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            <title>
                    <![CDATA[ The Peninsula Qatar ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://thepeninsulaqatar.com ]]>
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            <description>
                    <![CDATA[ The Peninsula brings the latest news from Qatar and around the world. We also cover in detail football, cricket, business, entertainment, Bollywood, Hollywood, Science, Technology, Health, Fitness and opinions from leading columnists. ]]>
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            <lastBuildDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:37:31 +0300</lastBuildDate>
            <pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:37:31 +0300</pubDate>
            <language>en</language>
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                    <![CDATA[Copyright  2026 , The Peninsula Qatar]]>
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            <ttl>5</ttl>
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                    <title>The Peninsula Qatar</title>
                    <link>https://thepeninsulaqatar.com</link>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Shelton ready to solve Grand Slam puzzle at US Open]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/12/09/2026/shelton-ready-to-solve-grand-slam-puzzle-at-us-open]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Tennis]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;New York: Ben Shelton believes his newly acquired problem-solving skills can carry him to a maiden Grand Slam title when he faces Alexander Zverev in the final of the US Open on Sunday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The big-serving 23-year-old powered into the first major championship final of his career on Friday after muscling his way past close friend Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The eighth-seeded Shelton was in irresistible form as he stormed to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory in front of a raucous home crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It was another impressive milestone on Shelton&amp;amp;#39;s journey through this year&amp;amp;#39;s tournament, which included an epic five-set victory in the quarter-finals over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Shelton, who blasted 20 aces in Friday&amp;amp;#39;s semi-final win, said his success at Flushing Meadows this year has been based on his ability to align brain with brawn.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I think that problem-solving has been the name of the game here,&amp;amp;quot; said Shelton, who had never beaten Alcaraz in three previous meetings before his last-eight triumph over the Spanish star.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It&amp;amp;#39;s been a lot of uphill battle, so I think that I&amp;amp;#39;m fully ready for the challenge to problem-solve,&amp;amp;quot; Shelton said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I feel that I&amp;amp;#39;m a different player. I feel like I have so many more tools. I feel like I know my identity, am comfortable in my own skin, and I know what it takes for me to be playing top-level tennis.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I&amp;amp;#39;m looking forward to the challenge, being able to problem-solve on Sunday. I know what I&amp;amp;#39;m up against, and I&amp;amp;#39;m also the most confident I&amp;amp;#39;ve ever been in my game.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;For me, this whole tournament now at this point has been uncharted territory. I&amp;amp;#39;m in positions I&amp;amp;#39;ve never been in before. I&amp;amp;#39;ve beaten guys that I have never beaten before. I&amp;amp;#39;m just excited to put it all out on the line.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Shelton is now one win away from becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam title in 23 years. The last player to lift a major was Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He is adamant he will not be burdened by the weight of history in Sunday&amp;amp;#39;s final.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I think that I handle these big situations in my career pretty well,&amp;amp;quot; Shelton said. &amp;amp;quot;I feel that confidence and belief take over.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The nerves are always there. It&amp;amp;#39;s something that you got to kind of lean into. The nerves are as much there in the first round for me as in the semi-finals, and I&amp;amp;#39;m sure that the finals will be the same.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It&amp;amp;#39;s something you&amp;amp;#39;ve got to be able to overcome, but for me I&amp;amp;#39;m having fun, you know? This is an enjoyable moment for me and knowing that I can leave it all out there on the court and push myself to the absolute limit is an exciting, exciting thought.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:07:09 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar envisions basketball legacy at FIBA World Cup 2027]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/12/09/2026/qatar-envisions-basketball-legacy-at-fiba-world-cup-2027]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Basketball]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Berlin: Qatar has highlighted&amp;amp;nbsp;its plans to&amp;amp;nbsp;build a lasting&amp;amp;nbsp;basketball legacy ahead&amp;amp;nbsp;of the 2027&amp;amp;nbsp;FIBA Basketball World&amp;amp;nbsp;Cup, due to be held in Doha.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Secretary-General of the&amp;amp;nbsp;Qatar Olympic Committee, HE Jassem bin Rashid&amp;amp;nbsp;Al Buainain, who is also the deputy chairman&amp;amp;nbsp;of the organizing&amp;amp;nbsp;committee for the&amp;amp;nbsp;tournament, spoke during a&amp;amp;nbsp;women&amp;amp;#39;s basketball forum&amp;amp;nbsp;in Berlin on building a&amp;amp;nbsp;legacy for the&amp;amp;nbsp;next generation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;read-also&amp;quot;&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;h5 class=&amp;quot;title boldti&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Read Also&amp;lt;/h5&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/11/09/2026/al-buenain-participates-in-women-in-basketball-forum-in-berlin&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Al Buenain participates in Women in Basketball Forum in Berlin&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He said hosting&amp;amp;nbsp;the tournament was&amp;amp;nbsp;an opportunity not&amp;amp;nbsp;only to stage&amp;amp;nbsp;a major international&amp;amp;nbsp;event but also&amp;amp;nbsp;to expand participation&amp;amp;nbsp;in basketball and&amp;amp;nbsp;encourage more young&amp;amp;nbsp;people to take&amp;amp;nbsp;up the sport.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Buainain said&amp;amp;nbsp;Qatar&amp;amp;#39;s focus was&amp;amp;nbsp;on using its&amp;amp;nbsp;infrastructure, expertise&amp;amp;nbsp;and innovation to&amp;amp;nbsp;create a sustainable&amp;amp;nbsp;legacy for basketball&amp;amp;nbsp;in Qatar and&amp;amp;nbsp;the wider region.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The session also&amp;amp;nbsp;examined ways to&amp;amp;nbsp;increase the participation&amp;amp;nbsp;of women and&amp;amp;nbsp;girls in sport&amp;amp;nbsp;and the role&amp;amp;nbsp;of major events&amp;amp;nbsp;in supporting the&amp;amp;nbsp;long-term development&amp;amp;nbsp;of women&amp;amp;#39;s basketball.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Women in&amp;amp;nbsp;Basketball Forum, organized&amp;amp;nbsp;by FIBA in&amp;amp;nbsp;Berlin, brought together&amp;amp;nbsp;sports, media and&amp;amp;nbsp;business leaders to&amp;amp;nbsp;discuss the future&amp;amp;nbsp;of the women&amp;amp;#39;s&amp;amp;nbsp;game, including investment, media, fan engagement&amp;amp;nbsp;and commercial innovation.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:17:55 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Al Buenain participates in Women in Basketball Forum in Berlin]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/al-buenain-participates-in-women-in-basketball-forum-in-berlin]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Berlin:&amp;amp;nbsp; H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, participated in the Women in Basketball Forum, hosted by FIBA in the German capital Berlin on Friday, bringing together leading figures, decision-makers and representatives from the sports, media and business sectors.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Buenain took part in a panel discussion titled &amp;amp;ldquo;Beyond the Game: Building a Legacy for the Next Generation,&amp;amp;rdquo; which explored future opportunities for basketball, ways to expand opportunities for women and girls in sport, and the role Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 can play in supporting the development of the game and creating a sustainable legacy in Qatar and across the region.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;During the session, Al Buenain stressed that hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 represents an opportunity that goes beyond staging a major global sporting event, contributing to the growth of the game, encouraging future generations to take up basketball and broadening participation in Qatar and across the region.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He said: &amp;amp;ldquo;Qatar 2027 is not about proving that Qatar can host another major sporting event; Qatar has already demonstrated that, repeatedly, over the past two decades. The real opportunity now is to show what happens when world-class infrastructure, experience and innovation come together, and stay together, long enough to become a lasting, mainstream legacy for basketball, for this region, and for the next generation.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He also stressed that the true measure of the tournament&amp;amp;rsquo;s success goes beyond the event itself to what it leaves behind once the final buzzer sounds. He highlighted the importance of building on Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s world-class infrastructure, experience and capabilities, and leveraging the hosting of the tournament to support the long-term development of basketball, broaden opportunities for participation, and establish a lasting legacy for the game in Qatar, across the region and for future generations.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Women in Basketball Forum explores the opportunities shaping the future of women&amp;amp;rsquo;s basketball through a series of sessions and discussions addressing key drivers of growth across the sports ecosystem, including investment, leadership, media, fan engagement and commercial innovation, while highlighting the growing role of women&amp;amp;rsquo;s basketball in shaping the future of sport.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:46:43 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar national team faces Australia in 2027 Asian Cup preparation friendly next November]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/qatari-national-team-will-face-its-australian-counterpart-in-a-friendly-match-next-november-in-preparation-for-the-2027-asian-cup]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha: The Qatar Football Association announced today that the national team will play a friendly match against Australia on November 13 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This friendly match is part of the Al-Annabi team&amp;amp;#39;s preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup finals, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5 next year.