Qatar Sport

Doha: Doha will host the Executive Office Meeting of the Arab Weightlifting Federation (AWF) on Sunday, followed by its electoral meeting, on the margins of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation's (QWF) concomitant hosting of three international, Arab, and Asian championships until Dec. 27, 2025. The three tournaments include the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025, the Arab Championships for youth, juniors, and seniors, and the West Asia Championships for the same age categories. This combined sporting event reflects the advanced standing Qatar occupies on the global map of championship organization. The Executive Office meeting will discuss a host of critical matters on the agenda, foremost among them the review of reports from coaching and organizational committees, monitoring the progress of developmental programs implemented during the past period, evaluating the Arab championships recently organized by AWF, and identifying key positives and challenges encountered in implementing coaching and administrative plans. The meeting will also address the AWF's strategy for the upcoming period, particularly regarding the expansion of Arab participation in weightlifting championships, supporting national federations in coaching and organizational matters, promoting talent discovery and refinement programs, and exploring avenues of collaboration with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). This is in addition to related sports bodies, contributing to raising the coaching level of Arab weightlifters and strengthening their capacity to compete in continental and international events. Following the conclusion of the Executive Office meeting, the AWF, chaired by HE Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mannai, will hold its electoral meeting to elect a new Board of Directors to lead the Federation during the forthcoming phase, in accordance with the Statutes and approved regulations. The meeting will be attended by representatives of member Arab federations in a democratic atmosphere reflecting the Federation's commitment to transparency and sound governance. The electoral meeting is expected to witness positive competition among candidates, amid broad aspirations to continue the development and elevation of weightlifting, and to enhance its status on the Arab and global sports stage, particularly in light of the successes achieved by Arab weightlifters in recent continental and global championships. The election of a new Board of Directors marks a significant milestone in the Federation's institutional journey, reflecting its continuous pursuit to develop the weightlifting system across the Arab region.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: The Local Organizing Committee of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships today announced the final organizational preparations ahead of the tournament's kickoff, which will be hosted by Qatar University at the Sports and Events Complex from December 25 to 31. Speaking at a press conference, President of the Qatar Chess Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mohammed Al Mudahka confirmed that all preparations for the global event have been completed. He stated that the Open World Blitz Championship will feature 233 players, while the World Rapid Championship will see the participation of 230 players. Al Mudahka highlighted the participation of Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen, who won the gold medal in the previous World Blitz Championship held in New York, noting that his presence adds significant competitive and technical value to the tournament. He added that a number of the world's leading chess stars have confirmed their participation, including Indian World Rapid Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, reigning 2024 World Blitz Champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, as well as Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, R Praggnanandhaa, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Ediz Gurel, in addition to Russian grandmaster Alexander Grischuk and Ukrainian grandmaster Vasyl Ivanchuk, the winner of World Rapid Chess title in Doha 2016. The President of the Qatar Chess Federation noted that Doha has become the only city to host the World Rapid and Blitz Championships twice, following the first edition in 2016. He described this as a major achievement that reflects Qatar's growing stature on the global chess map, particularly with the tournament's return to Doha after nine years. Al Mudahka expressed appreciation for the support of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (Daam), as well as all partners and sponsors, emphasizing the shared objective of delivering an outstanding edition that contributes to the development of chess in Qatar and strengthens its international presence. He stressed that the federation continues to raise organizational and technical standards to ensure this edition is the best to date. In the same context, the Organizing Committee signed several sponsorship agreements in the presence of Yousuf Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of Shared Services at the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (Daam), Eng. Hamoud Al Hajri, Director of Sports Facilities at Qatar University, along with representatives of partners and sponsors. The committee also announced the participation of several emerging talents, including Russian grandmaster Ivan Zemlyanskii (15 years old), Turkish prodigy Yagız Kaan Erdogmus (14 years old), and Uzbek International Master Mohammad Zahid Suyarov (16 years old). In the women's competitions, five-time Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun of China officially confirmed her participation. The women's field will include 130 players, featuring many of the world's top-ranked players, such as China's Tan Zhongyi, world No. 2, Russian grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Anna Muzychuk, winner of both the Rapid and Blitz titles in Doha in 2016, alongside her sister Mariya Muzychuk and Russian grandmaster Kateryna Lagno. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Federation and Tournament Director, Hamad Al Tamimi said that the organizing committee is putting the final touches in place ahead of the event's launch. He pointed to strong demand for tickets and anticipated wide audience engagement, with the championships to be broadcast across multiple international chess platforms and websites. Al Tamimi added that the tournament offers an important opportunity for young players to follow elite global chess stars up close, encouraging new generations to take up the game and develop their skills toward professional levels. For his part, Director of Sports Facilities at Qatar University, Eng. Hamoud Al Hajri confirmed the full readiness of the Sports and Events Complex to host the championships. He emphasized that every effort is being made to deliver an exceptional edition, noting that staging the competition on campus will have a positive impact on students and contribute to promoting chess culture while leaving a sustainable sporting legacy. Doha last hosted the championships in 2016, when Vasyl Ivanchuk won the World Rapid title and Sergey Karjakin claimed the World Blitz crown. The total prize fund for the upcoming edition exceeds EUR 1 million, distributed across the open and women's competitions.

Football

Rabat: Morocco captain and star player Achraf Hakimi is fit and ready for the host nation's Africa Cup of Nations bid but may not start in the tournament's opening game, coach Walid Regragui said on Saturday. "Tomorrow will be my decision but he has more than done his job. His injury was not an easy one," Regragui told reporters in Rabat where Morocco play minnows Comoros in the first match on Sunday. "I still have another night to sleep and decide whether he starts or whether we protect him and see how it goes for the remaining games. "He is able to start, but he might not start." Paris Saint-Germain right-back Hakimi, the African player of the year, has not played since coming off with a left ankle injury in a Champions League game against Bayern Munich on November 4. The 27-year-old left the field in tears that night, clearly fearing for his chances of featuring at the Cup of Nations. The injury was later diagnosed as a severe sprain. "I feel good. I am following the programme given to me by the medical staff and the coach," Hakimi, who also came sixth in this year's Ballon d'Or ranking, said Saturday. Regragui added: "He has made sacrifices over the last four or five weeks that nobody else could have made, and has set an example to the other players and the staff. "Today we can see that the protocol we put in place after his injury has been more than positive but now we have the whole competition to manage." Morocco will also face Mali and Zambia in Group A as they bid to win a first Cup of Nations since 1976. The tournament runs into the New Year and will finish with the final in Rabat on January 18.