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Kimnkate staged a dramatic late charge to clinch victory in the Al Ghariyah Cup - the highlight of the day’s racing card - a 1,200m sprint for Thoroughbred Fillies and Mares held at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Saturday.The five-year-old mare, owned by Al Hajaj Stud and trained by Hamad al-Jehani, was expertly guided by jockey Szczepan Mazur, timing her finish to perfection to snatch the win in the final strides. Deputy Director of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)’s Registration & Studbook Department Saad Ali al-Kubaisi presented the trophy to the winning connections.Earlier in the seven-race meet, trainer Jassim Ghazali and Marco Casamento notched up a double when Ghanem stormed to victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90 (Class 3).The pair secured their first victory of the day when Liable claimed the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6) in thrilling fashion, edging out Salah Al Deen by a nose in a dramatic photo finish. Alhoby finished third, just a neck behind, in what was a nail-biting conclusion to the 1,700m contest.Meanwhile, trainer Mohammed Ghazali and jockey Pierre Charles Boudot enjoyed a rapid double, with Due To Dance taking the Thoroughbred Handicap 50–70 (Class 5) and Thayir claiming victory in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (Class 5) in back-to-back races.In the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6), Pranil Arvind Kharat steered Al Hattan to an impressive win, while Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri piloted Jaazmina Du Soleil to Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate victory.RESULTS 44th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Al Ghariya CupWinners (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 - Al Ghariyah Cup - Thoroughbred Filles And Mares (Class 2)Kimnkate, Hamad al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur2 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90 (Class 3)Ghanem, Jassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento3 - Thoroughbred Handicap 50-70 (Class 5)Due To Dance, Mohammed Ghazali, Pierre Charles Boudot4 - Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (Class 5)Thayir, Mohammed Ghazali, Pierre Charles Boudot5 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)Al Hattan, Khalifa Hamed Nasser al-Sawai, Pranil Arvind Kharat6 - Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)Liable, Jassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento7 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Filles and Mares) (Class 6)Jaazmina Du Soleil, Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan al-Sulaiti, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri

Eight Qatari riders qualified for the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Group VII (Mena) regional finals with excellent performances on the third and final day of the 2nd Al Shaqab Showjumping League at the Longines Indoor Arena of Al Shaqab on Saturday.HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of Al Shaqab, who witnessed the final day’s action, congratulated the riders on their qualification.Qualifying from the CSIJ-B Junior Champions - FEI Group VII Qualifier 2025 category were Tamim bin Joaan H K al-Thani, Ibrahim Khalid al-Kuwari, Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei and Amer Hamad al-Mansoori.The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Group VII MENA finals will be held at Al Shaqab later this year in November.In the Table A, One round against the clock with jump off (1.20m) event was won by Bahrain’s Sultan Abdulaziz Mayoof al-Romaihi, who with mare Haneen clocked 34.55secs. Tamim Joaan H K al-Thani was second on gelding Carport, followed by Ibrahim Khalid al-Kuwari in third on Flexy Bel Z.Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei came fourth with stallion Gamin Raye (64.98secs), while Amer Hamad al-Mansoori, riding mare Honolulu Brl, ended up in fifth but also qualified.In the CSICh-B Future Champions - FEI Group VII Qualifier 2025 class, Noora Abdulaziz al-Rumaihi, Yousuf Abdulrahaman al-Muftah, and Khalid Nasser al-Khater made the grade.Table A, One round against the clock with jump off (1.10m) event was clinched by Saudi Arabia’s Fawaz Alhokair, who rode mare Cool Cassina and clocked 34.30secs. Noora was second astride gelding Nobile Della Genesiana (39.43secs). Sultan Jaasim M A al-Suwaidi was third with mare Proud (28.52secs and 4 penalties), and Khalid Nasser al-Khater, riding mare Baccarat d/Azur was fourth.CSIY-B Youth Champions - FEI Group VII Qualifier 2025 - Table A, One round against the clock with jump off (1.30m) class was won by UAE’s Eisa Omran al-Owais, who with mare Miss Cooper clocked the best 75.51secs. Qatar’s Saif Mohammed al-Naimi was second with gelding Hero (76.42secs), Yaqoub Nasser al-Mass, riding gelding Lexus, third (83.64secs), and Saif Mohammed al-Kaabi, astride mare Higgs, fourth (76.52secs).Winning the marquee CSI1* Al Shaqab Champions final event was Qatar’s seasoned rider Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi, who rode grey mare Isis for a flawless routine in 39.23secs.Following him was Saudi Arabian Khaled Abdulaziz al-Eid on bay stallion Q Sahel (40.57secs) while Qatar’s Hussain Said A M Haidan, riding chestnut gelding Viahipi d’Auzay, was third in 38.07secs (4 penalties).Earlier, the Intro 2 Optimum Time class was won by USA’s Mohammed Talal Talal, who rode Cascade Sammy to finish the routine in 48.98secs. The Amateur (100cm) class was won by Qatar’s Abdulla Faisal al-Mana, riding Brooq and finishing in 20.84secs to edge Qatar’s Abdulaziz Hamad al-Kaabi, who also finished in the same time on Vahine de Curaine.

