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The second edition of the Gulf Padel Championship, organized by the Qatar Padel Federation, concluded today at the Padel In courts in Aspire Zone with great success.The tournament featured teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. It was held in a round-robin format, with each team playing three matches in the men's, women's, and junior categories.The Qatari men's team finished second and won the silver medal after defeating Bahrain 2-1 in the final match.The UAE team finished first and won the gold medal, while the Kuwaiti team finished third and won the bronze medal.In the women's category, the Kuwaiti team won first place and won the gold medal, followed by the UAE team in second place and silver medal, and the Saudi team in third place and bronze medal.In the junior category, the Kuwaiti team finished first and won the gold medal, followed by the UAE team in second place and silver medal, and the Saudi team in third place and bronze medal.The coronation ceremony took place amidst a special atmosphere at the main court.Sultan Khalfan, the tournament director, praised the success achieved. Talking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he stated that they were pleased with the tournament's success on all levels.He mentioned that the national team secured second place and earned silver medals following a strong performance throughout the tournament. The competition was incredibly intense, serving as a motivation to continue pushing for further growth and advancement in Padel in the future.He continued by saying that this tournament precedes Qatar's hosting of the Asian Padel Championship next month, looking forward to continuing their efforts to further emphasize Qatar's distinguished organizational capabilities and its constant endeavor to organize tournaments in the best possible manner.For his part, Mohammed Sadoun Al Kuwari, a Qatari padel player, emphasized that Qatar succeeded in organizing the Gulf Championship in an honorable manner.

As part of its commitment to fulfilling its social responsibility role and continuing to engage with all sections of the society and school students, Qatar Stars League supported Individual Sports Skills Championship held at Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities, an organisation under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation for Social Work. In the event that took place on Wednesday, representatives from QSL and Shafallah Center were present along with a number of club stars.The event included a variety of recreational activities and attendees took commemorative photos. Gifts were distributed to children enrolled at the center and participants from a number of schools.

Qatari men's team defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the second round of the Arabian Gulf Padel Championship, which Qatar is currently hosting on the Padel Inn courts until September 19.The tournament, which kicked off Tuesday and is organised by the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation, will see the participation of various Gulf teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. The tournament will be held in a league format, with each team playing three matches against the opposing team.The Qatari men's national team succeeded in achieving victory in two of the three matches it played against its Saudi counterpart, as the duo consisting of Rashid Nawaf and Hassan Wali won the first match in two sets to none, with a score of 6-2 and 6-2.In the second match, the duo consisting of Mohammed Saadoun and Meshari Nawaf won in two sets to none, with a score of 6-0 and 6-0. Meanwhile, the duo consisting of Ali al-Saadi and Khaled Saadoun lost the third match in two sets to one, with a score of 5-7, 6-2 and 0-6.This is the second consecutive victory for the Qatari team, having defeated Oman 3-0 in the first round.The Qatari national team is scheduled to meet its Kuwaiti counterpart Wednesday, in the third round of the tournament.For his part, Rashid Nawaf, a player on the Qatari padel team, expressed his happiness with the team's victory over Saudi Arabia.Nawaf said in a statement following the match: "We performed well against the Saudi team, and our performance reflected the team's readiness to achieve the best possible results during the tournament."He added, "Our goal is to continue our strong performance in the upcoming matches, and our ambition is to represent Qatar in the best possible way in this Gulf Cup."Nawaf called on Qatari fans to attend the Padel Inn courts to support the team, saying, "Fan support makes a difference, and we hope to see fans in large numbers at upcoming matches to push us toward continued victories and our quest to compete for the title."

Qatar men’s team started its campaign on a winning note in the second edition of the Arab Gulf Padel Championship Monday.At the Padel In - Aspire Zone, the hosts defeated Oman 3-0 on the opening day of the championship, organised by Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation (QTSPBF). In the first match Qatari pair of Rashid Nawaf and Hassan Wali won 2-0 6-1, 6-0).In the second match, Mohammed Saadoun and Mishari Nawaf also won 2-0 (6-0, 6-0). In the third match, Mohammed al-Khanji and Khaled Saadoun also won in two sets (6-1, 6-1). The tournament is being held in a league format and will conclude on September 19.

Qatar men’s team will start their Arab Gulf Padel Championship campaign against Oman at the Padel In - Aspire Zone Monday. The draw ceremony of the championship, which is being organized by the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation (QTSPBF), was held Sunday in the presence of the participating teams representatives. Saudi Arabia will take on the UAE while Bahrain will meet Kuwait. The five-day tournament will be held in three categories – men’s, women’s and juniors and conclude on September 19.In the women’s section, Bahraini will start against Oman Monday. The Saudi Arabia women will meet Kuwait, while in the third match of the opening day, Qatar women will play against the UAE.In a statement issued Sunday, QTSPBF Secretary General Tariq Zainal said the tournament will be a platform for strong competition and will reflect the significant development witnessed by padel in the region.Qatar teamsMen’s: Mohammed Saadoun al-Kuwari, Khaled Saadoun al-Kuwari, Mohammed al-Khenji, Hassan Wali, Rashid Nawaf, Meshari Nawaf, Rayan al-Jafari and Ali al-Saadi.Women’s: Hanan al-Abdulrahman, Maha Farmarzi, Salma Wali, Rawda al-Abdullah, Maryam al-Sulaiti, Hessa al-Mutawa, Atlal al-Abdulrahman, and Dana al-Mudhahka.

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.