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The team, winner of the last two editions in 2019 and 2023, will compete in the 19th edition of the continental tournament in Group F alongside Japan, the record-holder with four titles, Thailand, and Indonesia.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Qatari team is also gearing up for the 27th Gulf Cup (Gulf 27), also hosted by Saudi Arabia from September 23 to October 6. The draw placed Qatar in Group B alongside the UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen, while Group A includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:25:09 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Rybakina rallies to beat Gauff, book US Open final with Sabalenka]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/rybakina-rallies-to-beat-gauff-book-us-open-final-with-sabalenka]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Tennis]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;New York, USA: Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday and book a US Open championship showdown with two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In Saturday&amp;amp;#39;s final Rybakina will try to deal another blow to Sabalenka, having knocked her out of the number one world ranking just by reaching the semi-finals.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I feel like I definitely need to step my game up, serve much better than today and stay aggressive,&amp;amp;quot; Rybakina said of her looming clash with Sabalenka.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Gauff&amp;amp;#39;s bid to return to the final for the first time since she defeated Sabalenka for the 2023 title had got off to a smooth start, with the American seizing the initiative in the opening set with a break to go 4-2 up.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;She held to love to take a 5-2 lead and then held in the ninth game to take a one set lead.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;But Rybakina hit back with an early break of serve in the second set for a 3-1 lead and held to go 4-1 up.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Gauff responded superbly to claw her way back into contention with a break to make it 4-3 before holding to square it a 4-4.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Yet she was unable to make the most of her fightback and double-faulted in the 10th game to hand two set points to Rybakina at 15-40. Rybakina pounced on that chance to take the match to a third set.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The decisive set followed a similar pattern.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Gauff conceded a break to trail 5-3 and leave Rybakina serving for the match.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;But the American broke back immediately to make it 5-4 to get it back on serve.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Again though Gauff was unable to capitalise, and a deft volley from Rybakina left her with two match points at 15-40, before Gauff then hit a wide open smash long to hand her opponent victory.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It was such a cool third set -- I feel like I was a little bit lucky on her serve,&amp;amp;quot; Rybakina said. &amp;amp;quot;A couple of deep returns, one mistake from her, it went quickly my way...it was a real battle.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:52:48 +0300]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Stars League holds Ordinary General Assembly meeting]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/qatar-stars-league-holds-ordinary-general-assembly-meeting]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stars League (QSL) held its Ordinary General Assembly meeting yesterday. It was attended by Minister of Sports and Youth and QSL President H E Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, QSL CEO, members of the Executive Committee, Presidents and representatives of club companies (General Assembly members) and QSL Executive Directors.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;H E Sheikh Hamad welcomed the attendees, wishing everyone success for the ongoing 2026-2027 football season. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between QSL and clubs to achieve desired goals and aspirations while supporting the development and advancement of Qatar football at all levels.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;QSL CEO Hani Taleb Ballan reviewed the meeting agenda. The proceedings included the formal ratification of Ordinary General Assembly meeting in accordance with QSL statutes, the acceptance of agenda and appointment of members to record and review the meeting minutes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Furthermore, the assembly approved the minutes of previous General Assembly meeting held on June 2, 2025, and accepted the annual report on QSL activities. The meeting also saw the presentation and approval of QSL&amp;amp;rsquo;s audited financial statements, the independent auditor&amp;amp;rsquo;s report and a proposal to amend the statutes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:50:13 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar drawn alongside UAE and Oman in U-17 Gulf Cup]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/qatar-drawn-alongside-uae-and-oman-in-u-17-gulf-cup]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Hosts Qatar have been drawn in Group A alongside the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and China for the second U-17 Gulf Cup, which will be held in Qatar from October 16 to November 4, 2026.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The official draw, conducted by the Gulf Football Federation, has placed 10 teams in the tournament, making this the biggest edition in the competition&amp;amp;rsquo;s history.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Group B features reigning champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen and Egypt.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will be played in a knockout format.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Each group winner will face the runner-up from the other group.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There will be no extra time in the knockout rounds, with any semi-final or final level at full-time going straight to penalties.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Organised by the Local Organising Committee in Qatar in close collaboration with the Gulf Football Federation, the tournament brings together all eight member associations - the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and Yemen - alongside Egypt and China.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The expanded line-up is expected to provide strong competition and valuable preparation for teams qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The U-17 Gulf Cup has also emerged as an important platform for the region&amp;amp;rsquo;s promising young players.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The inaugural edition in 2025 saw Saudi Arabia crowned champions at Grand Hamad Stadium after defeating the UAE 2-0 in the final.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:48:50 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar&amp;rsquo;s Moustafa strikes Asian karate gold]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/qatars-moustafa-strikes-asian-karate-gold]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s Abdulrahman Moustafa won the gold medal in the under-21 under-60kg category at the 24th Asian Cadet, Junior and Under-21 Karate Championship in Amman, Jordan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The championship, which concludes today, features more than 350 male and female athletes from 30 Asian countries.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Moustafa produced a series of impressive performances on his way to the title. After receiving a bye in the draw, he advanced directly to the quarter-finals, where he defeated Chinese Taipei&amp;amp;rsquo;s Shih Po-Yun 11-3. He followed that with an 11-7 victory over Saudi Arabia&amp;amp;rsquo;s Sultan al-Masiri in the semi-finals to book his place in the final. Moustafa then beat India&amp;amp;rsquo;s Viraj Saini 4-1 in the final to claim the gold medal.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s Hassan Mansour had earlier won the silver medal in the youth over-76kg category. The championship features kata and kumite competitions and is one of the continent&amp;amp;rsquo;s leading age-group karate events.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:43:08 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

                        </item>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Cherif, Tijan lead Qatar&amp;rsquo;s volleyball charge at Asiads]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/cherif-tijan-lead-qatars-volleyball-charge-at-asiads]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Volleyball]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Qatar will be hoping to add to its Asian Games medal tally through volleyball at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with its strongest medal hopes resting on beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar will field men&amp;amp;rsquo;s and women&amp;amp;rsquo;s teams in the indoor competition, in addition to four teams in beach volleyball, two men&amp;amp;rsquo;s and two women&amp;amp;rsquo;s pairs.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The men&amp;amp;rsquo;s indoor team have been drawn in Group C alongside India, Vietnam and Hong Kong, while Group A comprises Japan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Group B features the Islamic Republic of Iran, Indonesia, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan, and Group D has the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The men&amp;amp;rsquo;s competition will run from September 27 to October 3, while the women&amp;amp;rsquo;s event is scheduled from September 16 to 22.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s men enter the tournament after an intensive preparation programme under Argentine coach Camilo Soto.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;They held a training camp in Slovenia from August 15 to 26, playing friendly matches against Egypt and Slovenian league teams before competing in the Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The women&amp;amp;rsquo;s team are in Group D alongside Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, with Qatar aiming to produce a strong showing against experienced continental opponents.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar have a strong record in indoor volleyball, winning the Asian Cup in Chinese Taipei in 2018 after defeating Iran 3-2.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;They have also won the Gulf Cup and Asian Challenge Cup, claimed bronze at the 2023 Asian Championship in Iran and qualified for the 2022 and 2025 World Championships.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In beach volleyball, Qatar will be represented by four teams. The Qatar 1 men&amp;amp;rsquo;s team features Cherif and Tijan, while Qatar 2 comprises Moussa El Kheir and Mohamed Ehab.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Malak Mohammed and Laila Mohammed form Qatar 1 in the women&amp;amp;rsquo;s event, while Haya Abu Issa and Shaghaf Amin represent Qatar 2.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Cherif and Tijan are Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s main medal hopes, having won Asian Games gold in Jakarta in 2018 and retained their title in Hangzhou in 2023.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The duo also won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and gold at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, last April. They have won the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship three times, with their latest continental title coming in Bandar Abbas, Iran, in 2022.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;They also won gold at the West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Doha in 2022.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Their continued excellence was recognised when they received the award for Asia&amp;amp;rsquo;s best beach volleyball players for 2026 from the Asian Volleyball Confederation in Bangkok, Thailand. With QNA input.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:38:13 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

