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Monday, December 15, 2025 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "team" (25 articles)

Gulf Times
Community

DPS-MIS boys excel in QPSDL debate league

DPS-Modern Indian School's team comprising Syed Sohbaan Raza, Mokshith Basineni and Kabir Khanna clinched three remarkable wins and secured the top team score among 60 teams in the QPSDL Boys Debate League. Raza also won the best speaker award in the first league and Kabir the fourth best speaker award. Principal Asna Nafees congratulated the debaters. 

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri drives during the first practice session ahead of the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail on November 28, 2025. (AFP)
Sport

Piastri says ‘it’s nice to be back’ after Qatar sprint pole

The last time Oscar Piastri stood on a podium was at the Italian Grand Prix in September. His most recent Grand Prix victory came a month earlier in the Netherlands, when he held a 34-point lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Since then, however, the Australian has endured a sharp dip in form, slipping 24 points behind Norris in the title race with just two Grands Prix remaining. But Piastri will hope to chip away at that deficit after securing pole position yesterday for the Qatar sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit. Today, Piastri will chase a third successive sprint victory in Qatar, though it is the later qualifying session for tomorrow’s Grand Prix that will ultimately determine whether the title fight carries into next weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi. There are 58 points still available: eight in today’s 100km sprint, and 25 each from the final two Grands Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Mercedes’ George Russell will line up alongside Piastri on the front row after producing another superb lap, while Norris will start third, having run into traffic on his final attempt. He began his last lap tucked up behind Williams’ driver Alex Albon, costing him crucial time throughout the run. Behind the leading trio, Fernando Alonso impressed to secure fourth. Reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen – who also trails Norris by 24 points – could manage only sixth, slotting in behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Verstappen complained about severe bouncing throughout qualifying and was unhappy with the setup of his Red Bull car. Piastri admitted it was “nice to be back” having slightly shifted momentum away from Norris in their title fight. “It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change,” said Piastri, a smile returning to his face. “It’s been a day where things have clicked from the start, and I think the sprint qualifying session went really well. I had a pretty big moment on my lap but it was just enough in the end, so thanks to the team – it’s a great car and it’s looked really good this weekend so far. I’m pretty happy with that.” The other Mercedes driver, Kimi Antonelli, was seventh ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz, while Charles Leclerc was the sole Ferrari inside the top 10 in ninth. Albon rounded out the top 10. It was another poor qualifying for Lewis Hamilton, who was knocked out in the first session, his time only good enough for 18th on the grid. Verstappen set the early pace in the opening phase, prompting Norris to accuse him of impeding – though stewards, after reviewing the incident, opted against taking action. Norris then led phase two, ahead of Piastri, who had been quickest in the sole practice session. Piastri ultimately delivered a best lap of one minute 20.055 seconds in the final segment, 0.032 clear of Russell, whose late effort pushed Norris down to third. Norris admitted he made an error in the final corner. “I would be stupid not to try and win, but it’s impossible to overtake, so I think I will probably finish P3,” he said. “Getting past George Russell on the line is probably the best I can hope for.” Norris can become Britain’s 11th world champion this weekend in Qatar. To achieve it, he must simply outscore both Piastri and Verstappen by two points, ensuring he reaches Abu Dhabi with a decisive 26-point advantage. A top-six result in the sprint, paired with victory in tomorrow’s Grand Prix, could allow Norris to seal the title with one race remaining. Verstappen, meanwhile, faces a considerable challenge. His remarkable second half of the season – cutting a 104-point deficit since Zandvoort by finishing on every podium – has hauled him back into the fight, with four wins, two seconds, and two third-place finishes. Yet the Dutchman accepts that a fifth straight world championship will demand a sizeable measure of fortune. If he succeeds, it would stand among Formula One’s finest comebacks. During qualifying yesterday, Verstappen repeatedly complained that his car was “bouncing like crazy”. Whether his off-track moment caused any damage remains unclear, but he was out-qualified by Tsunoda for the first time this season. The Japanese driver has already stated he will do everything possible to support Verstappen, last year’s Grand Prix winner at Lusail. Reflecting on sprint qualifying, Verstappen said: “Not good. From the first lap, just really bad bouncing and very aggressive understeer that would shift into oversteer at high speed. Just not what you want to go faster. We tried to change a few things on the wheel but it never really worked. It made it quite tricky. Clearly it wasn’t working well in qualifying, so that’s something we need to understand.” Verstappen will have to run the sprint with the same setup. However, once the sprint concludes, Red Bull will be allowed to adjust the car, as it will no longer be under parc ferme restrictions.

