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Qatar driver Ghanim al-Madheed made a dominant start to the 2025 QTCC 2K Championship at the Lusail International Circuit, winning both races in Round 1 in his Lotus Elise. In Race 1, he claimed victory over 10 laps with a total time of 27:37.912, setting the fastest lap of 2:23.794 on lap six, while Abdulla Ali al-Khelaifi finished second and Palestine’s Omran Karama claimed third. Al-Madheed was even quicker in Race 2, stopping the clock at 26:24.163 and posting a best lap of 2:22.897 on lap eight to complete a clean sweep, with al-Khelaifi again in second place and Ali Emadadhi securing third. The second round of the championship will take place on September 26-27.

Qatar will face a formidable challenge on Monday as they go up against world No. 1 and reigning champions Poland in their second group stage match at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, currently underway in the Philippines.Qatar will be aiming for a strong response after a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their opening Group B fixture. Despite the loss, the team showed resilience by taking a competitive set (28-26) against the Dutch, with the other sets ending 25-18, 25-23, and 25-23 in favor of the Netherlands.Grouped with top-tier teams including Poland, the Netherlands, and Romania, Qatar face one of the toughest pools in the 32-team tournament.The national team will wrap up their group stage campaign on Wednesday with a decisive match against Romania.This year marks Qatar's second appearance at the Volleyball World Championship, following their debut at the 2022 edition hosted by Poland and Slovenia.The tournament format sees the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds. The Round of 16 is scheduled for September 20–23, followed by the quarterfinals on September 24-25, semifinals on September 27, and the medal matches on September 28.

Qatar opened their 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship campaign with a determined performance but ultimately fell short against a strong the Netherlands side, losing 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23) in their Pool B opener in Quezon City, Philippines Saturday.Despite the loss, Qatar pushed the European team to the limit, showing grit and composure especially in the third set, where they fought back to win 28-26 and extend the match.The Qatari squad matched the Netherlands in kill blocks (9 each) and committed fewer unforced errors (26 compared to 29), highlighting their discipline and defensive effort.Opposite Youssef Oughlaf led the scoring for Qatar with 17 points, while seasoned outside hitters Ribeiro Renan and Nikola Vasic chipped in with 11 points apiece.The Netherlands, however, made the difference from the service line, firing nine aces to Qatar’s two.They also edged Qatar in attack with 57 spike kills to 52.Dutch opposite Michiel Ahyi topped all scorers with 20 points, while Tom Koops sealed the victory with the match-winning point in the fourth set.Qatar now turn their focus to their next match against world powerhouse Poland tomorrow, followed by their final Pool B game against Romania on September 17.

Qatar will host the Arabian Gulf Padel Championship Qatar 2025 from September 15 to 19, organised by the Qatar Padel Federation at the Padel courts in Aspire.Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation, confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday that the tournament will feature competitions in three categories: men's, women's and juniors. The draw is scheduled to be held on September 14.During the conference, the Qatar Padel Federation announced the signing of a platinum sponsorship agreement with Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) for the championship. The agreement was signed by Zainal and Qatar Rail’s Director of Communications and Public Relations Abdullah al-Mawlawi.Zainal expressed the Qatari Federation's pride in Qatar Rail's joining as a platinum partner of the Arabian Gulf Padel Championship, given its significant support for sports, athletes, and community work in Qatar.Zainal emphasised that this partnership reflects the integrated efforts of national institutions and the sports sector, which will give the federation greater momentum to continue developing padel and strengthening its presence in the Gulf, regionally, and internationally.Zainal also welcomed all participating delegations and players, stressing his full readiness to host this Gulf event and organize it according to the highest standards, thus consolidating Qatar's position as a leading sports destination in the region and the world.For his part, al-Mawlawi said: “We are delighted to co-sponsor this important event. Our participation as a platinum sponsor of the Arabian Gulf Padel Championship, hosted by the Qatar Padel Federation, is in line with our corporate social responsibility strategy and our constant commitment to supporting sporting events that contribute to spreading the culture of exercising and promoting a healthy lifestyle among community members.”He added that Qatar Rail believes in the pivotal role sports play in developing communities by improving the quality of life and ensuring the health and safety of its members. Through this sponsorship, "we reaffirm our commitment, particularly to padel, as well as supporting the development of Gulf sporting talents and efforts aimed at consolidating Qatar's position as a leading regional destination for hosting major sporting events."Al-Mawlawi continued, "We, in turn, look forward to contributing to providing the best possible conditions for organizing a successful tournament and enjoying the unique Gulf talent and competitions that the tournament will witness. We wish all the best to the participating teams and players."