                        </item>
                                        <item>
                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[QFA General Assembly approves Sheikh Hamad as President]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/qfa-general-assembly-approves-sheikh-hamad-as-president]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) Ordinary General Assembly has approved the appointment of Minister of Sports and Youth H E Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, as president of the association until the 2027 elective General Assembly.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The assembly also approved the appointment of Sheikh Dr. Tamim bin Mohammed Al-Thani as Vice President for the same period.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Ordinary General Assembly was attended by H E Sheikh Hamad, Sheikh Dr. Tamim, members of the QFA Executive Committee and the Secretary General, as well as representatives of member clubs, department directors, committee heads and members.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Among the other key decisions approved during the meeting were amendments to the QFA&amp;amp;rsquo;s statutes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The assembly also rejected the membership application of Al Dafna Sports Club to become a member of the Qatar Football Association.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;With the 2027 General Assembly scheduled to be an elective assembly, members voted to renew the QFA Elections Committee. The committee comprises Abdullah Hamed Al Mulla, Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Ali Salem Afifa, Dr. Mahmoud Ali Al Mahmoud and Eid Ali Al Marikhi.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A short film highlighting the federation&amp;amp;rsquo;s recent activities was also screened during the meeting.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The assembly subsequently completed a number of procedural and administrative items in accordance with the QFA statutes. Members approved the minutes of the previous General Assembly, held on June 2, 2025, as well as the federation&amp;amp;rsquo;s activity report covering initiatives and activities carried out since the previous assembly.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The audited financial statements for the 2025 financial year were also presented and approved, together with the independent external auditor&amp;amp;rsquo;s report. The assembly additionally approved the QFA&amp;amp;rsquo;s budget for the 2026 financial year and appointed members to review the meeting minutes and a committee to oversee the counting of ballots.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In his closing remarks, H E Sheikh Hamad thanked Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain and Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi for their efforts and contributions during the previous period, stressing the importance of continued cooperation and collective work to advance Qatari football at all levels.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He highlighted the central role of clubs in achieving the ambitions of the game and stressed the importance of providing them with continued support to ensure steady progress and development.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Looking ahead to the federation&amp;amp;rsquo;s strategy, H E Sheikh Hamad said greater attention should be given to youth categories, which he described as the foundation and true future of Qatari football.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He also stressed the importance of developing and supporting national footballing talent, particularly Qatari coaches, and called for them to be given greater opportunities to take charge of the technical leadership of clubs. H E Sheikh Hamad expressed strong confidence in Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s football talent and emphasised collective effort would remain a key foundation for the continued development and success of the game in the country.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:29:58 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Firmino, Afif brace as Al Sadd stay perfect with Al Sailiya win]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/firmino-afif-brace-as-al-sadd-stay-perfect-with-al-sailiya-win]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Roberto Firmino and Akram Afif scored braces as Al Sadd maintained their perfect start to the Qatar Stars League with a 6-3 win over Al Sailiya at Lusail Stadium yesterday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The defending champions&amp;amp;rsquo; fourth straight victory took them to 12 points, four clear of Al Shamal, who drew 1-1 with Al Wakrah. Al Rayyan, who face Al Ahli at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today, are five points behind the leaders.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Afif opened the scoring in the 19th minute, chipping the ball into the centre of the net from a precise Paulo Otavio pass. Al Sailiya, seeking their first points of the season, responded through Ali Iyad Olwan, who levelled in the 35th minute with a solo effort. Hashem Ali restored Al Sadd&amp;amp;rsquo;s lead before half-time, and Firmino extended it with a penalty in the 50th minute after Kellian Albertus fouled Pedro Miguel.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Ahmed Doozandeh pulled one back eight minutes later, but goals from Firmino and Afif in the 62nd and 75th minutes put Al Sadd in control.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Mostafa Mashaal added another in the fifth minute of stoppage time before Al Sailiya&amp;amp;rsquo;s Olwan scored again in the dying moments.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;I am happy with the win and the results the team is achieving with the start of the league. We strive to continue working to achieve the best,&amp;amp;rdquo; said Otavio after the win.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Sailiya are now on a four-match losing streak.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;read-also&amp;quot;&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;h5 class=&amp;quot;title boldti&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Read Also&amp;lt;/h5&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/11/09/2026/world-no1-asal-to-kick-off-qatar-classic-campaign-against-muller&amp;quot;&amp;gt;World No.1 Asal to kick off Qatar Classic campaign against Muller&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/11/09/2026/ehsan-opens-al-wakrah-club-after-expansion-as-new-day-club-season-begins&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Ehsan opens Al Wakrah Club after expansion as new day club season begins&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/10/09/2026/messi-to-buy-second-spanish-lower-league-club&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Messi to buy second Spanish lower league club&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Al Shamal, Al Wakrah play out draw&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;At Al Bayt Stadium, Al Wakrah produced an improved performance following their 4-0 rout by debutants Lusail to secure a point against Al Shamal.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pablo Mari put Al Shamal ahead in the 26th minute with a precise header, but Aissa Laidouni rescued a draw for the Blue Wave in the first minute of stoppage time before the interval.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Shamal started at a good pace, with Wesley Said denied by Mohammed Al-Bakri early in the match. After Mari&amp;amp;rsquo;s header opened the scoring, Laidouni pounced on a rebound after Al Shamal goalkeeper Babacar Seck stopped Ayoub Assal&amp;amp;rsquo;s shot. The second half saw several exchanges, with Baghdad Bounedjah&amp;amp;rsquo;s fine header just missing the post in stoppage time.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The match ended on a sour note for Al Shamal when referee Mohammed Ahmed Al-Shammari showed Bounedjah a red card for a heated argument after the final whistle.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Lusail aim to build on historic win&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Today, Lusail will look to build on their historic first QSL victory when they face Al Gharafa at Khalifa International Stadium.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Lusail moved to four points from three matches after thrashing Al Wakrah. Coach Emanuel Mesquita knows his side face a tougher test against Al Gharafa, who have collected three points so far and will be eager to return to winning ways under Pedro Martins.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;It has been a very positive week, the players are highly focused and enthusiastic, so we are ready for the upcoming challenge,&amp;amp;rdquo; said Mesquita.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;The match will be difficult and we must be at our best.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Martins said Al Gharafa must maintain their focus against a Lusail side that has made an impressive start to their debut season.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:22:37 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

                        </item>
                                        <item>
                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[World No.1 Asal to kick off Qatar Classic campaign against Muller]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/world-no1-asal-to-kick-off-qatar-classic-campaign-against-muller]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Squash]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Classic 2026 opens tomorrow at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, and the draw brings together a number of heavyweight round-one clashes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A number of champions, former champions and home hero Abdulla Al-Tamimi will enter the fray today at the prestigious indoor sports venue in Doha.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;World No.1 Mostafa Asal will begin his Qatar Classic title campaign against Switzerland&amp;amp;rsquo;s Nicolas Muller, with the Egyptian determined to avoid another near-miss in Doha. Asal has finished runner-up at the Qatar Classic in each of the past two years, and the top seed will be determined to go all the way to the top this time.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Four-time champion Mohamed ElShorbagy also begins his campaign against France&amp;amp;rsquo;s Bernat Jaume, while No.3 seed and former champion Diego Elias faces American Timothy Brownell.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Elias remains one of the most consistent players on the PSA Tour and could face Asal in the semi-finals if the seeding holds. If both of them reach the semis, it would be their fifth meeting of the year.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Defending men&amp;amp;rsquo;s champion Paul Coll will also be in action, opening his title defence against India&amp;amp;rsquo;s Veer Chothrani. The New Zealander is bidding to claim his second Qatar Classic crown.