Gulf Times
Sport

FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025: 14 teams eye seven qualifying spots

Fourteen national teams willl compete in the qualification stage to secure seven spots for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, which will be hosted in Doha from Dec. 1 to 18. The teams will compete for these spots through qualification matches held in the Qatari capital.The seven qualification matches will take place on Nov. 25 and 26. The opening match will feature Mauritania against Kuwait tomorrow at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium at Al Sadd Sports Club. It is an unpredictable encounter between two teams with strong players, each aiming to book a place once again in this major Arab competition.The Kuwaiti national team enter the qualifiers relying on their history in the Arab Cup, having participated in eight of the previous ten editions. They aim to bounce back from failing to qualify for the most recent edition, hosted by Qatar in 2021, after losing to Bahrain 2-0 in the qualifiers, as well as from exiting the third round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 . Meanwhile, Mauritania aim to secure what would be their third appearance in the tournament, having featured in the 1985 edition in Saudi Arabia and the 2021 edition in Qatar, while also seeking to bounce back from missing out on qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco at the end of December.In another match, Syria will face South Sudan at Grand Hamad Stadium at Al Arabi Club. On paper, Syria holds the advantage given the strong quality of the players, in addition to the expected large support from Syrian fans in Doha, who enjoyed the atmosphere of the tournament's previous edition.South Sudan, on the other hand, hope to qualify for the Arab Cup for the first time and to overcome the disappointment of failing to reach the previous edition after their 3-0 loss to Jordan in the qualifiers.Syria seek not only to qualify but also to achieve strong results in the upcoming edition after exiting the group stage last time. The team finished third in their group with three points from a single victory over Tunisia (2-0) and two losses to the UAE and Mauritania by identical scorelines (1-2).Meanwhile, Palestine will face Libya Tuesday at Thani bin Jassim Stadium at Al Gharafa Club in another unpredictable match, given the close level between the two teams and their shared determination to secure a qualifying spot.Libya hop to return to the Arab Cup after failing to reach the finals in the last edition, following a 1-0 loss to Sudan. The team looks to build on the strong performances shown during the African qualifiers for the World Cup 2026, despite not succeeding in reaching the tournament.Palestine, in turn, seeks to qualify for the finals once again after reaching the previous edition by defeating Comoros in the qualifiers. However, they exited in the group stage after a 0-4 loss to Morocco and 1-5 to Jordan, and a 1-1- draw with Saudi Arabia. Four matches will be held on Wednesday, as part of the qualifiers for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, which will be hosted by Doha from Dec.1-18.The first match will see Oman face Somalia at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, a repeat of their encounter in the qualifiers for the previous edition of the tournament, which ended at that time in a 2-1 victory for Oman.The Somali national team seeks to achieve the goal it failed to reach in the last edition, while the Omani team aims to qualify for the second time in its history after securing a place through the previous qualifiers.Oman delivered satisfactory results in the 2021 Arab Cup, advancing to the second round with four points after defeating Bahrain (3-0), drawing with Iraq (1-1), and losing to Qatar (1-2), before being eliminated by Tunisia (1-2) in the quarterfinals.At Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Djibouti will face Bahrain in a match where Djibouti seeks to make its first-ever appearance in the Arab Cup, after failing to qualify in the previous edition following a 1-0 loss to Lebanon. In contrast, Bahrain hopes to return to the tournament and go further than it did in the previous edition after it exited in the group stage with just one point from a goalless draw with Iraq and two losses to Qatar and Oman (0-1 and 0-3 respectively).Although the odds are in Bahrain's favor due to its greater experience and capabilities, Djibouti dreams of causing an upset to secure its first-ever appearance in the upcoming edition.Grand Hamad Stadium will host another match between Comoros and Yemen, with both sides sharing a single aim: qualifying for the tournament. Comoros hopes to make its first Arab Cup appearance and to redeem its failure in the previous qualifiers when it lost to Palestine.On the other hand, the Yemeni national team seeks victory and a return to the Arab Cup atmosphere after failing to qualify for the last edition held in Doha in 2021, where it lost against Mauritania 2-0.The Arab Cup Qatar 2025 qualifiers will conclude with a strong match between Sudan and Lebanon at Thani bin Jassim Stadium, a match expected to feature fierce competition between two teams eager to secure their place in the major Arab event. 


Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal al-Thani with Google officials.
Qatar

Al Jazeera, Google discuss launching strategic technology alliance

The Google team, including Executive Vice President of Generative Artificial Intelligence, Oliver Parker visited Al Jazeera Media Network’s headquarters on November 9 to discuss ways to collaborate in the fields of strategic development, artificial intelligence, and modern technologies, reported Al Jazeera Media Network.The delegation met with Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal al-Thani, Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network, where he highlighted that the Network is working towards establishing a global technological ecosystem to strengthen its position as a leading media institution in the field of adopting artificial intelligence technologies.In another meeting, the visiting delegation met with Ahmad Alyafei, Executive Director of Channels, Ahmad al-Fahad, Executive Director of Technology and Network Operations, Mounir Daymi, Executive Director of the Digital Division, Eman al-Amri, Director of Al Jazeera Media Institute, and the Network’s Strategy Review Committee.The Google team discussed with the Network Strategy Review Committee possible ways of co-operating and implementing Al Jazeera’s projects and creative initiatives to achieve the Network’s vision and goals.One of the most prominent projects presented at the meeting was the idea of the “The Core” project, the first integrated operational model that Al Jazeera is working to implement to integrate journalism with artificial intelligence technologies. It is redefining the formulation and production of news and making humans partners in the production process rather than just a user of technology and a recipient of news.The Google delegation included Yousri Mhedheb, Senior Digital Adviser of Google Cloud, Alex Rutter, EMEA Managing Director of AI, and Ghassan Kosta, Regional General Manager of Google Cloud, who expressed their pleasure to collaborate with Al Jazeera Media Network, as one of the leading media organisations in the region and the world.They toured Al Jazeera’s channels and newsrooms, and learned about the advanced technologies used in the production of media content.It is noteworthy that this meeting was preceded by a series of introductory meetings organised by the Network’s Strategy Review Committee with the Google team and its officials concerned with AI and cloud technologies, to discuss the mechanisms of joint co-operation between the two parties.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Ministry of Sports and Youth team wins Ministries and Government Entities Futsal Championship

The Ministry of Sports and Youth team were crowned as champions of the 2025 Ministries and Government Entities Futsal Championship, after defeating the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs' team 3-1. The championship, organised by the Qatar Sports For All Federation (QSFA) at the Lusail Sports Hall, saw the Ministry of Municipality team claim 3rd place after beating the General Authority of Customs team 2-0. **media[381242]** President of QSFA Abdulrahman bin Musallam al-Dosari expressed his happiness with the event's success and the sportsmanship it featured. He noted that the championship has become one of the most important annual events, widely welcomed by employees of government bodies, due to its excellent blend of athletic competition, social interaction, and positive engagement. The QSFA president congratulated the Ministry of Sports and Youth team on their well-deserved victory and emphasised QSFA's commitment to promoting corporate sports and encouraging employees to engage in physical activity as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. **media[381243]** QSFA Executive Director Abdullah al-Dosari said the championship saw wide participation over the course of a month, featuring 10 teams representing various ministries, authorities, and government entities. Al-Dosari said that the event showcased intense competition and exciting matches, praising the enthusiastic crowd and the strong turnout from different ministries and entities. Through this championship and other initiatives under its corporate sports programme, QSFA aims to reinforce sports as an essential part of workplace culture and to support futsal enthusiasts across government institutions. **media[381244]** Executive Director of QSFA stated the Ministries and Entities Championship has become more than just a futsal competition; rather, it is a message promoting teamwork and improving work environment through sports and physical activity, in line with the Ministry of Sports and Youth's goals and strategies.