Qatari rally legend Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah added another golden chapter to his illustrious career by securing a record-breaking 20th FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) title, following a gripping second-place finish at the Rally of Lebanon. Despite missing out on a potential victory in one of the most thrilling finales the Lebanese rally has seen in recent years, the veteran’s runner-up finish behind local hero Roger Feghali was enough to mathematically seal the championship with one round remaining in Cyprus. It was Feghali, the undisputed king of Lebanese tarmac, who ultimately claimed his record 18th Rally of Lebanon win after a titanic two-day battle with al-Attiyah. Driving his Toyota Yaris GR, Feghali trailed al-Attiyah by 6.7 seconds overnight but clawed his way back to within 1.4 seconds heading into the final stage. Al-Attiyah, competing in his Skoda Fabia RS run by Autotek Motorsport, looked set to edge out his rival until a slow right-rear puncture on the final stage dashed his hopes of a maiden Lebanon win. Feghali capitalised, clocking the fastest time on the final test to clinch victory by 9.2 seconds. “This is always a fantastic rally and it was a tremendous battle between myself and Roger,” said al-Attiyah. “We pushed hard all the way. I was obviously disappointed to have the puncture on the last stage, but it’s a great feeling to have won the championship now for the 20th time.” Crucially, Feghali was not registered for MERC points, allowing Al-Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera to collect maximum regional points for a fifth consecutive rally. Carrera had already sealed the Co-drivers' Championship before the start of the event. This landmark title also marks a personal triumph for Autotek Motorsport’s Ken Skidmore, who has engineered all 20 of Al-Attiyah’s MERC titles. Skidmore's record also includes championship wins with the late Misfer al-Marri and the shared 2023 crown between al-Attiyah and Oman’s Abdullah al-Rawahi. Elsewhere, Qatar’s presence was felt across multiple categories in Lebanon. Mohammed Al-Marri, a graduate of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Academy, continued his impressive MERC4 campaign, finishing ahead of India’s Payyakkal Panikkaveettil. With teammate Rashid al-Mohannadi having already secured the MERC4 title in absentia, al-Marri is now poised to complete a Qatari 1-2 in the championship. Veteran Nasser Khalifa al-Atya sealed the FIA Master MERC Driver title, finishing 15th overall alongside Lebanese co-driver Ziad Chehab in a Ford Fiesta. The pair also scored valuable points toward al-Atya’s push for a top-three finish in the overall standings. Chehab remains in contention for second in the Co-drivers’ Championship, behind Carrera.

The Qatari volleyball team will depart for Manila on Tuesday, to participate in the FIVB Volleyball World Championship, hosted by the Philippines from September 12 to 28.This is the second participation for the Qatari team in the FIVB Volleyball World Championship, following their debut appearance in the 2022 edition held in Poland and Slovenia.The Qatari team prepared for the tournament through a series of preparations, the last of which was an intensive training camp in Doha, which included seven friendly matches: two against Egypt, two against Iran, and three against Ukraine.The tournament draw placed the Qatari team in Group B, which also includes Poland, the world's top-ranked team and the defending champion, the Netherlands, and Romania.The Qatari national team will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on Sept 13, followed by a match against Poland two days later. The first round will conclude with a match against Romania on Sept 17.Saeed Jumaa Al Hitmi, a member of the Qatar Volleyball Association's Board of Directors and head of the national team's delegation to the tournament, confirmed that preparations were conducted according to a well-thought-out plan, including an intensive internal training camp that included strong matches against various schools.Al Hitmi said in a statement Monday: "This participation represents an important opportunity for our national team to gain additional experience in facing the elite international teams participating in the tournament."He added: "The task will not be easy, but our victory in the West Asian Championship, which was recently held in Bahrain, gave the team a significant morale boost, which is a strong incentive to present a good image during our second participation in the World Championship."

Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson said Friday the hot and humid weather will play a big part in their crunch clash against Argentina, with a battle of the fittest on the cards.The Rugby Championship showdown today is being played in tropical Townsville, and in the afternoon, making for a challenging environment.“You’re going to see a lot of boys from both teams who are going to be struggling at points in the game,” said Wilson, who is back in the saddle after a knee injury kept him out of their last Test.“But that’s why we do our pre-seasons, that’s why we work so hard on the training paddock, to be ready for it. “That’s the beauty of taking footy up here. You get different, unique challenges, and it’s probably different to playing in Sydney. We’re ready for that challenge, and we can’t wait for it.”With all four teams in the Rugby Championship so far winning one and losing one, the game is a must-win for Australia and the Pumas ahead of a return leg in Sydney a week later.Both are in good touch with the Wallabies stunning world champions South Africa in Johannesburg last month, before a narrow defeat in Cape Town.Argentina lost their round one clash against New Zealand but bounced back emphatically to topple the All Blacks for the first time on home soil.Under coach Joe Schmidt, Australia have come a long way from being crushed 67-27 by Argentina in Santa Fe last year and Pumas skipper Julian Montoya is expecting a tough encounter.“That game (in Santa Fe) was a year ago, even more,” he told reporters. “And you see the path they’re on now - an amazing series against the (British and Irish) Lions, beat the Springboks at Ellis Park and almost beat them again in the last game.“It’s a world-class team and we’re expecting the best of them, a proper Test match.”Both sides have made three changes, with Argentina bringing in prop Joel Sclavi, flanker Marcos Kremer and fly-half Santiago Carreras.Australia welcome back Wilson, while Andrew Kellaway takes over from injured wing Tom Wright and Tom Lynagh is preferred as playmaker over veteran James O’Connor.