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For the home crowd, the spotlight will be on 2016 champion Karim Abdel Gawad, who faces Al-Tamimi.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;read-also&amp;quot;&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;h5 class=&amp;quot;title boldti&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Read Also&amp;lt;/h5&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/11/09/2026/firmino-afif-brace-as-al-sadd-stay-perfect-with-al-sailiya-win&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Firmino, Afif brace as Al Sadd stay perfect with Al Sailiya win&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/11/09/2026/ehsan-opens-al-wakrah-club-after-expansion-as-new-day-club-season-begins&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Ehsan opens Al Wakrah Club after expansion as new day club season begins&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/10/09/2026/messi-to-buy-second-spanish-lower-league-club&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Messi to buy second Spanish lower league club&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al-Tamimi returned to competition last month following injury and is using the Qatar Classic as valuable preparation ahead of the Asian Games in Japan. Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s other representative, Salem Al-Malki, will take on France&amp;amp;rsquo;s Melvil Scianimanico.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On the women&amp;amp;rsquo;s side, defending champion Hania El Hammamy starts against fellow Egyptian Hana Moataz. El Hammamy has already lifted the Qatar Classic trophy twice, in 2023 and 2025.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;El Hammamy will be also looking to defend her World No.1 status, which will be challenged by World No.2 and reigning World Champion Amina Orfi who faces fellow Egyptian Hana Ramadan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Meanwhile, former World No.1 and World Champion Nouran Gohar is back on the PSA Tour after a year away following the birth of her first child in April.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Gohar&amp;amp;rsquo;s comeback begins against compatriot Kenzy Ayman, in what promises to be a demanding first test for the 2024 Qatar Classic runner-up. Four-time finalist Nour ElSherbini, seeded No.3, opens against Egypt&amp;amp;rsquo;s Nada Abbas, while USA No.1 Olivia Weaver, seeded fourth, is in action against Egypt&amp;amp;rsquo;s Sana Ibrahim.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:16:06 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Preparations complete for launch of 20th School Olympic Programme]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/11/09/2026/preparations-complete-for-launch-of-20th-school-olympic-programme]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The organising committee of the School Olympic Programme announced the completion of all arrangements for the launch of the twentieth edition of the season (2026-2027), which will be held at the Aspire Academy Dome in October.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The organisation of this new edition comes as a continuation of the programme&amp;amp;rsquo;s mission to support school sports, discover sporting talents, and promote student participation in various games.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;During a press conference, the committee addressed the key features of the new version of the programme, which included the sports included in the competitions and the targeted age groups, in addition to the programme&amp;amp;rsquo;s goals and development plans during the new season, which enhances its role as one of the leading national initiatives in the field of school sports.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;President of the Qatar School Sports Association (QSSA), and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the School Olympic Programme (SOP), Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani affirmed that the programme is one of the most important projects supporting school sports in the State of Qatar, and that the Organising Committee has been implementing it in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Qatar Olympic Committee since the academic year (2007-2008).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He welcomed the launch of the 20th edition of the School Olympic Programme, which represents an important historical milestone that reflects the sustainability of the project and its continued success.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He said that in this exceptional edition, QSSA looks forward to record participation that surpasses the previous edition, which witnessed the participation of more than 27,000 male and female students in 36 different sports. This great momentum comes with the strategic partnership with sports federations, schools and Aspire Academy, contributing to achieving our ultimate goal, which is to prepare a promising sporting generation that supports the future of Qatari sports.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani added that this new edition will not be just traditional sports competitions, but will add new and qualitative achievements to the record of school sports in Qatar, and will open wider horizons for our sons and daughters, the students, to participate effectively, discover their talents, and reach the platforms of sports and educational excellence.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In turn, Executive Director of the School Olympic Program Abdulrahman Al Muftah affirmed that launching the 20th edition represents an exceptional milestone in the journey of integrating sports with education and establishing the Olympic culture among emerging generations, noting that the current season carries a renewed vision and ambitious plans to invest in the energies of students&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:02:30 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Leclerc concedes he &amp;#039;went too far&amp;#039; in Hamilton Monza incident]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/leclerc-concedes-he-went-too-far-in-hamilton-monza-incident]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Formula One]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Madrid: Charles Leclerc on Thursday conceded he was at fault when he clashed with Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton during the opening lap at the Italian Grand Prix.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Speaking to reporters at the new Madring, ahead of this weekend&amp;amp;#39;s Spanish Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver said the pair had discussed the incident and settled their differences.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The clash saw Hamilton run off into the gravel and lose six places while Leclerc continued, but then crashed out on lap two at last Sunday&amp;amp;#39;s Grand Prix in Monza.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Leclerc had initially said &amp;amp;quot;we went too far&amp;amp;quot;, a claim that Hamilton disagreed with by stating that &amp;amp;quot;there was no &amp;amp;#39;we&amp;amp;#39; in it&amp;amp;quot;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I think it&amp;amp;#39;s kind of clear that we never want to see a car of the same team in the grass,&amp;amp;quot; Leclerc said in the Spanish capital.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;After reviewing, we spoke with Lewis, I obviously know I went too far in Turn Two and I said it to Lewis and I think it&amp;amp;#39;s very clear what we should do or should avoid going forward.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Leclerc added that it was &amp;amp;quot;not acceptable&amp;amp;quot; to see his team-mate in the gravel, but pointed out that more was made of the incident because it occurred at the team&amp;amp;#39;s &amp;amp;#39;home&amp;amp;#39; race.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;We are driving for Ferrari and if there&amp;amp;#39;s one race where you don&amp;amp;#39;t want that to happen it is Monza and when these things happen at our home race, then it does a huge mess outside,&amp;amp;quot; the 28-year-old added.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Seven-time world champion Hamilton said he also discussed the matter with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur and that there was no bad blood.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;That&amp;amp;#39;s the positive of where we&amp;amp;#39;ve got to over the past 15 months,&amp;amp;quot; the 41-year-old explained. &amp;amp;quot;We&amp;amp;#39;ve got to a place where we have really great communication internally and the same with me and Charles.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I think it&amp;amp;#39;s great that there was no shying away from having a discussion. We sat face to face, just him and me and we talked and we were both open and honest. We squashed it. We can move on.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:59:55 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[France will not support Infantino in FIFA election: federation chief]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/france-will-not-support-infantino-in-fifa-election-federation-chief]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Paris, France: France will not support the candidacy of Gianni Infantino, who is running for a new term as FIFA president in March 2027, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Thursday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The FFF is aligning itself with the position of other European federations such as Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales, who have also publicly withdrawn support for Infantino.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;FIFA confirmed last weekend that Infantino will stand in the FIFA presidential election next March, despite the backlash over his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the men&amp;amp;#39;s and women&amp;amp;#39;s World Cups.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;At this stage, the 56-year-old Swiss is the only candidate.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;We believe that the trust placed in the FIFA president has been betrayed, and that the way in which the governance of world football is envisaged no longer reflects us,&amp;amp;quot; FFF president Philippe Diallo said in a statement.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;That is why, by a unanimous decision of its members, the French Football Federation has decided to withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino&amp;amp;#39;s candidacy for the FIFA presidency.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:17:19 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                        <item>