Gulf Times
Sport

Qatar finishes 4th at the U-17 Handball World Championship, Germany claims the title

Qatar under-17 national handball team concluded its participation in the inaugural edition of the World Cup held in Morocco, finishing in fourth place after losing to Spain 23-35 in the third-place and bronze medal match on Saturday.The match between Qatar and Spain came amid high hopes of achieving a historic feat and claiming the bronze medal, after Qatar had advanced to the semifinals as the best second-placed team in the group stage.Qatar finished runner-up in Group B, earning two victories against Tunisia (38-30) and South Korea (45-24), and suffering one loss against Spain (23-41).In the semifinals, Qatar lost to Germany (22-39), which led them to play the third-place match against Spain. Despite the score difference, the Qatari players delivered a strong performance and showed great fighting spirit.Reaching the semifinals of the tournament marks a continuation of the remarkable international successes achieved by Qatari handball at various levels, most notably the silver medal won at the World Men's Handball Championship held in Doha in 2015. This achievement reflects the ongoing development of Qatar's youth programs and the national team's consistent presence among the top competitors worldwide.As for the final match, it brought together the Egyptian and German teams, and ended with Germany's victory (44-43) after extra time, during which the Germans secured the win following a marathon match full of dramatic turns.Germany led the first half (18-17) before Egypt rallied in the second half and came close to victory. However, the Germans scored an equalizer in the final seconds, then clinched the title of the inaugural edition of the championship in extra time.

Gulf Times
Sport

Qatar’s golf team captures glory at Egypt Open: Sokolov clinches title, al-Kaabi finishes fourth

The Qatar National Golf Team has added a new chapter to its record of success, with Daniil Sokolov claiming victory at the Egypt Open Golf Championship, a tournament sanctioned by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and part of the Arab Golf Federation Series. The championship concluded last Saturday in Cairo.Displaying exceptional form and composure, Sokolov dominated the three-round event, finishing nine-under par (-9) to secure the title ahead of a strong field of top Arab and international golfers. His steady performance and mental resilience throughout the competition earned him a thoroughly deserved triumph and the winner’s trophy.Qatar’s Saleh al-Kaabi also delivered a commendable performance, finishing fourth at +1, reinforcing Qatar’s strong representation and contributing to the country’s continued lead in the Arab Golf Federation rankings.This achievement underscores the Qatar Golf Association’s unwavering commitment to nurturing elite athletes through comprehensive training programs that focus on technical precision, physical conditioning, and mental preparation — key factors in competing successfully on both regional and international stages.Sokolov’s victory was defined by sharp course strategy, precise shot-making, and remarkable consistency in navigating challenging fairways and greens. Meanwhile, al-Kaabi’s poise and experience under competitive pressure further demonstrated Qatar’s depth of golfing talent.With this impressive result, Qatar continues to solidify its standing as a powerhouse in Arab golf, driven by the visionary leadership of the Qatar Golf Association and its dedication to developing homegrown players capable of excelling at the highest levels of the sport.

Gulf Times
Sport

Qatar volleyball team to participate in Asian Youth Games in Bahrain

Qatar volleyball team will participate in the third Asian Youth Games, which will be hosted by Bahrain from October 22 to 31.The games will feature 24 sports, with more than 5,000 male and female athletes from 45 Asian Olympic Committees competing in 253 events. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games 2026, which will take place in Dakar, Senegal.The team delegation departed for Manama Friday and is headed by Saeed Jumaa Al Hitmi, a member of the Qatar Volleyball Association's Board of Directors, along with team manager Ismail Al Sheeb, and referees Fahad Al Awadi and Abdulrahman Shams.The squad includes Ahmed Taleb, Dhami Al Ruwaili, Ghanem Al Basti, Khaled Abdullah, Tamim Al Awad, Hamad Ibrahim, Mazen Belorosi, Abdullah Al Shaiba, Omar Awamleh, Bader Al Zanari, Abdulrahman Ali, and Nawaf Al Shammari.Qatar is in Group B alongside Iran and China. It will take on China on Sunday, before facing Iran on October 21.The team's participation is within the framework of the Qatar Volleyball Association's expansion strategy and aims to enhance their experience by competing in major international tournaments.The female team is led by coach Lucas Gabriel, and features Hana Al Khater, Marwa Abdulaziz, Fatima Touzri, Tasneem Ali, Lamees Al Salman, Fatima Mahrez, Walden Al Waleed, Bina Ibrahim, Lujain Mahmoud, Dana Saber, Al Mayassa Diab, Aisha Al Alawi, and Maryam Mouhoub.