Qatar’s shooting team concluded their campaign at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship on a high note, winning the silver medal in the men’s double trap team event and raising their overall tally to seven medals.The trio of Mohammed al-Rumaihi, Saeed Abu Shareb, and Rashid al-Athba delivered a strong performance, hitting 266 targets across four rounds to secure second place behind hosts Kazakhstan. India claimed the bronze.Al-Rumaihi also finished sixth in the individual double trap event.Qatar’s medal haul also included a silver from Raya Basil in the women’s trap, and five bronze medals across various team and mixed events in trap, skeet, and rifle competitions.The championship, held over two weeks in Shymkent, featured wide participation across Asia in pistol, rifle, skeet, and trap disciplines.Secretary General of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, Jassim Shaheen al-Sulaiti, hailed the achievement as a result of dedicated preparation and support from the Qatar Olympic Committee, calling it “a launchpad toward broader ambitions.”

Qatar’s athletics team added four more medals including one gold, two silver, and a bronze on Tuesday at the 11th Arab U-18 Athletics Championship in Tunisia, bringing their total to five with one day of competition remaining.Younis al-Balushi led the charge with gold in the pole vault, while teammate Abdullah Al Abdullah secured silver in the same event.Timo Jumaa clocked 10.76 seconds to take silver in the 100m sprint, and Saleh Mahmoud added a bronze in the discus throw to his earlier gold in shot put.

The Qatar chess team is competing in the 1st Fujairah Global Chess Championship, which runs until September 2, with approximately 600 players from both genders, hailing from 75 countries, competing across three main categories.With a total prize fund of $125,000, the contests feature the superstar division for players rated 2560 and above, including 44 grandmasters within the FIDE circuit, the world’s strongest ranked events, the master division for players rated above 2200, with around 330 participants, as well as the open division for players rated below 2200.The Qatar team includes International Master (IM) Hussein Aziz, Khaled al-Jumaat, Hamad al-Kuwari, Turki al-Kuwari, Fahad al-Mansouri, Ibrahim al-Janahi, Saif Ahmed, Layan al-Qassabi, and Rawda al-Qassabi.In addition, International Arbiter (IA) Sara al-Mahmadi is set to participate in the International Fair Play Seminar on the margins of the tournament from August 28-31.The Qatar News Agency (QNA) spoke with Qatar Chess Association (QCA) president Mohammed al-Mudahka, who asserted that hopes are high for the national team to achieve incredible results throughout this participation, which is set to yield significant gains amid the presence of a contingent of players ranked among the world’s top 100 in chess.Al-Mudahka further indicated that all preparations are fully primed for those players, describing the tournament as one of the most powerful globally in terms of the average rating of the participating players, with some 600 players coming from a wide swath of countries.He noted that these competitions receive tremendous global interest and are directly broadcast on FIDE’s website, as well as other renowned global platforms.

Qatari shooters continued their strong showing at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan securing three medals - one silver and two bronze - in the trap and rifle events Monday.Raya Bassil claimed silver in the women’s trap, finishing second in a highly competitive final featuring shooters from India, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Iran. Qatar also took bronze in the men’s trap team event through Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Saeed Abu Shareb, and Angelo Scalzone, who scored 340 across five rounds. The second bronze went to Amal Mahmoud in the mixed 20+20 rifle event.Last week, Qatari shooters won three bronze medals in skeet. Ali Ahmed Al-Ishaq earned one in the men’s individual, then teamed up with Mohammed Al-Kuwari and Rashid Saleh Al-Athba to claim bronze in the men’s team event. Al-Ishaq also partnered with Sarah Ghulam for a third bronze in the mixed skeet.The Qatari delegation, led by Ahmed Al Kuwari and team manager Nawal Al Sulaiti, includes around 32 shooters competing in pistol, rifle, skeet, and trap events.President of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, Dr. Mishaal Ibrahim Al-Nasr, praised the athletes’ performance, attributing their success to the country’s leadership and the team’s dedicated preparation. “These medals mark a qualitative leap in Qatar’s shooting history,” he said, adding that the momentum will continue into the World Championship in Doha this December.The championship continues tomorrow with the women’s 30m rifle 3 positions final.