                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Messi to buy second Spanish lower league club]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/messi-to-buy-second-spanish-lower-league-club]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Barcelona: Argentina icon Lionel Messi has agreed to take over Spanish club Eldense, the second division side confirmed on Thursday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Eldense, based just in-land from Alicante, will become the former Barcelona attacker&amp;amp;#39;s second venture into Spanish football ownership having bought fourth-tier Cornella in April.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The 39-year-old plays for Inter Miami and retired from international duty after Argentina&amp;amp;#39;s loss to Spain in the World Cup final this summer.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;CD Eldense can confirm that Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle with the club&amp;amp;#39;s current owners to acquire the shares currently held by Grupo TH Soluciones, which would make him the majority shareholder of CD Eldense,&amp;amp;quot; they told AFP.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;At this time, the transaction is pending completion of the final legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as the required authorisation from the Spanish Sports Council (CSD).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;For now, the club is unable to provide details on the financial terms of the transaction or set a definitive date for its completion, as the process has not yet been finalised.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Once the relevant procedures have been completed and the necessary authorizations obtained, CD Eldense will officially report any developments in this regard,&amp;amp;quot; the club founded in 1921 added.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:47:26 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Indonesia, Hong Kong to host new 14-team FIFA ASEAN Cup]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/indonesia-hong-kong-to-host-new-14-team-fifa-asean-cup]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Hong Kong: An inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will take place later this month featuring 14 teams with matches played in Indonesia and Hong Kong, organisers said on Thursday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three guest sides -- Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh -- will play in two divisions from September 24.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Eight teams will contest the top-tier Division 1 -- hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;They will be split into two sections of four with the winners contesting the first FIFA ASEAN Cup final on October 5.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The second-tier Division 2 will be hosted by Hong Kong and also involve Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste, split into two three-team sections with the winners advancing to a final on October 3.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The FIFA ASEAN Cup was launched to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities,&amp;amp;quot; said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The tournament will strengthen football ties across Southeast Asia.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:19:08 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Asian Games begin with Qatar basketball win, nine days before opening ceremony]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/asian-games-begin-with-qatar-basketball-win-nine-days-before-opening-ceremony]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Basketball]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Tokyo: The Asian Games began in Japan on Thursday with Qatar beating Iran in men&amp;amp;#39;s basketball, the first action in the continental multi-sport showpiece that has more participants than the Olympics.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Over 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to take part in 43 sports at the Nagoya-Aichi Games -- which do not officially start until the opening ceremony on September 19 and will run until October 4.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Several events such as basketball, football, cricket, hockey and modern pentathlon will get under way before the opening ceremony.&amp;lt;img src=&amp;quot;/get/maximage/20260910_1789027334-42631.jpg?1789027334&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;width: 100%;&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;Qatar held off a comeback from Iran to win their Group B encounter 59-35 at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya in the first match of a men&amp;amp;#39;s basketball competition that will hold medal finals on September 20, the day after the opening ceremony.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;We know we need to win at least one game so we can qualify for the next round,&amp;amp;quot; said Qatar&amp;amp;#39;s Michael Lewis, the United States-born player who scored a game-high 21 points.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Feels good to get some team camaraderie back, and now we have got to keep going.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Later in Group B, Taiwan beat Jordan 83-80.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualifying spots are up for grabs in several sports at the Asian Games, which are returning to Japan for the first time since 1994.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Organisers hope the athletes will have a &amp;amp;quot;unique experience&amp;amp;quot; staying in accommodation ranging from a cruise liner and wooden containers to standard hotel rooms.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Officials are confident that the plan will not be affected by Japan&amp;amp;#39;s typhoon season, which is usually in full swing in September-October.&amp;lt;img src=&amp;quot;/get/maximage/20260910_1789027334-37732.jpg?1789027334&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;width: 100%;&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;Weather has already caused disruptions, with record rainfall on Tuesday forcing hundreds of athletes briefly to evacuate their accommodation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Among those in action at the Games will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of world-class teenage talents in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:55:23 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[beIN Sports to air over 1,700 hours of Asian Games live coverage]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/bein-sports-to-air-over-1700-hours-of-asian-games-live-coverage]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The 20th Asian Games 2026 gets underway on 10 September in the Japanese city of Nagoya and the wider Aichi region &amp;amp;ndash; and beIN Sports (&amp;amp;ldquo;beIN&amp;amp;rdquo;), the leading sports broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), will deliver more than 1,700 hours of live, exclusive coverage across a bouquet of 16 channels, spanning 25 consecutive days from first preview to closing ceremony.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Up to 10,000 athletes will compete across 461 events in 43 sports at this year&amp;amp;rsquo;s Games, which officially run from 19 September to 4 October, with competitive action beginning nine days before the opening ceremony. Alongside traditional disciplines such as track and field, swimming, and gymnastics, five new sports join the line-up. Padel, mixed martial arts, surfing, freestyle BMX, and teqball will all make their Asian Games debut in Japan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Mohammed Al Bader, Managing Director of beIN Channels &amp;amp;ndash; MENA, said: &amp;amp;ldquo;The Asian Games is the continent&amp;amp;rsquo;s largest sporting competition, and we are proud to provide MENA viewers with comprehensive studio and on-the-ground coverage once again. beIN Sports is fully committed to showcasing the very best of talent from across Asia. We look forward to broadcasting more than 1,700 hours of coverage over the next few weeks with a special focus on the 1,000-plus Arab athletes expected to take part.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;beIN&amp;amp;rsquo;s live coverage begins on 10 September with select games featuring Arab teams, building towards the Opening Ceremony on 19 September, with studio coverage starting at 09:00 MECCA and broadcast free-to-air on beIN Sports.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;From 20 September, beIN will deliver up to around 100 hours of live coverage each day across beIN Sports 1-9, beIN Sports Xtra channels, and beIN Sports English 1 and 2. This will be complemented by a daily live multi-sports studio programme that will run from 09:00 to 15:00 MECCA, broadcast free-to-air on beIN Sports and beIN Sports News.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On 4 October, as part of the official closing ceremony, Aichi-Nagoya will hand the hosting mantle to Qatar as attention turns to the Asian Games 2030.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:28:19 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar fencers eye first Asian Games medal at Aichi-Nagoya]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/qatar-fencers-eye-first-asian-games-medal-at-aichi-nagoya]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Fencing]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s fencing team is heading to the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a clear goal: win the country&amp;amp;rsquo;s first-ever medal in the sport at the Games. The event runs from September 19 to October 4.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nine fencers will represent Qatar: Ali Turki Awida, Khalid Arif Hussein, Abdullah Ismail Khalifa, Abdulrahman Bourghrib, Abdulrahman Al-Jadra, Mohammed Abdulali, Yousef Abdul-Tawab, Ali Al-Khalif, and Isabelle Bettadini, the team&amp;amp;rsquo;s only female competitor. They are part of a much larger Qatari delegation of 243 athletes &amp;amp;mdash; 184 men and 59 women &amp;amp;mdash; competing in 26 sports at the Games.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Zamel Al-Shammari, a board member of the Qatar Fencing Federation, is leading the delegation. Three coaches &amp;amp;mdash; Ines Boubakri, Alvaro Felipe Monteiro, and Hugues Thierry Dergal &amp;amp;mdash; oversee the team.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The team has trained hard for this moment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The men held a camp at Aspire Academy from August 23 to 29, while the women trained in Italy from August 17 to 25.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Both squads will finish their preparation with one last camp in Tokyo, from September 13 to 20, just before competition begins.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Aspire Academy camp drew fencers from six countries besides Qatar: the Netherlands, Greece, Argentina, Malaysia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In total, 66 fencers took part, including Saudi Arabia&amp;amp;rsquo;s Khalifa Al-Amiri, who won bronze in &amp;amp;eacute;p&amp;amp;eacute;e at the World Championships in Hong Kong, and the Netherlands&amp;amp;rsquo; Tristan Tullen, an Olympic fencer who won the Doha Grand Prix in January.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sixteen coaches ran 12 training sessions over six days, giving Qatari fencers a chance to test themselves against different styles from Europe, Asia, and the Arab world.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Khalid Suwaid, senior administrative expert at the Qatar Fencing Federation, said the camp was a major boost for the team.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Speaking to Qatar News Agency, he said the goal now is not just to compete, but to finish among Asia&amp;amp;rsquo;s top four teams and fight for medals.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar first competed in fencing at the Asian Games when it hosted the event in 2006.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Since then, the team has taken part in every edition &amp;amp;mdash; Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014, Jakarta-Palembang 2018, and Hangzhou 2023 &amp;amp;mdash; without winning a medal.