Team Qatar stars are gearing up for the 19th edition of the Asian Games to be hosted in Chinese city of Hangzhou. The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) recently announced that it will send a contingent comprising a total of 180 athletes for the multi-sporting event which will be held from September 23 to October 8.
The Al Annabi athletes are aiming for their best-ever show in the Games like they did in the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, winning historic two gold medals and a bronze medal to emerge as best performing country among the Arab nations.
Qatar is hoped to win a good number of medals in China as the national athletes are taking part in 27 sports disciplines including shooting, athletics, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, esports, equestrian, football, fencing, gymnastics, golf, handball, karate, sailing, squash, swimming, tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, table tennis, volleyball, 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, weightlifting and archery.
Three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist high jumper Mutaz Barshim and weightlifter Fares Ibrahim, who also won gold medal in the Tokyo Games will headline Qatar’s contingent along with the country’s top beach volleyball duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan – the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal winners.
A lot of shining performances can be expected from Al Annabi with athletes showing great promise in their recent outings in regional, continental and international events. The national teams have been preparing for the Asian Games for long by taking part in such competitions. First in action in Hangzhou will be the beach volleyball team which will open its campaign on September 19 – four days before the opening ceremony. The QOC is not just targeting medals in China as it is also looking to develop athletes for the future which can be gauged from the fact that Qatar contingent for the Hangzhou Games has a significant presence of promising youngsters. It is part of QOC’s strategy to prepare the teams for the Asian Games - Doha 2030, by supporting national sports federations and athletes to enhance performance and excellence in the home spectacle.
In a recent statement, Rashid Saeed Adiba, who is Qatar’s Chef de mission, said that all the Games-bound athletes are well prepared and they are looking to give their best in their respective disciplines at the Games to live up to expectations.
In the previous edition of Asian Games, Qatar clinched an impressive tally of 13 medals, including 6 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals at Jakarta-Palembang 2018. Considering Al Annabi athletes’ achievements in international competitions since then, the number of medals for the national contingent in the upcoming Games is expected to rise.