Karsten Warholm broke the men’s 300m hurdles world record on Saturday (April 26,2025) at the opening Diamond League meeting of the season in Xiamen, but Olympic 110m hurdles champion Grant Holloway suffered a shock defeat.The 29-year-old Norwegian 400m hurdles world record holder crossed the finish line in a blistering 33.05 seconds, taking 0.21 seconds off his own mark set four years ago in the little-run event.“I thought it was a very good race and a little bit surprised over how easy my legs were feeling out the last bend,” said Warholm, who won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and silver in Paris last year.“This is a very good test for speed and hurdles so it is a very good first race for me,” he said. “I am looking to win as much as I can.”US sprint hurdles star Holloway finished last after leading for much of his race but losing momentum disastrously after the eighth hurdle.The three-time world champion trailed across the line in 13.72sec, way behind fellow American Cordell Tinch, who won in 13.06.Faith Kipyegon came within 0.23sec of breaking a decades-old world record in the women’s 1,000m, finishing in 2min 29.21sec. “It went how I wanted just to start my season in a good way,” said the Kenyan.“I wanted to do my personal best which was very close to the world record.”Swedish superstar Armand “Mondo” Duplantis won the pole vault comfortably with a jump of 5.92m, but failed with three attempts at 6.01 in a performance that never threatened his world record of 6.27 set in February.“It was not the easiest day out there”, said Duplantis. “We hada little bit of trouble with the wind.”Duplantis said he had “work to do” before next weekend’s meeting in Keqiao, China.“Hopefully, we can get after it a little bit better in Keqiao and jump a little bit higher,” he said.Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine won the high jump after clearing 1.97m on her first attempt.“I am so happy that I opened my season with a win,” said the Olympic and world champion, who has been battling back from a heel injury.“It is a great sign for me. For me it is important to not feel any pain. Hope the next Diamond League will be a higher result.”Zhang Mingkun had the home fans cheering as he took China’s only victory of the night in the men’s long jump, but he left it late with his leap of 8.18m on his fifth attempt that proved just enough to beat Australia’s Liam Adcock (8.15).Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet edged world record holder Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia to win the women’s 5,000m, finishing in 14:27.12.“I said just let me start my season well”, Chebet said. “I am so happy to see that my speed is still there.”Tsegay said after the race that she was battling a “strong flu” but that she was happy and vowed to “come back strong”.“Yesterday is gone, today is today, tomorrow is another day”, she said. “Everything is possible tomorrow.”Meanwhile Shericka Jackson finished second on her return to the track in 200m.The Jamaican hasn’t competed since July 2024, being forced to withdraw from last year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games due to a nagging injury she picked up in training ahead of the Games.But last evening in Xiamen the 30-year-old took her first steps in global competition in nine months, clocking 22.79 seconds from lane 6 in the women’s 200m at the Egret Stadium.Jackson started well, keeping up with early leader Mujinga Kambundji on her inside around the bend. Her Swiss opponent faded, but on Jackson’s outside, US sprinter Anavia Battle kicked as the pack hit the finishing straight, pulling away from 80m to go.The Jamaican recognised she would not catch Battle, who set a meeting record 22.41 seconds, but held her second position through to the finish line ahead of another U.S. athlete, Jenna Prandini.“This is my opener,” Battle said of her win. “I was so nervous cause I had not run a 200 yet, but I am happy I did it here. Really good competition. It had a really good feel, it was great.“That 15 hour flight (to China) hurt, but I had to suck it up and get out here and compete. Me and my coach have been working on the first half of the race for my 100m so I feel like that has helped a lot. We are going to Shanghai next, get some rest before Shanghai, then back home.”

The third round of the Al Shaqab International League, a qualifier for the FEI Group 7 Championship, continued at the Longines Indoor Arena with strong performances across categories.In the Future Champions class (105cm), Khaled Nasser al-Khater topped the podium on Bakarat D’Azur in 32.44 seconds, followed by Youssef Abdulrahman al-Muftah on Croat Van Orkids and Fawaz al-Hokair on Cole Cassina.In the Al Shaqab Champion Knights Tour (135cm), Ibrahim Yousef al-Mahmoud took first spot on Cattleea Plassay (63.14s), followed by Mohammed Salem al-Marri and Saad Ahmed al-Saad.Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei won the Junior Champions event (115cm) on Jamen Ray (33.62s), ahead of Ibrahim Khaled al-Kuwari and Ahmed Ali al-Jaber. Mohammed Hassan al-Hadi claimed first in the Open Round (115cm) with a rapid 24.81 seconds time on Capon, while Fahad bin Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saad al-Qahtani rounded out the top three.In the Youth Champions category (125cm), Issa Omran al-Owais led the field on Miss Cooper, with Yaqoub Nasser al-Mas and Saif Mohammed al-Nuaimi close behind.