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;That changed in October 2025. At the Asian Fencing Championships for under-23s in Kuala Lumpur, Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s &amp;amp;eacute;p&amp;amp;eacute;e team beat the Philippines and Thailand before losing the final to Uzbekistan by a single point. The silver medal was Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s first-ever Asian medal in fencing. The team behind it: Abdulrahman Al-Jadra, Yousef Abdul-Tawab, Mohammed Abdulali, and Ali Al-Khalif.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Kuala Lumpur medal was part of a wider run of good results. At the 2023 World Combat Games in Riyadh, Qatar won four medals: gold in men&amp;amp;rsquo;s foil team (Awida, Hussein, and Khalifa), individual bronze in foil for Khalifa, bronze in men&amp;amp;rsquo;s &amp;amp;eacute;p&amp;amp;eacute;e team (Meshal Al-Qahtani, Mohammed Al-Awlan, Mohammed Abdulali, and Mohammed Al-Hazza), and bronze in women&amp;amp;rsquo;s &amp;amp;eacute;p&amp;amp;eacute;e team (Haya Diab, Sara Diab, and Sheikha Jassim Ali).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;At the 2025 West Asian Championships, Qatar won 12 medals in total &amp;amp;mdash; six gold, two silver, and four bronze.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The team also took gold in team foil at the 2025 Arab Championships in Bahrain, thanks to Abdullah Ismail and Khalid Aref, and added a gold and a silver in foil at the 2026 Gulf Games in Doha.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There is young talent coming through too.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Isabelle Bettadini reached the quarterfinals at the Asian Junior Fencing Championships in Singapore last month.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:23:05 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar U-23 step up Asian Games preparations]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/qatar-u-23-step-up-asian-games-preparations]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s Under-23 national football team is stepping up preparations for their Asian Games campaign, with coach Jose Angel Lacunza also using domestic competition to give his young players valuable match experience.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar will open their Asian Games campaign against Republic of Korea on September 15 before taking on Saudi Arabia three days later on September 18.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;With the tournament fast approaching, Lacunza believes the team&amp;amp;rsquo;s participation in the Jetour League is providing an important platform for the players to develop and gain experience against senior opposition.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Spanish coach has welcomed the opportunity to compete in the Second Division, saying the regular matches are helping both the coaching staff and players prepare for the challenges ahead.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Asian Games men&amp;amp;rsquo;s football tournament will feature 15 teams, with the competition running from September 14 to October 3 across venues in Japan&amp;amp;rsquo;s Chubu and Kansai regions.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The tournament will be played by Under-23 national teams, with squads allowed to include up to three overage players.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar were drawn in Group D with Republic of Korea and Saudi Arabia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Republic of Korea enter the tournament as defending men&amp;amp;rsquo;s champions.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For Qatar, the immediate focus will be on building rhythm and ensuring the players are ready for the two group matches, with the Jetour League providing Lacunza with another opportunity to assess his squad before the Asian Games.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:20:20 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Al Sadd eye fourth straight win; Al Shamal meet Al Wakrah]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/al-sadd-eye-fourth-straight-win-al-shamal-meet-al-wakrah]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Defending champions Al Sadd will look to maintain their perfect start to the Qatar Stars League when they face bottom side Al Sailiya at Lusail Stadium today, with another busy spell awaiting them after the league fixture.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Sadd have collected nine points from their opening three matches and are already two points clear at the top. They will be keen to extend that winning run against an Al Sailiya side still searching for their first point of the season.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The match also comes four days before Al Sadd begin their AFC Champions League Elite campaign against Iran&amp;amp;rsquo;s Esteghlal on Monday, making another strong league performance important as coach Razvan Lucescu manages a demanding period.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Lucescu, however, insisted his side must keep their attention on the immediate task.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;This is our fourth league match. Every game in the Qatar league is difficult, so we must be as prepared as possible,&amp;amp;rdquo; he said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;We need focus and mental discipline, alongside the desire to fight and work hard. We must be ready in every respect, focusing solely on this match and treating it like a final.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Sadd have coped well with the absence of Rafa Mujica, Mohamed Camara and Abdessamed Bounacer, who remain sidelined with injuries. Akram Afif has again been central to their strong start.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img src=&amp;quot;/get/maximage/20260910_1789020896-938.jpg?1789020896&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;width: 100%;&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Al Shamal players in action.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Sailiya, meanwhile, have lost all three matches and are the only team yet to open their account. Coach Mirghani Al Zain knows the challenge facing his side but believes they can produce a stronger response.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;We will enter the game aiming to give our best and compete for a positive result,&amp;amp;rdquo; he said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;We know that facing Al Sadd will not be easy. Against such a powerful team, we must maintain peak focus and discipline throughout the match.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Al Shamal chase leaders&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Earlier at Al Bayt Stadium today, second-placed Al Shamal will try to keep the pressure on Al Sadd when they take on Al Wakrah, who are looking to recover from a difficult start.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Shamal and Al Rayyan are level on seven points, two behind the champions, after three rounds. Al Shamal come into the game after recovering from 2-1 down to beat Al Shahania 4-2, while Al Wakrah are 11th with just one point following a heavy 4-0 defeat to newcomers Lusail.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Shamal coach David Prats expects a tough test despite the gap in the standings.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;We are facing a very good team; from my perspective, they are technically one of the best sides in the league,&amp;amp;rdquo; he said. &amp;amp;ldquo;We are excited for this tough match and aim to secure the three points.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Wakrah coach Jose Sierra wants his team to put their latest setback behind them.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;The goal for the upcoming match is to restore the team&amp;amp;rsquo;s form and rectify past errors,&amp;amp;rdquo; he said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;We hope to correct the situation and change the narrative in the next game.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;read-also&amp;quot;&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;h5 class=&amp;quot;title boldti&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Read Also&amp;lt;/h5&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/09/09/2026/shelton-stuns-alcaraz-in-334-am-us-open-finish-sabalenka-battles-on&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Shelton stuns Alcaraz in 3:34 am US Open finish, Sabalenka battles on&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/10/09/2026/ferran-torres-hits-hat-trick-as-psg-wallop-slovan-in-champions-league&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Ferran Torres hits hat-trick as PSG wallop Slovan in Champions League&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
	&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;/article/10/09/2026/qatar-sports-for-all-federation-organises-school-tours-to-promote-physical-activity&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Qatar Sports for All Federation organises school tours to promote physical activity&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;
&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The remaining Week 4 matches will see Al Gharafa, on three points after two successive defeats, meet in-form Lusail tomorrow. Al Rayyan face Al Ahli, who have four points.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On Saturday, Al Arabi, who have five points, meet Qatar SC, who have one, while Al Duhail, with five points, face Al Shahania, who have three points.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:09:56 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sports for All Federation organises school tours to promote physical activity]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/qatar-sports-for-all-federation-organises-school-tours-to-promote-physical-activity]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Sports for All Federation, operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, has resumed its weekly school tours at boys&amp;amp;rsquo; and girls&amp;amp;rsquo; schools to coincide with the start of the new academic year. The initiative aims to encourage students to take part in sports and physical activity, while identifying and developing young talent.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The tours included Ahmed Mansour Primary School for Boys, where 90 students took part in self-defense training and a range of physical exercises. At Al Khor Primary School, 307 female students participated in a variety of sports activities and exercises.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Muaither Secondary School for Girls also hosted a sports tour attended by about 226 students. The program included a range of exercises supervised by specialized female coaches, with the aim of encouraging physical activity and identifying the abilities and talents of the students.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, Abdullah Al Dosari, underscored the importance of school visits as part of the federation&amp;amp;rsquo;s strategy to promote a culture of sports in the community and instill the practice of physical activity from an early age. He noted that the federation&amp;amp;rsquo;s programs target people of different ages and backgrounds.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He added that the federation continues to implement its plans and programs in line with the Ministry of Sports and Youth&amp;amp;rsquo;s goals of promoting a culture of sports and physical activity in the community.