Team Qatar player Ali al-Obaidli won the gold medal in the 15-red snooker singles competition at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026.
Al-Obaidli secured the gold medal after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Ziyad al-Qabbani 3-0 in the final.
Earlier, he defeated Kuwait’s Ahmed Abu in the semi-finals by the same scoreline, after overcoming UAE’s Mohammed Shehab 3-1 in the quarter-finals.
Saudi Arabia’s al-Qabbani claimed the silver medal after reaching the final with a 3-0 victory over compatriot Abdullah al-Shamri.
Al-Obaidli delivered an outstanding technical performance and controlled the final from start to finish to claim his fourth medal of the Games, having previously won gold in the 10-ball billiards doubles event, silver in the 10-ball billiards singles competition, and silver in the 6-red snooker singles event.
Qatar lead the medals tally with a tally of 110 (40 gold, 38 silver, 32 bronze). Saudi Arabia are in second spot with 63 medals (24 gold, 20 silver, 19 bronze) while Bahrain occupy the third place with 55 (23 gold, 20 silver, 12 bronze).
GOLD MARCH THRILLS AL-OBAIDLY
Team Qatar player al-Obaidli expressed his great happiness after winning the gold medal, stressing that the achievement was the result of the hard work he had put in over the past period.
Al-Obaidli said: “I am extremely happy to win the gold medal and dedicate it to Qatar and to the fans who supported us throughout the tournament. The competition was not easy due to the strength of the participating players, but I was determined to deliver my best level and achieve the title.”
He added: “The final against Saudi Arabia’s Ziyad al-Qabbani was very competitive. From the beginning, I focused on maintaining concentration and taking advantage of the opportunities available, and Thank God I managed to secure the victory.”
The Team Qatar player noted that winning four medals at the current edition of the Games would serve as a major motivation for him to continue working hard and improving in the future, while also thanking the administrative and technical staff as well as his teammates for their continuous support.
Al-Obaidli also praised the excellent organisational atmosphere of the Games.
Asian Snooker Federation President praises al-Obaidli’s achievement Mohammed Salem al-Nuaimi, President of the Asian Snooker Federation, stressed that al-Obaidli’s achievement in winning the gold medal represents a great source of pride and reflects the high standard reached by snooker players in the region.
Al-Nuaimi said: “We congratulate champion Ali al-Obaidli on this well-deserved achievement after a strong and distinguished performance throughout the competition. He proved his worth and ability to compete at the highest levels, and this gold medal is the result of hard work and the strong support received by Qatari sport.”
He added: “The 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 are witnessing remarkable organisational success in every aspect thanks to the tremendous efforts of the organising committee, which has clearly been reflected in the atmosphere of the competitions and the distinguished participation from all GCC delegations.”
The President of the Asian Snooker Federation also noted that the participating delegations had widely praised the organisation and Qatari hospitality, in addition to the excellent fan attendance that created a vibrant competitive atmosphere, stressing that Doha continues to strengthen its status as a sporting capital capable of hosting the biggest continental and international events in the best possible manner.
STRONG START TO TRAP SHOOTING COMPETITIONS
The trap shooting competitions at Lusail Shooting Complex got underway yesterday as part of the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026, which continue until May 22 with the participation of elite athletes from regional countries competing across 19 sports.
The opening day of the trap competition featured strong and exciting contests in the men’s and women’s individual and team categories, with shooters competing over 75 targets across three rounds of 25 targets each.
The competition will continue today, with two additional rounds over 50 targets, after which the top eight shooters will qualify for the finals before the winners in each category are crowned.
In the men’s category, Kuwait’s Talal al-Rashidi topped the standings with 72 targets, while Qatar’s Mohammed al-Rumaihi placed second with 71 targets, tied with Kuwait’s Abdulrahman al-Faihan.
In the women’s category, Qatar’s Maytha al-Buainain led the standings with 66 targets, followed by Kuwait’s Shahad al-Hawal with 65, while Qatar’s Nawal al-Khalaf ranked third with 63.
In the men’s team competition, Team Qatar, comprising Mohammed al-Rumaihi, Angelo Scalzoni, and Saeed Abu Shareb, finished first with a total of 209 targets, ahead of Kuwait in second with 205 and the UAE in third with 204.
In the women’s team category, Team Qatar, comprising Maytha Al Buainain, Khulood Al Khalaf, and Ray Bassil, also ranked first with 186 targets, ahead of Kuwait with 185 and Bahrain with 171. The final standings will be determined after the conclusion of the second day of competition tomorrow.
QATAR PADEL TEAM CONTINUES WINNING STREAK
Team Qatar padel team continued their winning streak at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 during the ongoing competitions at the specially prepared Aspire padel courts.
Team Qatar secured a 3-0 victory over Kuwait, as the duo of Mishari Nawaf and Rashid Nawaf won the opening match in straight sets 6-2 and 6-0.
The pair of Mohammed Saadoun al-Kuwari and Hassan Wali also won the second match in straight sets 7-6 and 6-1, while Mohammed al-Khanji and Ryan al-Jufairi secured victory in the third match.
This marked Team Qatar’s second consecutive victory after previously defeating Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the opening match.
Team Qatar are scheduled to face Bahrain today in their third match of the tournament as they aim to continue their winning run and retain the gold medal they won in Kuwait.