Paris St Germain’s hopes of becoming the first side to complete a Ligue 1 season unbeaten came crashing down at the Parc des Princes on Friday when Nice handed them their first defeat of the league campaign, winning 3-1 to boost their own Champions League ambitions.Having already secured the title earlier this month, PSG still top the Ligue 1 standings on 78 points, while Nice move up to fourth on 54. The home side dominated the opening half-hour and created chance after chance but it was the visitors who took the lead through Morgan Sanson as he marked his first start of the season by applying a clinical first-time finish to Badredine Bouanani’s through-ball in the 35th minute.The lead lasted just six minutes as Fabian Ruiz scored with a sumptuous half-volley to level but any thoughts the PSG fans might have had of their side going on to dominate were extinguished 22 seconds into the second half when Sanson scored his second, volleying the ball into the net from close range. Having scored from their only two shots on target up to that point, the visitors went 3-1 up when Youssouf Ndayishimiye headed home a free kick in the 70th minute.PSG, who face Premier League side Arsenal away in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, enjoyed 75% of possession and managed to create twice as many goal-scoring opportunities but they were left frustrated by their own wayward finishing and some inspired goalkeeping from Marcin Bulka.With the clock ticking past 90 minutes and seven minutes added on for stoppages, Bulka pulled off a superb reflex save to deny Goncalo Ramos and he followed that up with another top-drawer stop of Vitinha’s shot from the edge of the box, celebrating each save loudly.The Parisians continued to pour forward but Nice defended doggedly and held on to give their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League a considerable lift.ResultParis Saint-Germain 1 (Ruiz 41) Nice 3 (Sanson 35, 46, Ndayishimiye 70)Playing Saturday (April 26) (times GMT)Strasbourg v Saint-Etienne (1500), Le Havre v Monaco (1700), Lyon v Rennes (1905)Sunday (April 27): Angers v Lille (1300), Lens v Auxerre, Nantes v Toulouse, Montpellier v Reims (all 1515), Marseille v Brest (1845)

Al Sadd SC will be on a mission to end a long wait in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals. The Qatari side will face Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in what promises to be a titanic quarter-final at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Sunday.Al Sadd will be brimming with confidence after sealing the Qatar Stars League title, emerging champions for the 18th time and then reaching the Qatar Cup final.The league title was a remarkable achievement as they had to come from behind to upstage Al Duhail, who had led the title race for the major part of the season but had to concede to Al Sadd’s superiority, with Felix Sanchez’s side defeating Al Ahli 5-0 to end the season two points in front.They will hope for a similar outcome on the continental stage, having advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2019. Al Sadd, however, will feel they will be challenging for the title after easily advancing past the group stage.They impressed in the Round of 16 as well, defeating UAE’s Al Wasl 4-2 on aggregate to set up the showdown with Frontale. Akram Afif will be their focal point, with the mercurial winger already on five goals in the AFC Champions League Elite and having found the back of the net 18 times as Al Sadd won the Qatar Stars League title.Al Sadd concluded its training in Doha on Thursday, as they reached Jeddah on Friday ahead of the clash against Frontale.

Four-time winners Al Hilal booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals last night with a thumping 7-0 win against South Korea’s Gwangju in Jeddah.The Saudi Arabian champions, who began the campaign with Brazil superstar Neymar in their ranks before his February return to Santos, romped to victory at King Abdullah Sports City, with 2022 Asian Footballer of the Year Salem al-Dawsari the standout.The quarter-final encounter kicked off the inaugural AFC Champions League Elite Finals, where the continent’s top eight teams - four from West Asia, four from the East - compete in a centralised location for the trophy. Al Hilal are one of three Saudi sides in the last eight, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Al Ahli, the home team who boast the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney.Al Hilal underlined their credentials by cruising into the last four. They needed all of six minutes to take the lead, when former Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic met al-Dawsari’s corner to power home a header. Al Hilal doubled their advantage on 25 minutes, Brazilian winger Malcom cutting the ball back for compatriot Marcos Leonardo.The summer signing from Benfica swept his finish past Kim Kyeong-Min in the Gwangju goal.Eight minutes later, Leonardo sent al-Dawsari through on goal, leaving the Saudi Arabia captain to race clear and slide a low shot into the net.Al-Dawsari moved to nine goals, making him the joint-top scorer in this season’s tournament, alongside Gwangju’s Albanian winger Jasir Asani. The onlydrawback for Al Hilal was that Joao Cancelo, a treble-winner with Manchester City, was forced to leave the pitch shortly before half-time with what appearedto be a hamstring injury.Al Hilal maintained their dominance after the break, with Aleksander Mitrovic adding a fourth in the 55th minute. The ex-Newcastle United and Fulham striker, who has missed a large portion of this season through injury, met fellow Serbian international Milinkovic-Savic’s cross to side-foot home.With 12 minutes remaining, Malcom exchanged passes with Mitrovic to slot past Kim for 5-0. Substitute Nasser al-Dawsari made it six with a deflected effort from the edge of the penalty area. Abdullah al-Hamdan then rifled home from range following Mitrovic’s set-up.In next Tuesday’s semi-final Al Hilal will meet either fellow Saudi club Al Ahli or Thailand’s Buriram United. Those teams face off today, also at King Abdullah Sports City.Meanwhile, Ronaldo resumes his quest for continental glory today, when Al Nassr take on last year’s runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City. The Japanese side sacked ex-England assistant manager Steve Holland last week, with Australian Patrick Kisnorbo installed as interim head coach.

