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Hadi De Carrere, carrying the silks of Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani, captured the Ain Sinan Cup at Al Uqda Racecourse Saturday.The nine-year-old bay settled into a handy position throughout the 2000m Purebred Arabian Open Race before producing a strong late challenge. He reeled in the long-time leader in the closing stages and swept clear to land the day’s feature by an emphatic 2¼ lengths.This was his second win from three starts this season and in the process the veteran completed a treble on the card for the Jassim al-Ghazali-Marco Casamento trainer-jockey combination.M’tawa El Saa’yeb broke sharply from barrier one and was allowed to stride on, quickly opening up a wide advantage as he set a strong gallop through the early stages. The remainder of the field adopted more conservative tactics, with Hadi De Carrere settling at the head of the chasing group ahead of Nasser Al Shahania, content to track the leader while keeping his powder dry through the middle stages.The order remained unchanged passing halfway, though the early leader’s margin began to contract after the 1000m mark as the tempo took its toll. Approaching the home turn, Hadi De Carrere was brought into the race smoothly from his handy position and began to close decisively on the long-time leader. Once inside the final 200m, he asserted with authority, quickly reeling in M’tawa El Saa’yeb and drawing clear to settle the outcome in convincing fashion. M’tawa El Saa’yeb, owned by Saif Rashid Saif al-Khayarin and trained by Hamad al-Jehani, stayed on under Pierre-Charles Boudot to take second, finishing just a neck ahead of Nasser Al Shahania. The latter, representing Al Shahania Stud and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, ran on under Lukas Delozier to secure third after racing prominently throughout.The meeting’s seven-race card produced a full spectrum of winners, beginning with Lahab, who opened the day with a victory in the local Thoroughbred maiden. Shamshon ANR prevailed in a tight Purebred Arabian contest, while Thunder Valley was awarded the handicap after a stewards’ inquiry.Politico produced a late surge to win decisively, and Al Ryan Park dominated once again with a wide-margin success. Maarek continued his consistent form with a commanding staying performance, before Hadi De Carrere reasserted his class to close the day in style.RESULTS47th Al Uqda Race Meeting - Ain Sinan CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 - Ain Sinan Cup, Purebred Arabian Open RaceHadi De Carrere, Jassim al-Ghazali, Marco Casamento2 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, 4-7yo, 2000mLahab, Jassim al-Ghazali, Saleh Salem al-Marri3 - Local Purebred Arabian Maiden PlateShamshon ANR, Dr Fahad Salman Al-Hajri, Marco Casamento4 - Thoroughbred Handicap (45-65)Thunder Valley, Hadi al-Ramzani, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri5 - Thoroughbred Handicap (0-70)Politico, Fahad Rashid al-Khayarin al-Hajri, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri6 - Purebred Arabian Handicap (55-75)Al Ryan Park, Jassim al-Ghazali, Marco Casamento7 - Purebred Arabian Handicap (55-75)Maarek, Jihad El Ahmad, Damien Morin 

The Samla International Race has announced the signing of a series of strategic partnership agreements ahead of its upcoming edition, scheduled for January 24.Sponsorship agreements were signed with several prominent partners and sponsors for this edition, including Katara Hospitality, Qatar Insurance Group, Defender–Alfardan, and Mazzraty, held Thursday at Al Sharq Village.The ceremony also witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between the Samla Race, Visit Qatar, and Asics, which will serve as the official sportswear partner of the race.The agreement was signed in the presence of Azzam al-Mannai, CEO of the Samla Race Organising Committee; Jassim al-Mahmoud, director of Public Relations and Communications at Visit Qatar; and Seiji Hori, general manager of Asics Arabia.The official course for the 2026 race features six consecutive, high-challenge stages designed to test competitors’ physical endurance. The course begins with a 3km open-water swim, followed by a 21km run, a 22km mountain biking segment, a 4km kayaking stage, a second 22km cycling segment, and concludes with a 28km run to the finish line.“At Visit Qatar, we take pride in our strategic partnership with the Samla International Race, which represents the values of strength and endurance. Our support for this event aligns with our strategy to promote sports tourism and to highlight events that offer distinctive experiences for visitors and residents alike, while showcasing the natural and cultural assets of the State of Qatar,” al-Mahmoud said.Al-Mannai expressed his appreciation for this collaboration, saying that: “The continued support from Visit Qatar, alongside our sponsors and partners, provides strong momentum to further enhance organisational standards and deliver a world-class competitive experience for both participants and spectators.”In partnership with Visit Qatar, the upcoming edition of the Samla Race is expanding to the global stage, inviting elite male and female athletes from around the world to compete in a uniquely challenging test of strength and stamina across Qatar’s diverse landscapes.With the launch of Samla International, organisers said Qatar continues to strengthen its reputation as a world-class destination for sporting events. 