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:59:15 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Ferran Torres hits hat-trick as PSG wallop Slovan in Champions League]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/09/2026/ferran-torres-hits-hat-trick-as-psg-wallop-slovan-in-champions-league]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Paris, France: Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick and Ousmane Dembele also starred as Paris Saint-Germain began their quest to win a third consecutive Champions League title by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 6-1 at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Last year&amp;amp;#39;s Ballon d&amp;amp;#39;Or winner Dembele had bagged a brace by the midway point in the first half in the French capital, and then set up Spain&amp;amp;#39;s World Cup final hero Torres to make it 3-0 by the interval.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Torres, a close-season signing from Barcelona, added two more just after the restart to complete his hat-trick, with Suleiman Camara pulling one back for the Slovakian champions and Fabian Ruiz sealing PSG&amp;amp;#39;s win.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It is impossible, you cannot expect to score a hat-trick,&amp;amp;quot; Torres told broadcaster Canal Plus when asked if he imagined such an outcome.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The only thing that we knew before the game was that we had to play with the right intensity, press when we lost the ball, and we did that really well. We did a really good game.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The French club are bidding to follow in the footsteps of the Real Madrid side of 2016 to 2018 and become just the second team in the history of the modern Champions League to win the trophy three years running.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Real, Ajax and Bayern Munich were the only teams to achieve that feat in the days of the old European Cup.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;PSG&amp;amp;#39;s next games will be against teams hoping to end their reign, with a trip to Manchester City and a home clash with Barcelona coming in October -- Torres is a former player of both clubs.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It is the Champions League, we always play against tough teams, but we have to be focused first in Ligue 1 because we didn&amp;amp;#39;t start in the right way,&amp;amp;quot; he added, with PSG yet to win a domestic game this season.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:47:00 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[AS Roma to wear Nepal relief jerseys in Champions League clash with Fenerbahce]]>
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                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/as-roma-to-wear-nepal-relief-shirts-in-champions-league-clash-with-fenerbahce]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Football]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Rome:&amp;amp;nbsp;AS Roma will wear jerseys promoting relief efforts in Nepal during Wednesday&amp;amp;#39;s Champions League match against Fenerbahce, the Italian football club announced.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A flash flood on August 26 caused by a glacier and rockslide, which began on the China-Nepal border, has left at least 1,410 people dead and 5,651 missing.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The visitors will take to the pitch with the World Food Programme (WFP) logo on the front of their shirts,&amp;amp;quot; the Italian club said ahead of Thursday&amp;amp;#39;s game in Istanbul.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Roma&amp;amp;#39;s usual shirt sponsor is a sports betting company which is banned from advertising under Turkish law.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The one-off jersey bearing the logo of the WFP, a Rome-based agency of the United Nations, will also feature the message &amp;amp;quot;Together for Nepal&amp;amp;quot;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The shirts worn by Gian Piero Gasperini&amp;amp;#39;s players during the match will be auctioned, with all funds raised going towards supporting the people of Nepal through the WFP&amp;amp;#39;s relief efforts,&amp;amp;quot; Roma added.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:35:21 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Shelton stuns Alcaraz in 3:34 am US Open finish, Sabalenka battles on]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/shelton-stuns-alcaraz-in-334-am-us-open-finish-sabalenka-battles-on]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Tennis]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;New York: Ben Shelton stunned holder Carlos Alcaraz in an epic US Open quarter-final that ended at 3:34 am Wednesday, breaking the record for the latest finish in Flushing Meadows history.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The big-hitting Shelton won 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) on Arthur Ashe stadium in a 4hr 28min classic, ending the Spaniard&amp;amp;#39;s hopes of retaining his title in his first tournament back after a four-month injury absence.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On a marathon day that stretched well into the early hours, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka earlier beat Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 7-6 (10/7) in another match for the ages.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Belarusian will now face Jessica Pegula, who had to come from a set down to beat fellow American Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, for a place in the final.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Shelton will have an all-American last-four meeting with Frances Tiafoe, who came from two sets down to beat compatriot Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6) in another match that went the full distance.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It ensures a US player will be in the final -- no American man has won the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It&amp;amp;#39;s incredible,&amp;amp;quot; said Shelton as he thanked the New York crowd for staying so late.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world. I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;To be here in front of you guys tonight is an absolute honor.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Sharing the court with Carlos is an absolute honor, and I cherish every moment that I have out here.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Alcaraz was disappointed to go out but also happy with his performance following the long injury layoff.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I&amp;amp;#39;m just proud about myself, about how I fought,&amp;amp;quot; he said, calling his opponent &amp;amp;quot;a beast&amp;amp;quot; physically.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It was close. It was close. So I&amp;amp;#39;m just not going to be disappointed about not getting the win at the end,&amp;amp;quot; he said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Shelton is an unbelievable player, powerful. He just managed how to play really, really well in every situation, so credit to him.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#39;What a battle&amp;amp;#39;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sabalenka had to dig deep against her 21-year-old Czech opponent Noskova.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;What a battle,&amp;amp;quot; Sabalenka told the crowd. &amp;amp;quot;I was pushing myself to the limit, especially in the third set.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I honestly thought that was it, the match was over, and that&amp;amp;#39;s what helped me to feel loose and go for my shots,&amp;amp;quot; she added after trailing 4-2 in the third set on the back of two double faults.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 US Open final -- still the American&amp;amp;#39;s only appearance in a Grand Slam title match -- and beat her again last year in the semi-finals.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sabalenka looked headed for another Grand Slam disappointment in a season in which she has so far been unable to add to her stash of four major titles.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Clearly frustrated, she nevertheless regrouped and broke Noskova to love to pull level at 4-4.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;They hurtled into a 10-point tiebreak where Sabalenka finally sealed victory with a second-serve ace.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The victory was Sabalenka&amp;amp;#39;s first win over a top-10 player since she beat Coco Gauff in the Miami final in March.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;American 11th seed Tiafoe also came back from the brink after Michelsen, ranked 46th, served for the match at 5-4 in the third.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;He gave me some gifts, a couple of double faults there,&amp;amp;quot; Tiafoe said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;But then I slowly started to get my rhythm there, snuck out third set and slowly started playing better and better.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;But he is a hell of a player,&amp;amp;quot; Tiafoe added of Michelsen, who wept in Tiafoe&amp;amp;#39;s arms as they met at the net after 4hr 38min.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;He should have easily won today.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Third-seeded Pegula needed two hours and 20 minutes to get past Navarro.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It was really tough,&amp;amp;quot; Pegula said after a match featuring nine breaks of serve.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It was physical, humid. I wasn&amp;amp;#39;t exactly serving my best and I was fighting a lot of demons out there today.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:41:59 +0300]]>
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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Alcaraz out in latest US Open finish, Sabalenka through on marathon day]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/alcaraz-out-in-latest-us-open-finish-sabalenka-through-on-marathon-day]]>
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                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
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                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Tennis]]>