Real Madrid said complaints made by Copa del Rey final referees against pressure from the club’s television channel were ‘unacceptable’ on Friday, after pulling out of planned pre-match activities.“These statements... made in a premeditated manner 24 hours before the final against one of the participants, demonstrate, once again, a clear and manifest animosity and hostility of these referees towards Real Madrid,” said the Spanish champions on the eve of today’s cup final in Seville. Real Madrid refused to take part in planned Copa del Rey final related activities on Friday because they were angry at comments made by the match officials earlier in the day, the club told media in Seville.The referee for today’s match against rivals Barcelona, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, welled up when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season. Spanish champions Real Madrid boycotted the press conference, the open training in front of media, the traditional presidents’ dinner and a pre-match photo-call.“Real Madrid considers the public statements made by the Copa del Rey final referees unacceptable,” said the club in their statement. Madrid took particular issue with the final’s VAR referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes suggesting referees were “united” and looking to take collective action against the pressure they had received from Real Madrid TV.“Even more surprising statements, in a threatening tone... to announce supposed measures or actions that are far removed from the principles of fairness, objectivity and impartiality that should prevail just hours before (the final),” continued Madrid’s statement. “In view of the seriousness of what has happened, Real Madrid hopes that those in charge of the RFEF and the refereeing profession will act accordingly, adopting the relevant measures in defence of the prestige of the institutions they represent.”Spanish media report Madrid want the referees changed for the final and could even refuse to play if that does not happen. This week the club’s television channel launched a new video attacking the referee for the final, something they have done to various officials this season.“Real Madrid told the RFEF they will not take part in the press conference or the official training session looking forward to the (final),” said the Spanish football federation. Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited”.Real Madrid have form when it comes to boycotts: in October they stayed away from the Ballon d’Or ceremony because their winger Vinicius Junior was not named the best player in the world. “Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected,” the club said at the time.De Burgos Bengoetxea had spoken about the effect criticism from Real Madrid’s television channel was having on his family life. “When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional. “This is really messed up... but the day I leave (the job), I want my son to be proud of what his father is, and what refereeing is, it has given us many values.”Wiping away tears, the 39-year-old called for deeper thought on the issue of referee abuse. “It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level,” he added.“Everyone should reflect about where we want to go, about what we want from sport and from football.”Gonzalez Fuertes had suggested officials could take further action over Real Madrid TV’s broadcasts in the coming weeks. “Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” said Gonzalez Fuertes.“We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us. We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) on Thursday confirmed that the final of the 53rd Amir Cup will be staged at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium on May 24.The announcement was made during a press conference held on the sidelines of the Round of 16 draw, where QFA’s Head of Competitions, Ali Hamoud al-Nuaimi, also revealed that three other prominent venues — Al Thumama Stadium, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium — will host matches throughout the knockout rounds of this year’s edition. Al-Nuaimi said the association is aiming to ensure a competitive and well-organised tournament across all participating clubs and venues.The Round of 16 will feature 12 sides from the Qatar Stars League and four qualifiers from the Second Division. The tournament, renowned for its history and prestige, will follow a single-match knockout format, with extra time and penalty shootouts to be used if necessary to determine the winner. Round of 16 fixtures are Al Ahli vs Qatar SC; Al Shahaniya vs Mesaimeer; Al Rayyan vs Lusail; Al Duhail vs Al Sailiya; Al Gharafa vs Al Khor; Al Sadd vs Al Kharaitiyat; Al Wakrah vs Umm Salal and Al Shamal vs Al Arabi.Meanwhile, QFA’s Head of Media, Ali al-Salat, provided an update on the tournament’s fan engagement strategy. He noted that the promotional campaign launched during the preliminary rounds is now in full swing. “The campaign has entered its most exciting phase and will continue to engage fans across the country,” al-Salat said. “Lucrative prizes for fans will be up for grabs during the matches, with more details to be announced soon via the QFA’s official media channels.”Coaches and team officials spoke of their ambitions and expectations, emphasising strong performances and the desire to lift the coveted trophy. Mohammed Gholam, Sporting Director of league champions Al Sadd, outlined his team’s objective to complete a domestic double this season.“We want to keep winning titles and compete strongly to achieve the double this season,” Gholam said.“Our focus will be on the first match against Al Kharaitiyat, a strong team. We’ll begin preparations for the 53rd edition of the tournament with great motivation after successfully winning the league title.”Christophe Galtier, head coach of Al Duhail, acknowledged the strength of their Round of 16 opponents and the importance of the Amir Cup in salvaging their season.“Our match against Al Sailiya in the round of 16 of the Amir’s Cup will be a difficult one. They’ve had a successful run in the second division and earned promotion to the first division,” Galtier said. “I hope to lead Al Duhail to their fifth title. This is especially important to make up for our disappointment in the league this season.”Khaled Taj, assistant coach of Al Ahli, said his team is fully committed to making a deep run in the competition and delivering for their fans. “We are committed to delivering the performance expected of us in this prestigious tournament and advancing to the final stages,” Taj said.“Our chances against Qatar SC are equal, considering both teams’ positions in the QSL this season. It will be a strong match, as each team knows the other well. After our outstanding performance in the league and reaching the top four, we hope to continue our journey in the tournament and meet our fans’ expectations.”Pedro Martins, head coach of Al Gharafa, acknowledged the challenge posed by the draw but remained optimistic about his side’s chances.“The Amir’s Cup draw was a tough one for us. Facing Al Khor in the first match, and potentially meeting league champions Al Sadd in the quarter-finals, is a real challenge. Both teams have big ambitions in this tournament,” Martins said.“We aim to win the championship for the eighth time in the club’s history. After finishing third in the league and being strong competitors throughout the season, the team has a good morale boost. That momentum will help us in our quest to bring Al Gharafa back to the podium.”

Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading telecommunications operator, and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) renewed their historic partnership with a new four-year sponsorship agreement for the prestigious Amir Cup, reinforcing a relationship that has flourished for over 25 years.The signing ceremony took place during the draw for the Amir Cup. Thani Ali al-Malki, Chief Business Officer (CBO) of Ooredoo, and Mansoor Mohammed al-Ansari, General Secretary of the Qatar Football Association, signed the agreement.Al-Malki commented on the collaboration: “Celebrating 25 years of partnership with the QFA through this renewed sponsorship of the Amir Cup is a proud milestone for us. This collaboration demonstrates our enduring support for national sports and reinforces our commitment to bringing the excitement of football into the hearts of communities across Qatar.”Further highlighting the partnership, al-Ansari said: “It is our pleasure to announce today the renewal of the sponsorship agreement with Ooredoo until 2028, under which Ooredoo will continue as the official telecommunications sponsor of the Amir Cup. This sponsorship will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to our work at the Qatar Football Association, aligning with the association’s vision and strategy. It also reflects the strong and longstanding relationship we share with our partners at Ooredoo. We look forward to activating this sponsorship in a way that brings mutual benefit to both parties.”This landmark renewal underscores Ooredoo’s position as a key supporter of Qatar’s sporting landscape. The sponsorship reflects both parties’ long-term dedication to elevating Qatari football and engaging communities through one of the nation’s most celebrated sporting events.

Wathnan Racing’s Moneer, a four-year-old colt, landed his first Group win in the Group 3 (PA) Prix Dormane - Wathba Stud Farm at La Teste, France, on Thursday, over 1900m.This victory marks his second win from three starts, with the colt showing great promise in his brief, but impressive career. Damien De Watrigant-trained Moneer was up against a competitive field of six runners, with Maqbool seen as favourite.The race was led by Mohtaram, with Moneer travelling in second while Maqbool was at the back of the pack.As the field approached the home straight, Moneer was travelling strongly, looking poised to strike. And he accelerating with impressive power to take the lead. Maqbool, who was closing in with a late challenge, looked like a potential threat, but Moneer showed his class, digging deep and finding extra to extend his lead. With a smooth, commanding ride from the in-form Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Moneer surged ahead and crossed the line a comfortable three lengths winner, holding off the Maqbool. Mukatel Al Shahania finished third. Bred by Mohammad al-Najafi, Moneer is out of Muneera, a winner of the Group 1 (PA) Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments over 2000m at four.

Intisar De Monlau, a four-year-old filly, secured her second Group 2 (PA) victory in dominant fashion, winning the Prix Nefta – Wathba Stud Farm over 2000m at La Teste, France, on Thursday. The race featured a field of six runners.Trained by Mme Jean-François Bernard and owned by Mubarak Ali M A al-Nuaimi, Intisar De Monlau showed great promise last season and it was clear from the outset that she had the potential to secure a win in this race.The race was led by Shumma, with Intisar De Monlau travelling in fourth. Once in the final straight, she quickly asserted his dominance, proving far too strong for the rest of the field. Ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Intisar De Monlau surged to the front and won comfortably by two and a half lengths. Shumma held on for second, while Alhaan finished third.Bred by Robert Bourdette and Suc. Marie Ange Bourdette, Intisar De Monlau is out of Leila De Monlau, a daughter of Amina De Monlau. Leila is a half-sister to Africa De Monlau, winner of a Gr.2 (PA) of the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge – Pouliches over 2000m at three.

