as a “pioneer and ambassador of professional Arab yoyoing,” saying he draws inspiration from fellow competitors around the world while sharing his own experiences with the regional community.
“I inspire them, and they inspire me. I learn from their multicultural experiences and bring those benefits back to our homeland and community,” he said.