Qatar Sport

Riyadh: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Local Organising Committee for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 on Saturday revealed the new brand identity for the 19th edition of Asia's championship, which will take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027. Designed to feel confident, contemporary and full of energy, and shaped by a vision to inspire the next generation of footballers and fans across the Continent, the bold and contemporary visual identity reflects the unique spirit and culture of the hosts, while also celebrating the unifying power of Asian football. AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: "The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 will be an incredible celebration of football and culture, and today's brand reveal is a significant milestone in bringing that vision to life. It reflects the Kingdom's heritage and modernity while also showcasing the tournament's inspirational nature, and we are confident it will resonate with our passionate fans across Asia and beyond.” Where cultural identity meets the spirit of the game ⚽️???? From ???????? Saudi Arabia to Asia The official identity of the AFC Asian Cup 2027™️ has been revealed ???? Asia’s biggest football competition begins its journey#AsianCup2027 https://t.co/voUjXeULmW — Saudi 2027 (@saudi2027) January 24, 2026 At the heart of the identity is the official logo, which combines a distinctive wordmark with the iconic trophy symbol that is rooted in Najdi stepped geometry-a distinctive architectural and decorative style found only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This geometric language, traditionally seen in carved patterns, woven Sadu textiles and regional ornamentation, features a stepped structure that conveys rhythm and balance while reflecting a cultural aesthetic that is both unmistakably Saudi and proudly Asian. The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 will be staged across three cities-Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar-and feature Asia's top 24 men's national teams as they strive for ultimate glory.

Tennis

Melbourne: Coco Gauff dropped a set for the second match in a row before clawing her way into a third consecutive Australian Open quarter-final on Sunday as she zeroes in on a maiden Melbourne title. The American third seed rolled over seasoned Czech 19th seed Karolina Muchova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena, but needed nearly two hours to do so. She will play either Ukraine's 12th seed Elina Svitolina or 18-year-old Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva for a place in the semi-finals. “She definitely elevated her game and I thought sometimes I was a bit passive, but it's really tough to play her,” said the 2025 French Open and 2023 US Open champion. "She plays with so much variety, you never know what you're going to do. I'm really happy to get through this one today." The 21-year-old Gauff has never gone beyond the last four at Melbourne Park. Muchova had pedigree, bidding to make an eighth career Grand Slam quarter-final and she made life difficult after a slow start. Gauff had a psychological advantage before a ball was hit, winning all four previous encounters and never losing a set, including an easy victory at the United Cup this month. And she made the best possible start, with back-to-back breaks of Muchova who blasted a slew of unforced errors, racing 4-0 in front. Gauff's serve has been her Achilles' heel in recent times, but she had a few issues with it initially. Instead, it was Muchova who struggled, winning just 33 percent her first-serve points in the set. The Czech player finally held for 1-5 to avoid a dreaded bagel, but it just delayed the inevitable with Gauff taking the set in 30 minutes. Muchova began with more intent in set two, holding then taking advantage as Gauff's serving yips returned to ease 2-0 ahead. Gauff broke back but again failed to hold and Muchova took a set off her for the first time in her career. The crucial moment in the third set came when Muchova spilled a long forehand on serve to give Gauff three break points in game three, with another loose shot from the Czech sealing her fate. Gauff held serve for 4-1 and safely sealed the win on her fourth match point.

Olympics

Doha: Over the past decade, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has cemented Qatar’s status as a global sporting power, setting a benchmark in modern sports governance defined by ambition, professionalism and excellence. These achievements have paved the way for Sheikh Joaan’s election by acclamation as President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at the General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, tomorrow, with no other candidates contesting the post. Since assuming the QOC presidency on May 7, 2015, Sheikh Joaan has overseen one of the most transformative periods in the committee’s history. Under his leadership, Qatar recorded its best-ever Olympic performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games, winning three medals for the first time - gold through Mutaz Barshim in the high jump and Fares Ibrahim in weightlifting, and bronze in beach volleyball. Beyond results, Qatar has evolved into a global hub for major sporting events. The country secured the hosting rights for the 2030 Asian Games, reflecting international confidence in its infrastructure, organisational expertise and long-term vision. Sheikh Joaan’s influence extends regionally and internationally through his role as First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), alongside his focus on developing sports administrators and professionals through the Qatar Olympic Academy. During his tenure, Qatar hosted a series of world-class events, including the Men’s Handball World Championship (2015), World Boxing Championship (2015), World Athletics Championships (2019), ANOC World Beach Games (2019), FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, World Judo Championships (2023) and World Aquatics Championships (2024). At the continental and regional levels, Doha staged the AFC Asian Cup (2023), FIFA Arab Cup Qatar (2021 and 2025), AFC U-23 Asian Cup (2024) and the first Gulf Youth Games (2024), The QOC’s annual calendar continues to feature elite competitions such as the Diamond League athletics series, ATP and WTA tennis tournaments, the Al Shaqab equestrian tour, the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix and the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix. During Sheikh Joaan’s tenure, Qatar secured the hosting rights for several major sporting events, strengthening its standing on the international stage. Most notably, he chaired the successful bid to host the 2030 Asian Games, bringing the event back to Doha for a second time after 2006, and oversaw the awarding of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be staged in Doha for the first time in the region and North Africa. Sheikh Joaan also chaired the successful bid to bring the Asian Games back to Doha in 2030, following the landmark 2006 edition, and played a central role in securing the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup - the first time the tournament will be hosted in the region and North Africa. Looking ahead, the QOC’s 2026 calendar includes 83 international, continental and regional events, highlighted by the World University Weightlifting Championships, the Asian Under-18 Basketball Cup and the T100 World Triathlon Championship Finals. Capacity building has remained a cornerstone of Sheikh Joaan’s leadership, with the Qatar Olympic Academy driving training, education and leadership programmes aimed at developing athletes and sports administrators. These efforts align with Qatar National Vision 2030 and initiatives such as the “Ambition Without Limits” programme. The launch of the QOC’s 2023-2030 strategy further underlined this approach, focusing on athlete development through the Aspire Foundation and national federations, promoting Olympic values, and strengthening sport’s role in social development. In recognition of his contributions, Sheikh Joaan was elected ANOC First Vice President for Asia in October 2022 and received the Arab Sports Personality of the Year award in 2021. As he prepares to assume leadership of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Joaan’s journey stands as a reflection of Qatar’s belief in sport as a catalyst for development, global engagement and national ambition.