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Urvil Patel hammered a breath-taking 65, including hitting the joint fastest fifty in Indian Premier League (IPL) history in just 13 balls, as Chennai Super Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets to notch
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Arsenal moved closer to the Premier League title in controversial fashion as a hugely contentious decision to disallow Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time goal handed the leaders a vital 1-0 win against West Ham on Sunday.Mikel Arteta’s
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His Excellency the Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani inaugurated the official digital platform for the project documenting the history of Qatari football (1948-present), marking the launch of a landmark national initiative aimed at preserving the legacy of football in Qatar through a modern institutional framework that combines scientific methodology with digital innovation. The project reflects a firm belief that football in Qatar has long served as a social and cultural pillar that contributed to shaping public consciousness and mirrored the transformations of Qatari society across different historical periods. In this context, the initiative seeks to transform decades of sporting heritage, milestones, and iconic moments into a credible national archive that preserves the past while ensuring its continuity for future generations. Speaking during the launch ceremony, the chairman of the Committee for the Documentation and Archiving of Qatari Football History, Ali Dawood, said that the achievement was the result of sustained institutional work that began in August 2020, driven by the conviction that documenting the history of Qatari football is a national responsibility equal in importance to the achievements themselves, as it preserves and sustains them. He said that the committee focused on collecting, verifying, and archiving a vast body of historical material, including documents, photographs, oral testimonies, and rare footage, all reviewed according to rigorous scientific standards. Dawood added that documentation, research, and technical teams succeeded in building a comprehensive knowledge base that has been organised, indexed, and digitised to serve as a reliable national reference for researchers, media professionals, and future generations. He stressed that the accomplishment was the product of integrated teamwork carried out in accordance with the highest standards of quality and governance. He noted that the committee’s attainment of ISO 9001:2015 certification within a record period for a documentation project reflects its commitment to institutional excellence and sustainable professional practices. The committee adopted a comprehensive organisational structure comprising specialised teams in historical documentation, oral history, archiving, digitisation, verification, and review to ensure accuracy, governance, and quality outputs. Its work began with the collection of rare documents, photographs, and video materials, alongside recording testimonies of pioneers and key figures in Qatari football, followed by cross-referenced historical verification, digitisation of content, and the development of an interactive database based on the latest international standards. The committee stated that the project has reached an advanced stage, noting that the digital platform currently contains nearly 15 terabytes of historical data and content and continues to undergo expansion and updates. The volume of content is expected to nearly double during upcoming phases as part of a phased strategy designed to ensure the project’s comprehensiveness, sustainability, and status as a living national reference for the history of Qatari football. The committee also announced the publication of several specialised documentary books as part of the archiving project, covering pivotal milestones in Qatar’s football journey. These include publications on the early beginnings of football in Qatar, the national team’s participation in the Gulf Cup, and Qatar’s journey in FIFA World Cup tournaments, within a vision aimed at delivering verified knowledge content that combines historical narrative with scientific methodology. Among the publications is The Story of the Beginning, which documents the formative years of football in Qatar, tracing its emergence within early labour communities before spreading across Doha neighbourhoods and evolving into clubs, teams, and stadiums. Another publication, Qatar in the Gulf Cup: Legacy and Impact, chronicles Qatar’s participation in the Arabian Gulf Cup since the tournament’s inception, highlighting the technical, organisational, and fan-related transformations that accompanied its football journey within the broader Gulf sporting landscape. The book Qatar in the World Cup: Journey and Milestones documents the evolution of Qatari football from its early qualification attempts to the historic hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the national team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The publication offers both historical and analytical perspectives on a long journey marked by ambition, challenges, and achievement. Related Story
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The 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 opened in spectacular fashion at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena Monday, with a vibrant ceremony celebrating Gulf unity and highlighting the multi-event’s role as a platform for the region’s young athletes to showcase their talent.The Games will bring together 1400 athletes and officials where athletes will compete across 17 sports over 11 days of competition, which aim to strengthen sporting ties and inspire the next generation across the Gulf. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the GCC Games Doha 2026, officially declared the Games open and wished success to all participating athletes.HE Sheikh Joaan said: “Doha is proud to host this fourth edition of the GCC Games, bringing together athletes and friends from across our region. At a time when the world faces many challenges and uncertainties, these Games reaffirm the important role sport can play in strengthening dialogue, cooperation and understanding between peoples. Sport continues to be one of the strongest platforms for unity and optimism across the Gulf region. We witnessed this clearly during the Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026, where all 45 National Olympic Committees of Asia came together in a remarkable celebration of sport and friendship.”He added: “In Qatar, we strongly believe in the power of sport to build healthier, more connected and more united societies. Over the past two decades, Qatar has welcomed athletes, fans and delegations from around the world and hosted more than 20 World Championships. This legacy, which dates back to the Doha 2006 Asian Games, has provided us with world-class venues and expertise that today serve the ambitions of athletes from across the Gulf. We extend our appreciation to the GCC Federations, partners and organisers for their support of this event, and to every athlete competing in Doha 2026 — we wish them success in showcasing the true spirit of Gulf sport.” The 30-minute opening ceremony combined sport, art and culture in a visually striking production that departed from traditional formats through its youthful and modern presentation. Symbolic performances reflected the shared identity and unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.A highlight of the evening was the operetta “One Gulf, One Heart”, which celebrated the solidarity and common heritage of the GCC nations. Conceived, written and composed by Faisal Ibrahim al-Tamimi, the production blended music, theatre and choreography in an emotional tribute to Gulf brotherhood.The show impressed with its seamless mix of melodies, coordinated movements and visual storytelling, creating an engaging atmosphere for spectators inside the arena and viewers watching elsewhere. Advanced lighting, giant screens and visual effects enhanced the spectacle while complementing the heritage-inspired performances, underlining Qatar’s expertise in staging major international sporting events. Children and young girls from Qatar also featured prominently in the performances, adding an emotional and human touch through displays that highlighted values of identity and belonging.Large group performances involving participants of different age groups showcased remarkable precision and harmony, reinforcing the themes of teamwork and unity that defined the ceremony.The Games feature competitions in handball, table tennis, athletics, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards, snooker, 3x3 basketball, shooting, archery, volleyball, equestrian and bowling. Hosts Qatar are represented by a delegation of around 300 athletes. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of Ministers, Presidents of the GCC Olympic committees, and senior sports officials, including Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee; Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee; Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al-Said, President of the Oman Olympic Committee; and Sheikh Isa bin Ali al-Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, alongside a number of GCC sports leaders.Jassim bin Rashid al-Buainain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee, said Doha’s hosting of the Games reflected Qatar’s continued commitment to supporting Gulf sport and strengthening cooperation among GCC nations.He described the Games as an important gathering that combines competition with fraternity, while also strengthening bonds between Gulf peoples and promoting the values of solidarity and unity. Al-Buainain added that the organising committee had worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure the best technical and organisational standards for the event, while confirming that Qatari athletes were fully prepared to compete for medals across all sports.Mohammed Issa al-Fadala, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the Games, praised the technical and organisational quality of the opening ceremony, saying it successfully projected Gulf identity through a world-class production befitting Doha’s standing as a regional sporting capital. “We witnessed an exceptional ceremony that conveyed the message of unity and shared destiny among the peoples of the Gulf, while reflecting Qatar’s outstanding organisational capabilities in hosting major sporting events,” al-Fadala said.He added that the organising committee had reached full readiness across all operational and competition venues ahead of the start of events.Competitions officially begin Tuesday, with swimming at the Hamad Aquatic Centre and 3x3 basketball at Al Gharafa Club Hall.
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Sean Strickland survived an attritional five-round battle against Khamzat Chimaev to win a razor-thin split decision and regain the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328 early on Sunday morning, handing the Chechen his first professional
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Fans can expect a spectacular AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 with Saturday’s glittering draw producing a thrilling group stage.The draw for the 2027 edition of the continent’s showpiece event, which runs from January 7
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Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui is expecting a tough time next January when the two-time champions arrive in Saudi Arabia to defend their AFC Asian Cup crown they won in 2019 and 2024. On Sunday, Qatar were drawn with four-time winners Japan, Thailand and Indonesia in Group F of the 24-team tournament set to be held in Saudi Arabia from Jan 7-Feb 5 next year. Qatar beat Japan in the final of the 2019 edition staged in the UAE for their maiden AFC Asian Cup title triumph. Five years years later on home soil, Qatar beat Jordan in the title clash of Asia's showpiece football tournament to win two back-to-back trophies under the captaincy of Hasan al-Haydos. After the draw ceremony staged in Riyadh on Sunday, Lopetegui said: “We are optimistic but understand the qualities of our opponents and we will play in a very tough group. Japan are the main favourites, Indonesia have improved a lot, and so have Thailand. It’s going to be a tough and balanced group, now we have a lot of work to do.” Born in Asteasu, Spain, Lopetegui has enjoyed a remarkable career both on the pitch and on the sidelines. Appointed as the head coach of the Spanish national team on July 21, 2016, he managed 16 matches, securing 12 victories and 4 draws. He was named Qatar coach last year in May. Lopetegui's next big assignment is the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Thailand's coach Anthony Hudson said: “It’s an exciting group. It’s a good group. Obviously some big teams in there. For us, it’s a great opportunity to play against some really good opponents and anything can happen. If you want to play in the Asian Cup, it’s great to meet a team like Japan. Our opening game against Qatar is a great game. Then you look at Indonesia who are improving, there’s a huge rivalry there.” John Herdman, coach of Indonesia, said: “The expectation for Indonesia is to represent the country as the fans want to see us. They are the most passionate of fans and every time the players put on the jersey, we owe them everything we got. This tournament gives us a chance to do something special for them. Thailand are a strong team but every game in this group is huge.” Related Story