The Samla International Race, with its various partnerships, has developed from a well-known local challenge into a global endurance platform, according to Samla Race Organising Committee CEO Eng Azzam Abdulaziz al-Mannai. Speaking to 'Gulf Times' on the sidelines of the event Thursday at Al Sharq Village, he said that ahead of the endurance race scheduled for January 24, Samla International organisers forged a series of strategic alliances aimed at positioning Qatar as an emerging hub for elite multidisciplinary sport, marking a decisive step in the event’s global expansion.Al-Mannai said the agreements represent a milestone in Samla’s journey toward international recognition, highlighting its ambition to move beyond its local roots and secure a place on the global sporting calendar. This year’s edition will see more than 400 athletes competing across six demanding stages, all to be completed within a 12-hour cut-off. The race will unfold in southern Qatar’s desert, starting from Sealine Beach and cutting through a range of challenging natural terrains.“This year’s race will be truly spectacular and it’s a really special challenge,” al-Mannai said. “Six stages, four disciplines, and 100km in 12 hours. Resilience and adaptability are just as important as endurance.”Launched in 2016, Samla has long been recognised as a proving ground for regional endurance athletes. However, organisers stressed that the event is now deliberately repositioning itself as an international race capable of attracting elite competitors and global attention.“Samla has always been there for local athletes. However, we want Samla to expand internationally after almost a decade, beginning here in Qatar,” al-Mannai said. “Because it differs from many other endurance events, the race has enormous potential.”He noted that Samla’s distinct identity lies in its off-road format and the demanding climate and terrain of Qatar, which together create a rare test of physical and mental endurance. “The challenge takes place across varied environments, including sand dunes, open water, and difficult weather conditions,” he said. “This makes it a very unique race and a genuine endurance test.”Al-Mannai added that the involvement of international partners has played a key role in elevating the race’s profile and professional standards, helping align it with globally recognised endurance events. Organisers also highlighted the wider impact of Samla International on Qatar’s sports tourism sector and international image. With global brands, international athletes and local stakeholders involved, the race serves not only as a sporting challenge but also as a showcase of Qatar’s diverse natural landscape.Al-Mannai encouraged both participants and spectators to be part of the experience. “I invite everyone who has registered to enjoy the race and wish them the very best,” he said. “For those who could not register this year, come and enjoy the show and prepare yourselves for the next edition.” 