Al Duhail clinched their place in the Qatar Cup final on Wednesday after edging past Al Gharafa 4-3 on penalties in a tense semi-final showdown at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.The match ended goalless after regular and extra time, with both teams squandering several chances before the shootout. The Red Knights will now face bitter rivals Al Sadd in the final on May 10, in a much-anticipated clash at the same venue.Al Duhail started on the front foot, applying early pressure and dominating possession. Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech delivered a dangerous cross in the 24th minute that narrowly missed the boot of captain Almoez Ali, who was well-positioned in front of goal.Al Gharafa responded ten minutes later with an organised attack down the right flank. A precise cross found Joselu inside the box, but the Spaniard fired wide of the post, leaving the first half scoreless.The second half followed a similar pattern of tight defensive lines and missed opportunities. In the 49th minute, Rodrigo failed to capitalise on a low cross from Ahmed al-Janahi.Al Duhail came closest in the 78th minute when substitute Edmilson Junior’s free kick from just outside the box flew just wide.Despite determined efforts from both sides in extra time, neither could find a breakthrough, sending the match to penalties. Al Duhail kept their nerve from the spot, converting four of their five kicks, while Al Gharafa missed two.Almoez Ali, Edmilson Junior, Benjamin Bourigeaud, and Bassam al-Rawi all converted from the spot for Al Duhail to ensure Sultan al-Brake’s miss was eventually of no consequence, while Fabricio Díaz and Yacine Brahimi missed their shots for Al Gharafa with only Joselu, Ferjani Sassi and Rabh Boussafi finding the net.Duhail’s Ismail Mohamed, speaking after the win, hailed the victory as a crucial step forward for his team: “We are happy to win and qualify for the final after a strong and marathon match. Al Gharafa are a tough opponent, and now our focus shifts to the final and the Emir’s Cup. After missing out on the league, we are determined to compete for both titles.”On the other side, Gharafa’s Ferjani Sassi expressed disappointment at the result, praising his side’s defensive organisation but lamenting missed opportunities.“It was a close match, full of midfield duels and physical effort. Unfortunately, we didn’t take advantage of our counterattacks. We congratulate Al Duhail and apologise to our fans. Now our focus turns to the Amir’s Cup,” he said.

The stage is set for the draw of the Round of 16 in the 53rd edition of the prestigious Amir Cup taking place on Thursday (April 24).As the final tournament of the 2024-25 Qatari football season, the Amir Cup brings together the nation’s top teams in a knockout format filled with excitement and elite competition. Sixteen teams will enter the draw – twelve from the First Division, joined by four Second Division sides – Mesaimeer, Lusail, Al Sailiya and Al Kharaitiyat, who advanced after winning their preliminary round matches on Monday.Ahead of the draw, teams are divided into two levels based on their final standings in the recently-concluded Qatar Stars League. The top eight occupy the first level, while the remaining First Division teams and the four qualifiers make up the second level. The Round of 16 will see one team from each level drawn against each other, ensuring a mix of quality and unpredictability.With a direct AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 spot at stake for the champion, the Amir Cup takes on even greater importance. Al Sadd, the reigning league and cup champions, lead the field with record 19 titles, while rivals like Al Duhail, Al Arabi and Al Gharafa aim to etch their names in history.

Katie Moon of USA and Alysha Newman of Canada, who won silver and bronze medals respectively at the Olympic Games in Paris, will clash again in a top-quality women’s pole vault at the Doha Diamond League meeting on May 16.Moon, a two-time world champion (Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023), was Olympic champion in Tokyo 2021 and has a best of 4.95m. She was a world indoor medallist in 2022 (silver) and 2024 (bronze) and was crowned Diamond League champion in 2023.“The 2025 indoor season was the best of my life and it was a tough decision to forego the World Indoor Championships,” said the 33-year-old who won her fifth US indoor title in February and jumped 4.80m or higher in every meet over the winter.“But my goal for the year is to retain my world title in Tokyo, and with such a long outdoor season ahead I have to make sensible decisions. To return to competition in Doha is a really exciting prospect for me, especially after winning there in 2023. The crowd there is always unbelievable and it’s a great opportunity to get the summer off to a strong start,” she added.The 2018 Commonwealth champion Newman gave the performance of her life when finishing third in Paris and in doing so improved her own Canadian record to 4.85m.With her focus on preparing for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in September she chose to wrap up her indoor season after one competition (4.50m for second at the World Athletics Indoor Tour meet in Ostrava in February). She will open her Diamond League campaign in Doha.Moon and Newman will be joined at the Qatar Sports Club by British record holder and 2024 world indoor champion Molly Caudery (PB: 4.92m) who took victory in Doha last year; New Zealand record holder Eliza McCartney (PB: 4.94m), 2016 Olympic bronze medallist and runner-up in the 2024 World Indoor Championships; 2016 Olympic silver medallist Sandi Morris (USA), twice world indoor champion and three-times world outdoor silver medallist (PB: 5.00m); and Slovenian record holder Tina Sutej (PB: 4.82m), world and European indoor silver medallist in 2025.Unfortunately, Olympic and world champion Nina Kennedy, the Australian record holder with a best of 4.91m, has confirmed that she’s had hamstring surgery and will miss the start of the 2025 outdoor season.The Doha meeting is the third leg of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League. The series – which will pay out a record total of $9.24mn in prize money – comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents, starting with Xiamen on April 26 and concluding with a single final across two days in Zurich (August 27-28).