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                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;New York, USA: Ben Shelton stunned holder Carlos Alcaraz in an epic US Open quarter-final that ended at 3:34 am Wednesday, breaking the record for the latest finish in Flushing Meadows history.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The big-hitting Shelton won 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) on Arthur Ashe stadium in a 4hr 28min classic, ending the Spaniard&amp;amp;#39;s hopes of retaining his title in his first tournament back after a four-month injury absence.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On a marathon day that stretched well into the early hours, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka earlier beat Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 7-6 (10/7) in another match for the ages.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Belarusian will now face Jessica Pegula, who had to come from a set down to beat fellow American Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, for a place in the final.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Shelton will have an all-American last-four meeting with Frances Tiafoe, who came from two sets down to beat compatriot Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6) in another match that went the full distance.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;It&amp;amp;#39;s incredible,&amp;amp;quot; said Shelton as he thanked the New York crowd for staying so late.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world. I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;To be here in front of you guys tonight is an absolute honor.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Sharing the court with Carlos is an absolute honor, and I cherish every moment that I have out here.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sabalenka had to dig deep against her 21-year-old Czech opponent.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;What a battle,&amp;amp;quot; Sabalenka told the crowd. &amp;amp;quot;I was pushing myself to the limit, especially in the third set.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I honestly thought that was it, the match was over, and that&amp;amp;#39;s what helped me to feel loose and go for my shots,&amp;amp;quot; she added after trailing 4-2 in the third set on the back of two double faults.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 US Open final -- still the American&amp;amp;#39;s only appearance in a Grand Slam title match -- and beat her again last year in the semi-finals.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/alcaraz-out-in-latest-us-open-finish-sabalenka-through-on-marathon-day]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:55:36 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Aspire Academy football season kicks off with residential training camps]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/aspire-academy-football-season-kicks-off-with-residential-training-camps]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Aspire Academy has launched its new football season with a series of residential training camps for its various age groups. The opening week featured players from the 2011 and 2012 generations, followed by the 2010 generation, before the 2013 and 2014 squads completed the programme.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The week-long camps were designed to help players refocus on key areas, including rebuilding fitness after the summer break and returning to the rhythm of regular coaching sessions. Living on site at Aspire Academy during the camps gave the players the opportunity to socialise, strengthen team relationships, and adapt to time away from home.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The camps also enabled the coaching staff to identify focus areas as they develop their training plans for the season ahead. Ahead of the new season, Aspire Academy has also welcomed Mikel Antia as Technical and Methodology Manager. Antia returns for a second spell at the Academy, having previously worked there from 2012 to 2016.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He brings extensive experience and expertise from a professional playing career and coaching roles at several clubs, including working alongside Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United and, most recently, at English Premier League side Leeds United.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Spanish coach explained why he chose to return to Aspire Academy and Qatar for the next chapter of his career. &amp;amp;ldquo;I had a very positive experience during my four years here at Aspire Academy, and now they have offered me an opportunity that I could not turn down,&amp;amp;rdquo; he said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;I know this place very well. I know the quality of work we can deliver, and I am confident that I can help the organisation continue to evolve and improve.&amp;amp;rdquo; Antia believes that Qatar hosting the next four editions of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup can provide a major boost to the country&amp;amp;rsquo;s football development.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;The most important thing is that everyone, from the organisation to the coaches and players, understands what it takes to compete against the best,&amp;amp;rdquo; he said. &amp;amp;ldquo;The players need the right tools, and it is our responsibility to provide those tools so they are ready.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;ldquo;These competitions are valuable because they help players understand the level of effort and commitment required &amp;amp;mdash; not only from them, but from the entire system.&amp;amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Academy&amp;amp;rsquo;s pitches will once again host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup from 19 November to 13 December, with Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s squad expected to include Aspire Academy student-athletes and graduates.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                                    <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/aspire-academy-football-season-kicks-off-with-residential-training-camps]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:57:11 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[QSL Cup set to kick off on September 20]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/qsl-cup-set-to-kick-off-on-september-20]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar Sport]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: The 2026-2027 QSL Cup will kick off on September 20, with 19 teams set to compete in the tournament following Al Sadd&amp;amp;rsquo;s withdrawal, the Qatar Stars League (QSL) announced.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The competition will feature 11 QSL teams and eight Jetour League sides. The teams will be divided into five levels based on their standings in their respective leagues last season, with each team playing four matches against teams from the other levels in the first stage.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The top eight teams will advance to the quarter-finals, which will be played as single-match knockouts. If a knockout match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, the winners will be decided directly by penalties, with no extra time.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The tournament&amp;amp;rsquo;s technical meeting was held yesterday, with Ahmed Abdullah Al Sayed, QSL Head of Football Operations, Hassan Al Thawadi of the Qatar Football Association Referees Department and representatives of the participating clubs in attendance.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The meeting reviewed the competition format and levels, along with matchday procedures, coordination between the relevant parties and the need for clubs to meet organisational requirements and deadlines.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The approved home and away kits for all teams were also confirmed in line with tournament regulations.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/qsl-cup-set-to-kick-off-on-september-20]]>
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:48:38 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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                                <title>
                                        <![CDATA[Qatar&amp;rsquo;s squash and padel teams set for Aichi-Nagoya challenge]]>
                                </title>
                                <link>
                                <![CDATA[https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/09/2026/qatars-squash-and-padel-teams-set-for-aichi-nagoya-challenge]]>
                                </link>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Sports]]>
                                </category>
                                <category>
                                        <![CDATA[Padel]]>
                                </category>
                                <content:encoded>
                                        <![CDATA[&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Doha, Qatar: Qatar head to the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 with high hopes in squash and padel, looking to strengthen its presence on the Asian sporting stage.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Games run in Japan from September 19 to October 4, and Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s squash and padel teams are targeting strong finishes and a place on the podium.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The occasion carries extra weight for Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s padel players, since padel makes its official Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The padel squad, coached by Pablo Nicolas Sisti and Florencia Sofia Galdo, features Rashid Nawaf Nayef, Mishari Nawaf Nayef, Hassan Adel Wali and Mohammed Saadoun Al-Kuwari. The women&amp;amp;rsquo;s team includes Maha Abdul Redha Faramarzi, Hanan Hassan Al-Abdulrahman, Mariam Mansour Al-Sultan and Dana Mohammed Al-Mudahka.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img src=&amp;quot;/get/maximage/20260909_1788936492-500.jpg?1788936492&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;width: 100%;&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;Mohammed Saadoun Al-Kuwari&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s padel team took silver at the inaugural Asian Padel Championships in Doha in 2025 and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2021. They also won the inaugural Gulf Padel Challenge Cup in 2022, and beat Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at this year&amp;amp;rsquo;s Gulf Games in Doha.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In squash, Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s hopes rest largely on Abdullah Mohammed Al Tamimi, who won bronze in the men&amp;amp;rsquo;s singles at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Al Tamimi added another big continental medal in 2025, taking silver at the Asian Squash Championships in Malaysia. He&amp;amp;rsquo;s also picked up wins at the Cape Town Squash Championship, Qatar Challenger Championship, and the Atlanta and Qatar Professional Championships.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Alongside Al Tamimi, the squash team includes Syed Azlan Iqbal, Salem Yousef Al-Malki and Ali Ahmed Al-Darwish, coached by Amir Wajih Radwan.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Both teams have gone through intensive preparations - domestic and overseas training camps, fitness work, competitive matches. The padel programme in particular has focused on building chemistry between the pairs.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation Secretary General Tareq Zainal voiced confidence in the teams&amp;amp;rsquo; preparations and their medal chances.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Speaking to the Qatar News Agency, Zainal pointed to the players&amp;amp;rsquo; experience, technical ability and recent progress as reasons for optimism heading into the Games.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;He said the federation&amp;amp;rsquo;s combined administrative and technical preparations, together with the athletes&amp;amp;rsquo; determination and experience, give Qatar the foundation it needs to compete at the highest level. Zainal also stressed the importance of using the Asian Games to grow racket sports in Qatar, inspire the next generation and raise the country&amp;amp;rsquo;s profile in major continental and international competitions.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Qatar&amp;amp;rsquo;s contingent to Aichi-Nagoya numbers 243 athletes, competing across 26 sports and 32 disciplines.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
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                                <pubDate>
                                    <![CDATA[Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:44:12 +0300]]>
                                </pubDate>

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