Defending champions Algeria face Sudan in the FIFA Arab Cup at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium today in a tough Group D that also includes Iraq and Bahrain, making it one of the most difficult groups in the tournament. Both sides will be targeting a crucial opening victory that could significantly shape the qualification race. Algeria arrive in Qatar as reigning champions under coach Madjid Bougherra, who has retained the core of the squad that featured in the African Nations Championship (CHAN). The team has been strengthened by several new additions, which gives Bougherra’s lineup added depth as they seek to defend the title they won in 2021. Central to Algeria’s campaign is Al Gharafa playmaker Yacine Brahimi, whose creativity and sharp movement in the final third make him one of the standout figures of the competition. The squad also includes influential names such as Amir Sayoud, Sofiane Bendebka and veteran striker Islam Slimani. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Bougherra highlighted his side’s strong preparation and stressed the importance of making a confident start. He acknowledged Sudan’s quality, saying: “Thursday’s match will be difficult because Sudan possess strong technical and physical qualities.” He noted that both teams already know each other well, having met recently at the CHAN. Bougherra also pointed to the competitiveness of the Arab Cup, citing Syria’s victory over Tunisia and Palestine’s win against Qatar on Monday as examples of the narrow margins between teams. He urged his players to remain fully focused, adding that the match “requires fighting spirit and composure in key moments.” Sudan enter the group stage with momentum after defeating Lebanon 2–1 last week in the playoffs to secure qualification. Their squad features a balanced mix of domestic players and professionals from African and Arab leagues, including Bakheet Khamis, Mohamed Abdelrahman, Abu Aqla Abdullah and goalkeeper Munjid al-Nil. Under Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, Sudan rely on defensive organisation and quick counter-attacks in an effort to unsettle the Algerian back line. Appiah said he expects a disciplined and competitive performance from his players. “We are aiming for a strong start against one of the strongest teams in the tournament,” he said. “Such matches are a real test of our ambitions.” Sudan also take confidence from their most recent meeting with Algeria, a penalty shoot-out victory in August during the CHAN.Jordan, UAE set for evenly matched clash At Al Bayt Stadium, Jordan and the UAE will open their Group C campaigns in a closely watched encounter between two teams that have made notable strides in recent years. The group also includes Egypt and Kuwait. Jordan, ranked 66th in the world, enter their tenth Arab Cup appearance with renewed ambition following a historic run to the AFC Asian Cup final in 2023 and their first-ever qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coach Jamal Sellami leads a squad featuring key players such as striker Yazan al-Naimat, goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila, Mahmoud Mardi and Ali Alwan. However, the team will be without several important names due to club commitments, including France-based winger Musa al-Taamari and defender Yazan al-Arab. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sellami expressed belief in his squad’s ability to compete at the highest level despite the absences. “We came to Doha with great ambition, seeking to reach the later stages and contend for the title,” he said. “Our focus is solely on the first match, which will not be easy against a UAE side that performed strongly in the World Cup qualifiers.” He added that confidence remains high following Jordan’s World Cup qualification. “Despite missing six key players, we have great trust in the rest of the group to deliver a high-level performance,” he said. The UAE, led by experienced Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu, are making their third appearance in the Arab Cup and hope to challenge for a podium finish for the first time. The team reached the quarter-finals in 2021 and impressed in parts during the recent World Cup qualifying campaign, though they exited after a narrow playoff defeat to Iraq. Olaroiu praised Jordan’s rise in recent years and acknowledged the challenge his side faces. “Jordan have been performing at an amazing level, reaching the Asian Cup final and qualifying for the World Cup,” he said. “But we are ready for this challenge.” He added that the UAE have put their elimination behind them. “We performed very well against Iraq and were the better side in both matches, but luck was not on our side. Our confidence has not been shaken.” The UAE will rely on key performers such as goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, Ali Saleh, Yahya al-Ghassani and Caio Lucas as they look to start their campaign strongly. 

His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis MBE earned a clean sweep of race victories in storm to an emphatic victory in the Extreme class at the 44th Annual Offshore World Championship in Florida on Sunday afternoon.After dominating Wednesday’s Truman Waterfront Cup and cruising to victory in Friday’s Southernmost Continental Championship, they added a win in the Conch Republic Championship finale to the list to win the Extreme class by 43 points.The duo had taken a 22-point lead over the American Custom Marine duo of Jeff McCann and Mickael Knoblock into the finale, where double points were on offer and the pressure of making a mistake and undoing all the hard work intensified.With support from Qatar’s Ministry of Sport and Youth, Sheikh Hassan and Curtis pushed the Mercury-engined Spirit of Qatar 96 MTi catamaran hard in calm conditions in the final race and then had to ease slightly on lap five with a minor overheating issue. The duo managed their pace over the remaining four laps to win the third race in a time of 22min 53.1sec with a winning margin of 3min 14.8sec.“Three out of three,” enthused Sheikh Hassan. “First position in all the races. Weather conditions were excellent. It was very calm today and we had a good one. We had a slight overheat on lap five and had to slow down a little and then push back again. Overall, we are happy and the crew are happy with the results. After 11 years of not participating, we come in and do a clean sweep...“At the same time, I would like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sport for being the official sponsor, Simrad Navigation and to Mercury Racing for all their support on the engine back-up and set-up. Also, thanks to Extreme Marine from Dubai for supplying us the needed spare parts on site.”Ends