Siegen, ridden expertly by Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi, clinched a thrilling half-length victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap 0-90, stealing the spotlight on the opening day of the End Of Season Cup meeting on Wednesday.The three-year-old gelding, owned by Khalid Hamad M A al-Hajri and trained by Ahmed al-Jehani, overcame a strong challenge from Make Love, ridden by Soufiane Saadi, to secure an impressive win at Al Uqda Racecourse.Earlier in the day, Messaouda triumphed in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap 45-70 (Class 3) – also by half a length – with jockey Alberto Sanna in the saddle. Trainer Hamad al-Jehani celebrated a rapid double as Ajlaan, under Lukas Delozier, captured the Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate while Washeek powered to victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 under Szczepan Mazur.The meeting began with a confident run from Husam Al Shahania, trained by Mohammed Hassan al-Matwi and ridden by Salman Fahad al-Hajri, who took the honours in the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate. The second and final day of the meeting will feature five more races, highlighted by contests for the prestigious Season Finale Trophy, Al Utouriya Cup and the Al Karana Cup.43rd Al Rayyan Race Meeting - End Of Season Cup (Div 1)WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-90 (3yo Only) (Class 3)Siegen, Ahmed al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi2 - Local Thoroughbred Handicap 45-70 (Class 3)Messaouda, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna3 - Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate (4yo Only) (Class 4)Ajlaan, Hamad al-Jehani, Lukas Delozier4 - Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 (Class 4)Washeek, Hamad al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur5 - Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Class 6)Husam al-Shahania, Mohammed Hassan al-Matwi, Salman Fahad al-Hajri

Oman scored a convincing 7-wicket win over Saudi Arabia as the ACC Men’s U16 West Zone Cup - Qatar 2025 tournament got under way in Doha on Wednesday.The 13-day Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournament has the participation of six countries and the draw for which was held at Ezdan Palace hotel on Tuesday.The trophy was also unveiled in the presence of Khaled al-Suwaidi, Qatar Cricket Association CEO and Tournament Director, Mohammed al-Kuwari, Asst Tournament Director, Thusith Perera, GM Convenor, GM Finance & Operations, Asian Cricket Council, Muhammad Asif, Logistics & Finance coordinator, and Shivani Mishra, Tournament Coordinator.In the opening match played at the University of Doha for Science & Technology ground, Saudi Arabia opting to bat first were bowled out for 158 runs in 45.5 overs. Ahyan Saleh (35) and Mohammed Nabeel (27) were the main contributors to the total. For Oman, Vignesh Karthikeyan took five wickets for 27 runs. In reply, Oman attained the target with ease in 23.2 overs losing three wickets in the process. Kavish Shah was highest run-getter with unbeaten 72 off 38 balls (8x4s, 5x6s) while captain Aryan Joshi made 42 off 43 balls (7x4s).

Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd continued to show fine form as they stormed into the final of Qatar Cup with a 3-0 win over Al Ahli at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.In the semi-final, Al Sadd went ahead after an own goal from Ahli’s Matej Mitrovic in the 30th minute. Tarek Salman then doubled the lead in the 76th minute before Rafa Mujica put the game to bed in the 82nd minute. Akram Afif was instrumental in two of the three goals for his team.Al Ahli, looking to bounce back after their recent loss in the league to Al Sadd, made a braveheart start to the match but had more to rue, including luck, at times. Al Ahli could well have gone up the lead in the 26th minute but a powerful Driss Fettouhi free kick from the right went on to hit the crossbar and fall out.Minutes later, Al Sadd went on the prowl but an Afif cross from the left was hit just wide left by Claudinho. It didn’t matter as Afif came back again and this time sent in a rasping cross from the left but before the ball could reach an intended Giovani Henrique, it was intercepted by a sliding Mitrovic who drove the ball into his own net.Al Sadd having gained the lead looked for more but held on by Al Ahli for a long time. In the 67th minute, Afif slammed in a goal but was ruled offside as he broke off early.But Al Sadd kept charging on and were soon rewarded for their efforts. Salman doubled their lead and in super style after Fettouhi made a header and Al Ahli’s defence erred. Salman made a sprint to beat two defenders before going on to beat the lone goalkeeper Marwan Sherif.Al Sadd’s third goal was all the more entertaining as an Afif strike was staved off by Sherif but the ball went to Paulo Otavio, who rammed in a cross and Mujica left-heeled it in, shaking the net.Al Sadd now await the winner of Wednesday’s (April 23) semi-final between Al Duhail and Al Gharafa.Sadd defender Salman credited the win to the collective effort of the squad, saying: “We achieved a good victory over Al Ahli, through which we advanced to the final match to compete for another title. This win came thanks to great effort from the players and technical staff.”Looking ahead, Tariq emphasised the importance of shifting focus to continental duties, as Al Sadd prepare to face Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals in Jeddah.