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The 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 will officially open tomorrow (Monday) at Al Shaqab Arena, as Qatar hosts one of the region’s largest and most prestigious multi-sport events from May 11 to 22.The opening ceremony will be attended by presidents of the National Olympic Committees, secretaries-general, senior officials of the Olympic committees and sports federations from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in addition to the participating delegations.The ceremony will feature a variety of artistic and cultural performances, including a special operetta titled (One Gulf, One Heart) celebrating the unity, solidarity and shared identity of the GCC nations. Hosting this edition reflects the commitment of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fourth GCC Games – Doha 2026, to delivering a tournament that embodies the deep-rooted bonds among GCC nations and contributes to strengthening the presence of Gulf sport, while presenting an exceptional edition that matches Qatar’s established position as a leading host of major regional and international sporting events. More than 1,000 male and female athletes from the six GCC countries will compete in 17 different sports: handball, table tennis, athletics, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards, snooker, 3x3 basketball, shooting, archery, volleyball, equestrian and bowling.The Games will also witness strong women’s participation in 3x3 basketball, athletics, padel, taekwondo, fencing, shooting and archery events.Qatar will be represented at the 4th GCC Games by a delegation of 300 male and female athletes competing across all sports featured in the Games.Competitions will officially begin the day after tomorrow (Tuesday), with swimming events taking place at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, while 3x3 basketball competitions will be held at Al Gharafa Club Hall. Taekwondo and table tennis competitions will be staged at Aspire Dome, while billiards competitions will take place at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall, and bowling events will be hosted at the Qatar Bowling Center.On Wednesday, equestrian competitions will begin at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, while fencing and boxing competitions will be held at Aspire Dome. Shooting events will also commence at the Lusail Shooting Range.Athletics competitions are scheduled to start on Thursday at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar SC, in addition to handball competitions which will take place at Duhail Sports Hall.Friday will witness the launch of snooker competitions at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall, while volleyball competitions will begin next Saturday at the Women’s Sports Hall, alongside padel competitions at Aspire Dome.Archery competitions are scheduled to commence next Sunday at the Lusail Shooting Range, while karate competitions will be held for one day only on Thursday, May 21, the penultimate day of the Games, at Aspire Dome.Historically, Kuwait topped the overall medal standings at the inaugural GCC Games held in Bahrain in 2011 with a total of 48 medals, including 27 gold, 14 silver and 7 bronze medals.Bahrain finished second with 21 medals, including 10 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals, while Qatar secured third place with 26 medals, including 7 gold, 12 silver and 7 bronze medals.The United Arab Emirates came fourth with 30 medals, including 5 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals, followed by Oman in fifth place with 11 medals, including 4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals, while Saudi Arabia finished sixth with 23 medals, including 3 gold, 7 silver and 13 bronze medals.Saudi Arabia topped the medal standings at the second edition of the Gulf Games held in Dammam in 2015 with 115 medals, including 57 gold, 35 silver and 23 bronze medals.The United Arab Emirates finished second with a total of 73 medals, including 26 gold, 20 silver and 27 bronze medals, while Qatar claimed third place with 59 medals, comprising 11 gold, 17 silver and 31 bronze medals.Bahrain came fourth with 43 medals, including 7 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze medals, while Oman finished fifth with 29 medals, including 4 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals.Kuwait also topped the overall medal standings at the third GCC Games, which it hosted in 2022, with a total of 96 medals, including 36 gold, 28 silver and 32 bronze medals.Bahrain finished second with 64 medals, including 20 gold, 23 silver and 21 bronze medals, while the United Arab Emirates secured third place with 50 medals, including 18 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze medals.Saudi Arabia came fourth with 67 medals, including 16 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze medals, while Qatar finished fifth with a total of 52 medals, including 16 gold, 21 silver and 15 bronze medals.Oman placed sixth with 33 medals, including 12 gold, 5 silver and 16 bronze medals.The Doha edition of the Games is expected to further strengthen Gulf sporting cooperation and solidarity while showcasing Qatar’s world-class sports infrastructure and outstanding organizational capabilities in hosting major international sporting events. 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Pakistan opener Azan Awais made a century on debut but Bangladesh clawed back control as it reduced the visitors to 251-5 at lunch on Day 3 in an evenly poised first cricket Test on Sunday.Azan
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For rising Formula One star Isack Hadjar Saturday's "historic" race at the Paul Ricard Circuit offered a double treat: a chance to bask in the love of French fans and to drive a traditional 'noisy'