Lusail International Circuit (LIC) has been confirmed as the official host circuit for the inaugural edition of CIRCUIT – The Global Race Track Summit & Awards, set to take place from February 16-18, 2026 in Doha. As one of the world’s most advanced and architecturally striking motorsport venues, Lusail Circuit provides the ideal stage for an event dedicated to the future of global motorsport infrastructure. The summit will unite circuit promoters, designers, architects, engineers, investors, and operators from around the world, all driven by a shared mission: to shape the next evolution of motorsport venues. CIRCUIT serves as a global platform for these professionals to network, exchange ideas, and celebrate excellence in race track design, operations, and innovation. Supported by former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard and his global events company, Whisper Group, CIRCUIT will deliver a world-class production experience, combining storytelling, insight, and spectacle in equal measure. Over three days, the event will feature networking sessions, a global conference, and an investment forum, culminating in the Global Race Track Awards, which will celebrate excellence in design, operations, innovation, and guest experience across every level of motorsport venue worldwide. The announcement reinforces Qatar’s growing leadership in international motorsport and reflects LIC’s continued commitment to driving global collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the industry. Abdulaziz Ali al-Mohannadi, CEO of Lusail International Circuit, said: “LIC has always been more than a venue, it is a symbol of Qatar’s vision for the future of motorsport. We are honoured to welcome the world’s leading circuit professionals and to play a central role in defining the next generation of race track development.” Chris James, Founder & CEO of CIRCUIT, added: “CIRCUIT exists to bring together the global motorsport venue community, the people who design, build, and run the places where the world comes to race. Lusail International Circuit is the perfect home for that story, a symbol of progress, precision, and the ideal partner as we shape the next evolution of motorsport venues. I wish to thank the President Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai and the CEO Abdulaziz Ali al-Mohannadi of Lusail International Circuit for their vision, belief, and commitment to helping bring this global gathering to life.”

Israel-Premier Tech have been excluded from the Giro dell'Emilia cycling race on October 4 in Italy for 'safety reasons', the organisers told AFP on Saturday.The Giro dell'Emilia, whose 2024 edition was won by cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar, will cover 199 kilometres from Mirandola to Bologna in northern Italy.The race concludes with a climb to the Madonna di San Luca sanctuary, not far from the historic centre of Bologna which has a large student population and a long history of left-wing politics.This week Bologna's local government, controlled by the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) called for Israel-Premier Tech's exclusion, citing "the Israeli government as guilty of serious crimes against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip."Roberta Li Calzi, the city's sports councillor, welcomed the decision to exclude the team."Given what is happening in Gaza it would have been hypocritical to consider the presence of a team linked to this (Israeli) government as insignificant," she said in a statement.Adriano Amici, president of GS Emilia which organises the one-day race, said the team "will unfortunately not be present at our race. We had to make this decision for reasons of public security.""There's too much danger for both the Israel Tech riders and others. The race's final circuit is run five times so the possibility of the race being disrupted is very high."It's a decision I regret having to make from a sporting perspective, but I had no other choice for public safety."The race is a ProSeries event, road cycling's second tier after the World Tour, and is a dress rehearsal for Il Lombardia, the final Monument of the year which takes place the following weekend.Four stages of this year's Vuelta, including the finale in Madrid, had to be cut short due to mass protests against Israel's continued offensive in Gaza and the participation in the event of the team, owned by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams.The Premier Tech group which co-sponsors the team and is the manufacturer that supplies the riders with their bikes, wants the team to remove the world "Israel" from the name.

The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) has signed a funding agreement with the Ministry of Sports and Youth to support the seventh edition of the "Samla Race 2025," taking place from 27 to 29 November 2025.Under the agreement, DAAM will provide financial backing for the event and allocate prizes worth over QAR 3 million to participants.The agreement reflects DAAM's leading role in promoting sports activities in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, alongside other companies listed on Qatar Stock Exchange.Samla Race 2025 is a one-of-a-kind 200 km race bringing together five sports: swimming, running, mountain biking, kayaking, and shooting.Chief Executive Officer of DAAM Abdulrahman bin Abdul Latif Al Manaei emphasized the significance of supporting such initiatives: "Events of this kind play a vital role in raising awareness about the importance of sports within the community and in developing exceptional athletes. This edition of the race is expected to bring strong competition and record participation. I wish all participants every success."For his part, President of the Qatar Challenge Raceing Club (Samla), and CEO of the Samla Race Organizing Committee Azzam Al Manaei expressed his pride in hosting Samla 2025, stating: "This event serves as a platform to foster the spirit of competition, athletic exchange, and passion for adventure sports. Year after year, participation continues to grow, and the Samla Race has become one of the most thrilling and demanding competitions in the region, requiring exceptional physical and mental endurance to complete all stages and reach the finish line."Since its inception in 2010, DAAM has initiated numerous crucial projects and programs across social, sports, and cultural sectors. Contributions from shareholding companies listed on the QSE are a major financial resource for the Fund, positioning them as crucial partners in advancing sustainable community development in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030.