Al Duhail will take on Al Gharafa in the second semi-final of Qatar Cup 2025 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Wednesday (Aprilt 23) at 7pm. Duhail qualified for the Qatar Cup 2025 after finishing second in the Qatar Stars League while Gharafa were third.Al Duhail coach Christophe Galtier hopes for the team to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the league title by winning the Qatar Cup.Ahead of the clash with Gharafa, Galtier said, “Our goals are the same as those of the other teams: to achieve victory, qualify for the 2025 Qatar Cup final, and compete for the title. This match is a continuation of the rivalry between the two teams, who have fought hard throughout the season.“It will be an exciting semi-final. We respect Al Gharafa a lot, but our goal is to reach the final. Now the league championship is over and the competition for the 2025 Qatar Cup title has begun. It is a very important tournament for us. Cup matches are different and decisive. We must be ready to face a team like Gharafa.“After losing the league title, we have to fight for the rest of the season’s tournaments. We lost the league title to Al Sadd despite the team’s good performance in the second half. I would be happy to win any upcoming championship to make up for the disappointment of losing the league and I congratulate Al Sadd on winning the league title,” said Galtier.Gharafa, however, won’t be easy opponents, having a similar ambition. Gharafa coach Pedro Martins said his team will do their best to beat Duhail. “We will do our best to win and qualify for the final. We lost our last match against Al Shahania in the league championship, and we are striving to improve in the Qatar Cup match to maintain our chances of qualifying for the final,” he said.“We are focusing on Duhail’s style of play and studying it carefully to deliver the best possible performance. Our opponents are a very strong and distinguished team, and we will be fully prepared to play the match with all our strength. “I expect great support from Gharafa fans in the upcoming match against Duhail, especially since the fans are very important in helping boosting the morale of the players to win the championship,” Martins added.Gharafa forward Yacine Brahimi said, “We are fully aware of the importance of this match and the tournament, and therefore we strive to do our best. Our focus is high and we will try to deliver a distinguished performance.”The current season witnessed two matches between Al Duhail and Al Gharafa in the league. The first-leg match ended in a 1-1 draw, while Al Duhail won the second leg 2-0. Duhail have prominent stars in their team such as Michael Olunga, Edmilson, Almoez Ali, Ismail Mohammed, Bassam al-Rawi and Hakim Ziyech. Gharafa are served by a group of distinguished players, such as Joselu, Brahimi, Ferjani Sassi and al-Janahi.

Olympic champion Winfred Yavi (Bahrain) will be reunited with Paris silver and bronze medallists Peruth Chemutai (Uganda) and Faith Cherotich (Kenya) in a top-quality women’s 3000m steeplechase field at the Doha Diamond League meeting on May 16. Yavi – the Asian record holder with a best of 8:44.39 (Rome, 2024) – is the second-fastest women’s steeplechaser of all time and holds three of the ten quickest times ever recorded. She is currently the reigning Olympic, world and Asian Games champion.“I am always looking for opportunities to run faster and win more,” said the 2023 Diamond League champion. “When I ran my personal best in Rome last year I was actually a little bit disappointed not to break the world record (8:44.32) because I thought it was possible. I’ve been working very hard over the winter and I believe it will happen at some point. It is important to stay focused and to stay hungry. To win gold in Tokyo and successfully defend my world title is my main goal for this year, but I want to run fast and set a high standard when I open my Diamond League season in Doha. Conditions are good in Qatar and when the crowd get behind us, anything is possible.”Ugandan record-holder Chemutai, who won the Olympic title in Tokyo (2021), is ranked third-fastest all-time with a best 8:48.03 achieved at the 2024 Diamond League event in Rome where she finished second to Yavi.Former world U20 champion and 2023 World Athletics Rising Star award-winner Cherotich finished third behind Yavi and Chetumai at the Olympic Games in Paris in a personal best of 8:55.15 and went on to be crowned 2024 Diamond League champion.The Doha meeting is the third leg of the 2025 Diamond League. The series – which will pay out a record total of $9.24mn in prize money – comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents, starting with Xiamen on April 26 and concluding with a single final across two days in Zurich (27-28 August).For the local fans, the most anticipated battle will be between home hero and former Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim and reigning Olympic champion Hamish Kerr in is shaping up to be an incredible high jump field at Doha meet.The 28-year-old Kerr won the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships with a national record and Oceania best of 2.36m, upgrading his 2022 bronze. He matched that height in Paris, winning Olympic gold after a jump-off inspired by the Tokyo 2021 actions of Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, who, in contrast, chose to share the gold medal. The Commonwealth champion most recently finished second in the 2025 World Indoors.Barshim, who finished third in Paris, is also a two-time Olympic silver medallist (2012 and 2016). A true championship performer, he won an unprecedented third successive global title with victory at the World Championships in Eugene 2022.A great ambassador for the sport and his country, the 33-year-old launched his own innovative event in 2024 – the ‘What Gravity Challenge’ – bringing together a group of the world’s best high jumpers at the Katara Amphitheatre in Doha.Meanwhile, Olympic javelin silver medallist Neeraj Chopra of India, the reigning world and Asian Games champion, will also compete in Doha. Chopra is India’s national record holder with a best of 89.94m. He was the first Indian track and field athlete to set a world record (under-20) when he threw 86.48m to win the 2016 World U20 Championships, which was also the first time an Indian athlete had won a global track and field title. He made history in Tokyo when he became the country’s first Olympic gold medallist in track and field and that trend continued at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest when he became the first athlete from India to strike gold.The Doha meeting is the third leg of the 2025 Diamond League. The series – which will pay out $9.24mn in prize money – comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents, starting with Xiamen on April 26 and concluding with a single final across two days in Zurich (27-28 August).