Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: Speed, adrenaline and intense competition take center stage today as the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League officially begins, launching its opening round at Qatar Racing Club’s (QRC) purpose-built drag racing venue. The championship is held under the patronage of QRC Chairman H E Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani. The prestigious Arabian Drag Racing League features global legends across six consecutive rounds, opening with testing yesterday, qualifying today and tomorrow, tandem races Friday, and concluding February 13 with champions crowned. With extensive experience, the organisers are fully prepared to deliver a championship worthy of its reputation. Widely regarded as one of the world’s strongest drag racing series, the club’s renowned track has witnessed numerous time and speed records across categories. QRC Director General Sheikh Jabor bin Khalid Al Thani said the club has taken a number of steps to elevate the level of competition in this year’s edition. “To date, we have held three rounds of both the Qatar Drift Championship and the Qatar Drag Racing Championship, while last week we concluded the third round of Qatar Freestyle Championship this season. We have now reached the most important milestone on the annual events calendar: the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League,” Sheikh Jabor, who is well known for his deep passion for motorsports and his strong interest in organizational and operational matters, said in a statement. “Each year, this championship presents us with major challenges in terms of the diversity of categories, the intensity of competition, and attracting the largest possible number of motorsport fans. Our new highlight this year is the return of the Pro Mod category, which will feature elite drivers, led by the 2025 NHRA Championship titleholder J.R. Gray, as well as the veteran champion Mike Castellana, who has won the championship title over multiple seasons. Both drivers compete for Qatar’s Al-Anabi Team and have been racing in the US championship for years.” “In response to competitors’ requests, the Street Bike category has been added, bringing the number of motorcycle categories to two, with the possibility of increasing to three. We have expressed our readiness to add the Pro Bike category, the most powerful class in motorcycle drag racing, should the number of competitors reach six or more.” He added: “In line with the directives of the Club Chairman, His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, we are keen to provide a suitable environment for all participating teams in our championships.” The prestigious Arabian Drag Racing League features global legends across six consecutive rounds. Sheikh Jabor affirmed that the Arabian Drag Racing League sits at the top of the club management’s priorities, as it is the largest in terms of participation and the strongest in terms of competition. “Our current focus is on mobilizing all efforts to ensure the success of the championship and to present it in the best possible image. The main focus will be on the fans by enhancing accompanying activities and events. We have provided entertainment areas for children as well as dedicated spaces for families,” he said. “As in previous years, the club will also host—on the sidelines of the championship and specifically in conjunction with its second round—the Qatar Custom Show in its 13th edition.” Prize money approaches QR3.5m With the approval of 10 categories for this year’s championship, approximately QR485,000 has been allocated as prize money per round. The strongest category in the championship, Pro Mod, receives the largest share of these prizes: the winner of each round will earn QR50,000, the runner-up QR25,000, and QR 12,500 will be awarded to third place. If the Pro Bike category is approved, the total number of categories will rise to 11, and the total prize value per round will increase to approximately QR530,000. At the conclusion of the six championship rounds, the leaders of the overall standings in each category will receive a commemorative shield for the season championship in addition to a valuable cash prize, bringing the total prize pool of the championship to approximately QR3.5m Meanwhile, more than 150 participating companies specializing in automobiles and related industries will participate in Qatar Custom Show.

Table Tennis

Doha, Qatar: The countdown clock to the opening WTT Series event of the season is approaching its final ticks, with the first-ever WTT Champions Doha 2026 taking over Lusail Sports Arena from today. Amongst the superstar names are two of Qatar’s finest players. Wildcard entries for the five-day spectacle, Aia Mohamed and Mohammed Abdulwahhab make their WTT Champions debut, joining the world’s best players in an exclusive event reserved for the table tennis elite. Aia Mohamed Despite this marking a first-time appearance for both players at this level, Aia Mohamed and Mohammed Abdulwahhab are no strangers to the spotlight. Both Qatari players were present at last year’s ITTF World Championships Finals in Doha, flying the home flag with great pride. While Aia Mohamed’s hopes were dashed at the first hurdle, Mohammed Abdulwahhab picked up a mighty 4-0 win in his opening round clash against Alfred Dela Pena, finishing in the Top 64 positions in the Men’s Singles field. The memories of competing at a home World Championships Finals will stick with both players throughout the rest of their careers, and soon they will have another taste of the big time as WTT Champions comes to town. This evening, Mohammed Abdulwahhab will step out onto Infinity Arena with a huge clash against No.7 seed Sora Matsushima, with Aia Mohamed rounding off the action one day later against Prithika Pavade. Wang Manyu, Miwa Harimoto, Lin Shidong, Truls Moregard – these are just some of the world class names set to compete at Lusail Sports Arena, with highly coveted trophies and the lion’s share of the $500,000 prize money up for grabs. For Aia Mohamed and Mohammed Abdulwahhab, the honour of competing at this level is something to cherish unto itself. An opportunity to test their credentials and learn from the very best is a tantalising prospect, and with home advantage on their side, they can dare to dream.

Rally

Doha, Qatar: Ford’s Mitch Guthrie yesterday moved to the top of the Dakar Rally cars standings after winning a gruelling 421km timed special, while Qatar’s five-time champion Nasser Al Attiyah endured a difficult day. In the bikes category, Honda’s Tosha Schareina claimed his first stage win since the 2025 edition. Competitors faced a 736km loop starting and finishing in Al Ula on the Red Sea coast, including the 421km special stage. The route demanded precision and stamina, with long sandy stretches mixed with rough, rocky terrain. Guthrie completed the stage with a 26-second overall advantage over Czech driver Martin Prokop, as Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom slotted into third place. Al Attiyah, who had led the standings after Monday’s stage, dropped to 11 minutes and 39 seconds off the pace after finishing 19th yesterday. The Qatari suffered two punctures but remained the only driver from Monday’s top six to stay inside the overall top 10. In the bikes category, Schareina led a Honda 1-2, completing the special stage in 4 hours, 26 minutes and 39 seconds. Teammate Ricky Brabec finished second, ending a run of three straight third-place finishes, crossing the line 2 minutes and 17 seconds behind the Spaniard.