Qatar’s sports season got off to a busy start as several domestic events kicked off earlier this month. The country also started hosting international competitions under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. Qatar – known as the World’s Sports Hub – hosts numerous local and international sports competitions every year.
It is relatively a fast start to the sports season particularly the QNB Stars League (QSL), country’s top flight, which began on September 11. With just over two weeks have passed, the QSL is already in its fourth week. The organisers plan to finish the event early to allow players to join Qatar national team’s players, who will prepare for home FIFA World Cup next year. The coaches, who were anticipating the hectic schedule are not complaining as they prepared the teams accordingly. “We cannot change the schedule and we have to adapt to it. At the same time, we have a large group of players whom we can rotate,” Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez said.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) also launched the new domestic season earlier this month with the Qatar Airways Cricket Tournament at the West Bay Cricket Grounds. A total of 56 teams, divided into three divisions, are taking part in the event.
The Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF) and the Qatar Table Tennis Association have emerged as the busiest sports bodies in hosting international events at start of the season. The QBSF is currently hosting the GCC Billiards and Snooker Championship – their third consecutive event this month after staging the Asian Snooker Championship and the 6-Red World Championship.
QTTA, after organising the WTT Star Contender series, which concluded on Saturday will now organise the Asian Table Tennis Championships. The WTT event saw participation of more than 70 athletes from across the globe. The Asian event is set to take place from September 28 to October 5 at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall. Qatar will also stage the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) Congress on the sidelines of the event. The president of the Asian body will be elected during the Congress, with QTTA President Khalil Ahmed Al Mohannadi also in running for the post.
These events are just a glimpse of the top-notch sports competitions coming ahead as next month will bring more thrilling action in the country. The October schedule includes the mouth-watering Amir Cup final between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan, which will be played on October 22 at the brand new Al Thumama Stadium – a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue. Among other major events to take place next month are the FINA World Cup, which Doha will host for the 10th time, and the Qatar Classic Squash tournament, which will be held from October 17-23.
