Qatar has hosted several major sports competitions in the week of National Sport Day particularly at the weekend that saw thrilling action in different fields with Saturday bringing the most intriguing action.
The concluding day of the three-day HH The Amir Sword Festival 2023 that offered an unprecedented total prize money of $10m was highlight of Saturday’s top-notch action in the country.
The seven-race day brought exciting contests as world’s best horses ran on the day with winners of the prestigious HH The Amir Sword and HH The Amir Trophy – country’s biggest races of the year – were decided. H H the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the closing ceremony and honoured the winners besides crowning triumphant riders of the HH The Amir’s Sword Showjumping and Dressage Championship, which is also part of the celebrated Festival.
Also on Saturday, Qatar’s rally superstar Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah managed to secure his 17th career victory in one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the Qatar International Rally after overcoming a tough challenge from Mads Ostberg.
The Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex also attracted a huge number of fans on a Super Saturday to see World No.1 Iga Swiatek defending her Qatar TotalEnergies Open title successfully following a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win over second seed Jessica Pegula. The Amir, flanked by Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the Qatar Tennis Squash and Badminton Federation Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, also attended the final.
The day also witnessed the third round of $2.5m International Series Qatar – second leg of the Asian Tour’s International Series – which Qatar is hosting for the first time. American Andy Ogletree made a statement of intent to win his second International Series title when he took the third-round lead after firing an outstanding six-under-par 66, on another windswept day at Doha Golf Club.
The top-notch action will continue this week as well as top-ranked ATP players will be seen in action at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open starting from tomorrow.
Qatar is also set to host the Round of 16 matches of the West Zone in the AFC Champions League (ACL) from today until 26 with Qatar’s Al Duhail and Al Rayyan squaring off at Al Thumama Stadium. Another major international event to be hosted in Qatar soon will be the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines that is scheduled from Feb 23 to 25 at the Longines Arena. The thrilling QNB Stars League matches will add spice as the battle for the Falcon Shield enters a crucial stage.