Gulf Times
Sport

Qatar advances in Oct FIFA rankings

The Qatari national football team has advanced to 52nd globally and 5th among both Arab and Asian teams, accumulating 1,461.6 points in the FIFA World Rankings for October. Meanwhile, Spain maintained its position at the top of the global rankings, while Argentina became second. Qatar, the reigning AFC Asian Cup champion for the past two editions, booked its place in the 2026 World Cup finals in the US, Canada, and Mexico, after topping Group A in the Asian qualifying playoffs with four points as they defeated the UAE team 2-1 and drew 0-0 with Oman. At the top of the FIFA World Rankings, Spain retained first place with 1,880.76 points, while Argentina moved up one spot to second with 1,872.43 points. France became third with 1,862.71 points, followed by England in fourth place with 1,824.3 points, while Portugal ranked fifth with 1,778 points. The Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, Italy, and Germany completed the top ten. Among Arab teams, Morocco remained the highest-ranked, sitting 12th globally with 1,710.11 points and leading African teams ahead of Senegal, which ranked 18th globally with 1,650.61 points. Egypt followed at 32nd globally (2nd among Arab teams and 3rd in Africa), while Algeria ranked 35th, Tunisia 43rd, Iraq 57th, and Saudi Arabia 58th. In Asia, Japan retained its top spot, ranking 19th globally with 1,645.34 points. Iran followed in 21st, South Korea in 22nd, and Australia in 25th.

Gulf Times
Sport

Qatar Rapid Team Chess Championship starts

The inaugural edition of the Qatar Rapid Team Chess Championship 2025 will kick off Thursday at the Qatar Chess Training Centre, with 24 teams in action over two days.Organised by the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), the tournament is open to all FIDE-rated players and will follow the Swiss system format over seven rounds, with each game timed at 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move. The first three rounds are scheduled for Thursday, while the final rounds will take place Friday.A total prize pool of QR21,000 will be awarded to top-performing teams.The championship features a mixed-gender team format, requiring each team to field four players – three men on the open boards and one woman on a designated board. Notably, only titled players (FM, IM, GM) are allowed to play on Board 1, although female players holding these titles may also compete on either Board 1 or the women’s board.Ahead of the launch, the organising committee concluded preparations. A technical meeting with team representatives and the referee panel was held to review tournament regulations. The referees’ briefing was led by Dr Yousef al-Muhasna, Head of the Referees Committee, along with International Arbiters Sara al-Mohannadi and Hussein al-Haddad.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Amir hails national team on World Cup qualification

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met Wednesday at the Lusail Palace with the Qatar national football team players, on the occasion of their qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026.His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness Personal Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani attended the meeting.**media[369036]**At the outset of the meeting, His Highness the Amir congratulated the national team players and members of the administrative and technical staff on their victory and qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the US. His Highness praised the players' outstanding performance and their football achievements, which will enhance the progress of sports and football in Qatar.**media[369037]**His Highness the Amir urged the players to continue their efforts and excellence, ensuring that they represent Qatar in the best possible way alongside the other Arab teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, wishing all teams success in upcoming regional and international tournaments.Also present at the meeting were HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi, HE Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, HE President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Jassim bin Rashid al -Buainain, and a number of senior officials.

Gulf Times
Qatar

HH the Amir congratulates Qatar on World Cup 2026 qualification

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has extended his congratulations to the Qatari people following the national football team's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In a message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, His Highness the Amir expressed pride in the remarkable sporting achievement and wished the team success in the upcoming tournament.Qatar secured their spot in the World Cup after Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in the final round of the Asian qualifiers.